Evening star., 1926-09-27
WAVE Of BAND|TRY
REACHES CLIMAX IN
WOUND|NG OF FIVE
Two Policemen and Three
Suspects Shot-Third Of
ficer Hit With Pipe.
PAIR OF VICTIMS DYING
AFTER PETWORTH FIGHT
Dozen Alleged Principals or Aides
Under Arrest-Second Bat
tie in Northeast.

The wave of banditry which has
stirred the National Capital and it's
envtrons of late came to sudden and
spectacular climax yesterday and to-
day In two gun battles as result of
which two policemen and two alleged
bandits are in hospitals from serious
wounds, another policeman and sus-
pect have lesser wounds and a dozen
other alleged principals or co o.partners
In crime are under arrest.
Although the cost was dear. police
declare today that by the capture of
the dozen men and women effected
after the biggest of the battles, which
took place at 4:30 am. yesterday in
Petworth, they have solved a long
list of hold-ups and robberies which
have baff1ed authorities of the District,
Virginia and Maryland.
A second fight. in no way connected
with the first. occurred early this
morning between two policemen and a
colored man caught entering the
Piggly Wiggly warehouse at Fifth
and T streets northeast. In the battle
the negro felled one of the officers
ally wounded himself in an exchange
Of fire by a bullet from a police
automatic.
Casualties i'm PetwOrth.
The victims in the Petworth en-
counter were:
Policeman Leo W. K. Busch, IS
years old, tenth precinct, of 1925 Yer
mont avenue. in a dying condition at
- aA1I L.,
the back and one in the stomach.
Policeman Frank L. Ach. "a years
old, tenth precinct. of sos Ingraham
street, critically injured, at Garfield
Hospital with bullet wounds in his
left side and both arms.
One Victim In Baltimore.
John C. Proctor. IS. 1902 Seventh
street southwest. in a dying condition
at Franklin Square Hospital. Balti-
more, where he is said to have fled
after the shooting. He is accused by
several of those arrested Of having
shot Policeman Ach.
Samuel Marino, 10, 617 G street
southwest. shot in the leg as he tried
to escape. Police say he admits shoot
ing Policeman Busch.
The wounded in the second fight
were Policeman NJ. w. King of the
twelfth precinct, treated at Emergency
Hospital with gaping wound in the
scalp. and John Cross, colored, of 27
K street, in a serious condition at
Freedmen's Hospital from bullet
wounds in the head and abdomen.
Those under arrest, in addition to
Proctor and Marino, and charged with
the Petworth shooting are:
John Falls McCabe. 81, 1908 X street.
said by police to be the brains" of
the gang. He is a World War Vet
eran.
Nicholas Lee Eagles, "a. 319 C
street southwest, half-breed Indian.
Others Held as Suspects.
The others, held as suspects, are:
Ralph Cornelius Proctor, %, Balti-
more. Md, brother of the man dying
in a Baltimore hospital; Walter Alex
ander Proctor 80. 1102 Seventh street
southwest. another brother; James
William Powers, %, of Ballston, Va;
Harris J. Atchison, 81. 1854 Thirteenth
street; James w. Callan, 81. Alexan-
dria, Va; Mrs. Pal Eagles. young
authenticated wife of Eagles; Miss
Gladys r. James, 20. who resides with
the Eagles family, and Mrs. Barbara
Walker, %, of 1861 Fairmont street,
said by police to be John Proctor's
fiancee.
All are being held incommunicado
at various police stations-the women
at the house of detention-on tech
nical charges of investigation
IF either of our policemen die"
Inspector Pratt, chief of The Detective
Bureau, declared today. Eagles, Ma
rino. John Proctor and McCabe will
be charged with murder. We will not
make formal charges against them,
pending the oucome of our mems in
juries."
Confessions Are Claimed.
Inspector Pratt stated that Marino
and Eagles had confessed not only TO
their part in the shooting. but to hav-
ing participated in four hold-upS re-
Gently in Virginia, the robbery OF the
Million Dollar Grocery on Connect.
cut avenue last week. and of the gaso-
! line station at Sixteenth and Taylor
streets several days ago. and the hold
up and robbery of two motorists on
the Baltimore pike Saturday night.
Both signed lengthy statements this
morning, following an all-night quiz
Zing by headquarters detectives.
The gun battle on the streets OF
Petworth early yesterday was marked
by the exchange Of more than a score
Of shots in the vicinity Of Grant Cir.
Gle, during which the entire neighhor-
hood was plunged into fllror of ex.
citement, with scantily clad residents
joining in the chase for the fugitives.
One Of the shots. which went wild.
hit the chandeliers in one home and
was detected into a clock, another
knocked a push button off a doorbell,
and another found lodgment in a
parked automobile, it was reported.
Vu,onf;1v, ~ RatkIo
According to police authorities the
battle had its inception this way:
Policemen Busch and Ach were
standing on Georgia avenue near Up
shur street, discussing a lookout"
for four men who had just held up
two automobiles near Berwyn, when
they noticed a quartet of men an
swering the description of the men
wanted walking toward them. They
approached the men and Questioned
them. Suspecting that they had the
right ones. the policemen placed them
under arrest.
One of the men explained that they
were waiting for a taxicab. as their
car had broken down on Webster
street. The men offered to prove this
assertion IL the officers would take
them to that vicinity Busch and Ach
agreed to do this. and each took hold
of a pair and started for the place
designated.
When at New Hampshire avenue
Continued on Page 2. Column 80