Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-24
Smoke Screen is Pierced bN
Policeman's Fire, Ending
Desperate Flight.
BULLET WAS INTENDED
FOR GAS TANK, HE SAYS
Companion of Man Slain Is Cap
tured After Taking to Heels
Following Shooting.

Firing into an automobile being pur-
sued through dense smoke screen In
Southeast Washington early today, Po-
liceman Clyde o. Rouse Of the eleventh
precint. shot and killed Ottmer Her
man Fleming, 21 years old, of 300 N
street southwest, the driver, and with
brother officer, B. r. Campbell, ar
rested a companion of the man slain
and seized their car, which. it was
reported, contained Is cases Of whisky.
The man arrested identified himself
as John Stevens, 81, and said he also
lived at the N street address.
The killing is the first that has fol-
lowed in the wake of the revival Of the
use of smoke screens, forecast when the
Jones-Stalker law increased the dry
law penalties.
Campbell Figured in Hall Shooting.
Policeman Campbell, who was driving
for Rouse, coincidentally figured in an
other fatal chase more than two years
ago, shooting to death Larry Hall, 20,
during pursuit through Soldiers Home
Campbell and Rouse reported that
they were driving along Nichols avenue
southeast in Campbells car about
o'clock today. when. they sighted the
other car. 1t was going west on street
and failed to halt at a stop sign, but
turned into Nichols avenue toward the
city.
The officers gave chase and at the
north end of the Anacostia Bridge
pulled up alongside. Fleming glanced at
the occupants of the pursuing machine,
saw who they were and swerved toward
them, trying to crowd them into der
rick which was standing at the side OF
the roadway. Failing he increased his
speed and the policemen saw Stevens
begin operating the smoke screen.
Street Is Black With Smoke.
The street became black with smoke,
but Campbell continued to drive his
| machine up Eleventh street at high
speed, managing to keep within 10 or Is
! feet of Flemings car. Although almost
| blinded by the fumes, Rouse pulled his
| gun and fired at the hazy outline OF
the car ahead.
Five shots were fired by Rouse
through the heavy smoke at the fugitive
| car Four of them were grouped In
small circle on the left rear fender.
The fifth shot pierced the canvas top Of
the machine, passed through Fleming's
head and dropped spent, on the floor
of the automobile.
Take it." the wounded man said to
Stevens. motioning toward the wheel.
Then he fell over in my lap and his
foot came of the accelerator," Stevens
declared today. I'VE were going up a
hill and the car quickly stalled and
came to halt. Then I got out and
ran"
Captured After Chase.
As Stevens, who owns the car. fed the
| police machine drew up and Rouse
| leaped to the ground in pursuit. Stevens
darted into an alley on the east side of
Eleventh street. with the officers on his
heels. He finally was cornered and cap
tured between Eleventh and Twelfth
streets. I and K streets, after chase OF
two blocks.
Meanwhile, Campbell had telephoned
the precinct and a Police Department
| car, driven by Policeman c. F. Smith,
| was dispatched to the scene and con-
veyed the unconscious Fleming to
| Casualty Hospital, where he died at
1855 o'clock this morning.
| Campbell took Stevens to the precinct.
There he admitted to the officer that he
| and his companion had been bringing
| in load of liquor from Southern Mary
land, but said that this was the first
! time they ever had used a smoke screen,
police reported.
Stevens was charged with illegal po-
session and transportation of liquor and
with using a smoke screen.
Inquest Set for Tomorrow.
Inspector Thaddeus A. Bean investi-
gated the accident but said he could
make no statement until an inquest
is held. Coroner hewitt ordered the
inquest for 1880 O'Clock tomorrow.
Rouse told Inspector Bean that he
intended to puncture the gas tank and
shoot off the left rear tire of the pur-
sued car. He accomplished the latter
Continued on Page 2, Column A.