Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-27
Jury CLEARS POLICE
CAR IN CRASH DEATH
Effort to Show 1t Hit Fire
Truck Fails at Inquest.
Two Suspects Held.

Despite the determined attempt by
defense attorneys to elicit testimony
that the police pursuit car. as we'll
as the fleeing liquor car in the crash
early yesterday on Bladensburg road
had possibly struck the hose truck of
No. 90 Engine Company, bringing
death to Lieut.. Samuel L. Callahan,
a coroners jury this afternoon dis
regarded this angle and held James
S. O'Donnell, 20 years old, of 123
Fifteenth street southeast, and Cas-
per Heck of 321 Fourteenth place
northeast. alleged occupants of the
liquor car, for the action Of the grand
jury.
More than 20 witnesses appeared at
the inquest, which was presided over
by Coroner J. Ramsey hewitt. The
verdict of the coroner's jury was that
Callahan came to his death from
fracture of the skull and crushed
chest sustained in the collision and
held O'Donnell and Heck responsible
for the fatality.
O'Shea's Efforts Fail.
Attorney James A. O'Shea. rep
resenting O'DOnnell, unsuccessfully
sought to draw from witnesses state
ments that the police car collided with
the fire apparatus, but did elicit testi-
mony that the body of Callahan, when
found 120 feet from the spot of col
lision, was within 20 feet of the spot
where the police car finally stopped
and more than 40 feet from the final
stopping place of the liquor car.
ga IAr
of the flying liquor squadron testified
that the chase was proceeding at the
rate of more than a mile a minute
when the fire apparatus, turning from
road into Queens Chapel
road, was struck.
Deputy Coroner A. Magruder Mac
Donald. who performed the autopsy.
testified that the crushed chest of
revealed no outward indi
cations as to the manner in which
that injury was caused. Attorney
Harry Whalen represented Heck.
Conference Is Sought.
Immediately after the inquest the
defense attorneys were seeking a con-
ference with District Attorney Peyton
Gordon regarding continuance of the
$40 900 bond under which each of the
men held already has been placed on
on a charge of manslaughter.
While Maj. Edwin B. Hesse. super
intendent Of police, had ordered a
police investigation of circumstances
the fatal collision and
instructed representatives to be pres
ant at the inquest today to report to
him personally on all disclosures with
L view to getting all available facts
On the case, f1remen who were at the
scene had already filed reports as wit
nesses, which had been transmitted
today to Acting Chief Philip w.
Edwards Issues Statement.
While the inquest was in progress,
Senator Edward 1. Edwards of New
Jersey, who recently issued a state |
nent concerning the killing of Larry |
Hall by a policeman, made public a |
L second statement citing the Gala |
IAN tragedy as case where the au |
horities took the viewpoint that a |
carload of booze is more valuable than !
he life of man." and connecting the |
Incident as evidence of the failure of |
enforcement.
The statement. in part, follows:
again the Nations Capital is con- |
ronted with the heinous murder of a |
terling official, Fire Lieut.. Samuel L. |
murder committed in the |
lame of Wheelerism and prohibition.
and our able and courageous super |
ntendent of police lauds the murder
us act and intimates that a carload
Il booze is more valuable than the
life of man who gave his all in the
most dangerous and hazardous serv-
&c of the District. Perhaps Mai.
Jesse is right. Our fanatical friends
t the Anti-Saloon League have done
but blackmail the Presi-
ent of the United States to enforce
tyrannical and hypocritical law, and
Is little wonder that a major of po-
Ice would succumb to the same bland
of autocratic power.
"A United States Senator has been
made an invalid for life because of
he hi-Jacking activities Of prohibition
officers. A Sister of
dercy has been wantonly killed; a
'oung boy. Larry Hall, was recently
hot dead by one of Maj. Hesse's
and innumerable citizens
AVE been blackjacked and beaten in
owardly fashion in order that illicit
liquor might be confiscated.
Law Not Sapctimonious."
Prohibition may be part Of the
it may have been made
n instrument of tyrannous coercion
trough the operation of its enforce
Continued on Pas& 5. Column %