Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-26
DETECTIVE SEIZED
AS LIQUOR RUNNER
Federal Men Arrest Langdon
After Receiving Tip
on Delivery.

Robert F. Langdon, former member
of the "Burlingame flying squadron"
which specialized in rum warfare here,
and in later years detective at the
fifth precinct, detailed to prohibition
cases, was arrested last night by Fed
eral agents, who said they took him
into custody while he was making a
liquor delivery.
Langdon, who has figured in two fatal
shootings in his police career, was i'm
mediately suspended.
Police of No. precinct, where Lang
don was booked on charges of trans
portation and possession, were informed
that six Federal men trapped Langdon
after they obtained tip that a delivery
would be made.
Placed Under $4,000 Bond.
It is alleged that Langdon drove up
in his automobile where the Federal
men lay in wait, and that search of his
car disclosed two five-gallon whisky
laden kegs. The automobile was con-
fiscated.
He was arrested and taken to No.
precinct. Acting Lieut.. A. S. Bohrer
suspended Langdon from police duty
after he was charged He was released
on posting 1880 bond for appearance
in Police Court.
Special Agents w. ]. Prince and War
rem Heddens brought Langdon to the
precinct and charged him with trans
porting and illegal possession.
Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent
of police, this morning ordered Lang
don cited before the Trial Board, for
hearing at the earliest possible date
The next meeting of the board is We'd
nesday.
While awaiting arraignment at Police
Court Langdon smashed a camera in
the hands of Star staff photographer
when he became incensed after a pic
ture had been snapped as he came out
one of the three doors of the court
house. Previously he had evaded the
cameramen.
Wearing Badge When Arrested.
When arrested Langdon was wearing
his police badge, carried his police Gre
dentials and had his service revolver
strapped to his hip.
Officers at Langdon's precinct say
that he told them that the large auto
mobile he habitually drove belonged to
lated, Is well to do.
One of the fatal shootings in which
Langdon was concerned occurred on
october 81, 1925, while he was a men,
Der OF the squad operating under Capt.
Guy Burlingame. The squad at the
climax Of what was described as a liquor
chase, engaged in a hand-to-hand en-
counter with three youthful occupants
OF the pursued car when it was over
hauled. During the struggle one of the
trio was said to have pressed a gun
against Langdon'S body and a brother
officer, Henry Rinke, went to his assist
ance. The gun went off, killing Charles
G. Deegan, %, one of the occupants of
the car. The youth with whom Rinke
was struggling was Francis Deegan, II.
Rinke was eXonerated.
ExOnerated in Killing.
Last March Langdon was exonerated
by a coroner's jury in the killing of
Louis Burton, colored, who was fatally
wounded by the policeman after an au-
tomobile chase through Southwest
Washington.
Langdon and another officer, F. L.
Arlington. sighted two colored men, who
were travelling in a small roadster, on
New Jersey avenue, near the sixth pre-
cinct station house. Giving chase in
tneH own car, the policemen pursued
them to South Capitol and I streets.
where the colored men abandoned their
machine and fled on foot.
The policemen testified at the inquest
that in the pursuit on foot Burton made
motion as though to draw a pistol
on Langdon and that Langdon shot in
self-defense. Other witnesses disputed
this. Burton was shot in the back and
died a short time later in Casualty Hos
pital.
Langdon took the man to the hospi-
tai, but left without giving his name to
officials. He returned to the scene Of
the shooting and took the colored mems
automobile to the fifth precinct station
house. Later 1t was announced 88
quarts of liquor were in the car. and
Langdon said pistol of ancient make
was in the pocket of the man he shot
Both colored men denied that there
was any liquor in their car. or that
either Of them ever had owned such
pistol as Langdon told of finding.