Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-26
FIREMAN KILLED
IN RUM CAR CHASE
Lieut.. S. l.. Callahan Hurled
From Engine Hit by Speed
ing Liquor-Laden Auto.

A baby girl is listening in vain to-
day for her daddy's footsteps and the
flag Is at half-staff at No. rs engine
house. while police are making de-
termined search for the driver of a
liquor-laden car which crashed into
the hose cart Of Engine Company No.
26 early this morning, instantly killing
Lieut.. Samuel l.. Callahan, who was
thrown nearly 100 feet from his posi-
ton on the running board. Then the
bootleggers car swerved and struck
another machine, injuring three col
ored women.
The fire wagon. returning from a
brush fire, was turning the corner al
Bladensburg road and Queens Chapel
road Going at a miie.a-minute speed
the liquor car. which proved to con
tain 625 quarts of corn whisky, hotly
pursued by a police car bearing the
liquor squadron in charge of Sergt
George Little. piled directly into the
side of the fire apparatus, few feet
from Lieut.. Gallahan's position on the
running board. The impact was tre'
mendous.
The driver, Walter Brubacker, 521
Third street northeast, saved himself
from being thrown from the wagon
by gripping the steering wheel with
all his might.
Then Hits Another Car.
The rum runners car then hit a
coupe, driven by Mrs. Rebecca Haines
colored, SO years old, 1888 T street
and containing also Louise Brown, 4s
years old. 241 Fiftieth street northeast
and Katie Castor, 49 years old. 5001
Lee street northeast, also colored. All
three women We're bruised and sus
tained decorations on the legs. They
were taken to Casualty Hospital.
The body Of Lieut.. Callahan, badly
crushed, was taken to Casualty by
Upon Reed, 1912 Bladensburg road.
DR.. Raymond Murray formally pro,
nounced him dead. His skull was frac-
tured.
AS soon as the crash occurred the
driver of the liquor-laden car jumped
free of the double wreck and made
off in the woods as the pursuit car
drove up, in time to arrest his COM
panion. Casper Heck, 321 Fourteenth
place northeast, who was charged
later with manslaughter and the
transportation and possession of
liquor.
Suspects Wife Faints.
The police report states that the
death car was owned and operated by
James O'Donnell, 20 years old, 123 Fif'
teenth street southeast. Headquarters
Detectives O'Brien and Collins visited
the O'Donnell home at o'clock this
morning. They found there a young
wife and three small children. The
wife tainted when told Of their errand.
Sergt. Little stated today that the
liquor squad has had previous en-
counters with O'Donnell.
In the police car with Sergt. Little
were: George Deyoe, the driver, Pvts.
Leo Murray and Theodore Mont
gomery and Walter Schultz, Federal
revenue agent. They had been pur-
suing the fleeing car, a big touring
car, for several miles. The liquor
found in the car was packed In 70
cases, gallons to a case. Several
boxes were broken. 1t was taken to
No. precinct, headquarters of the
liquor squad.
The Callahan home, at 527 Harvard
street, is house of sorrow intensified
by the innocent laughter of Betty
Jane, not quite 3 years old. who does
not yet know of the tragedy that has
darkened her home.
Her mother. Mrs. Jennie B. Gala
(Continued on Page 2, Column 5)