Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-03
HELD IN MURDER,
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
CoIored Man Accused in Bit
: ner Staying Tries to Kill
Self in Cell.

Confronted with a charge of murder
as result of his alleged confession
that he was one of the four colored
youths who on Thursday night partici-
pated in the murder of Philbert H.
Bitner, 20 years old, 817 Sheridan
street, Benjamin Aulick Brarison, 26
years old, 209 Florida avenue, last
night attempted suicide in his cell at
the tenth precinct station house by div
ing from his cot to the cement floor
He is now recovering from a sprained
neck vertebra.
Branson was the last of the quartet
arrested. He was taken into custody
early yesterday morning by Headquar-
tiers Detectives Paul Jones and Howard
Smith after members of the homicide
squad, under the direction of Lieut..
Edward j. Kelly, had arrested the other
three.
Those first arrested are James Elmer
Crawford, II years old, 932 Florida
avenue, who, police say. has signed a
confession that it was he who fired
the fatal shot, and Carl Terry, % years
old, and Milton Edward Terry, 18 years
old, brothers, both of 635 T street. All
have been charged with murder An
inquest will be held at 1870 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Prisoners Make Statements.
Following several hours of grilling
yesterday, police announced they had
obtained signed statements from Craw-
ford and the Terry brothers Crawford's
is to the effect that the pistol he pointed
at Bitner was accidentally discharged.
Carl Terry admits he was one of the
party, but Milton Terry. although adj
hitting ownership of the death gun,
denies he was present. Branson, police
claim, admits his participation, but re-
fuses to sign formal statement.
The pistol was found yesterday in a
house on Ninth street, where Crawford
told police he had left it. A hat found
at the scene of the murder, in which
was written the letter 3D." yesterday
was identified by Branson as his prop
erty. it is claimed
The story, as related by Crawford
and Branson, was that Thanksgiving
night they stole an automobile at
Twelfth and v streets and then picked
up the Terry brothers. After riding
around for awhile, they stopped at the
filling station at Sixth street and
Rhode Island avenue where Bitner was
employed, and that the shooting took
place when they stepped from the ma
chine.
Shooting Causes Hasty Flight.
They ran back to the car and drove
to the 1900 block Third street. a short
distance away. They then walked to
t street, where they separated, Branson
going to his own home and Crawford
going with the Terry youths.
They do not admit they went to the
filling station for the purp - of rob-
berry. Three of them say they stopped
for gasoline. but refuse TO explain why
Crawford shot Bitner. The tank of
the automobile was nearly full of gaso-
line, police say, when the machine was
found after it was abandoned.
Crawford said he obtain the pistol
from Milton Terry. He leveled the
gun at Bitner when they stopped at
Bitner's abdomen and causing his
death three hours later in Garfield
Hospital. He was unable to explain,
however, why the second shot was
fired. 1t went wild and lodged in a
wall in the station.
Before his death, Bitner told police
an automobile containing four men
drove up and two of them al1ghted.
The man who held the gun announced.
I'VE are going to get you," and fired
twice, one shot taking effect. The men
then left without making any attempt
to steal anything.
Detectives Make Arrests.
Acting on private information, Kelly,
accompanied by Detectives Joseph
Waldron, Thomas Sweeney. George
Darnell, John Fowler and John Flaher-
ty, on SATURDAY. morning went to the
home of the Terry brothers, arresting
them and Crawford, who was with
them. Statements from these men re-
suited in the arrest of Branson.
Three other men arrested by the
homicide squad because of their actions
in refusing to pay the manager of
Mount Rainier, Md, filling station for
the use of jack are still held. Eff
forts are to be made to connect them
with recent filling station robberieS.
The inquest into Bitner'S death was
to have been held today, but was post
poned at request of police so they might
have an opportunity to have several
robbery victims, among whom is Julius
Goode, who was robbed of $500 We'd
nesday night in his tailor shop in the
200 block of Florida avenue, attempt
to identify the men. Goode was held
up by seven colored men.
Following Branson's suicide attempt
last night, orders were issued for spe-
cial guards over his former companions,
each OF whom is held in separate
station house. Branson is constantly
under guard in the hospital.
Bitner, who is survived by his widow,
was buried yesterday at Salisbury, Md.
his birthplace.