Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-21
Shooting of CoIored Man by
Precinct Detective Lang
don Under Inquiry.
VICTIM IN SERIOUS
CONDITION IN HOSPITAL
Liquor and Speeding Charge Placed
Against Man Taken
to Station.

A colored man was shot by police
man and seriously injured and his COM
panion was placed under arrest when
they tried to escape on foot from two
fifth precinct detectives today after a
wild automobile chase through South
east Washington.
Capt William Z. Sanford of the fifth
precinct and Police Inspector Albert J.
Headley started an investigation imme-
diateiy on learning Of the affair to de-
termine whether the shooting was
justified
Louis Burton, 20. of the 900 block of
z street southwest, is in Casualty Hospi-
tai in a serious condition. A bullet
from Precinct Detective Robert r. Lang
don's pistol entered the left side of his
back, Just below the shoulder blade, ac-
cording to Dr. M. r. Gilman.
Hospital oficials said the wounded
man was brought there by man who
drove away without identifying himself,
after he had placed the colored man
on q porch in the rear of the hospital.
Z Driven to Hospital.
Langford said that he drove Burton
to the hospital in a small roadster be-
longing to the latter. He did not stop,
he said, because he was in a hurry
to return to the scene of the shooting.
). Langdon, accompanied by Fifth Pre-
cinct Detective F. L. Arlington, was
riding in the latter's automobile at New
Jersey avenue and M street about 8
o'clock this morning, the former said.
They saw q small roadster, occupied
hy two colored men, moving down the
avenue at q high rate of speed. The
officers gave chase, and after q thrilling
pursuit through alleys and side streets,
finally crowded the smaller vehicle to
the curb at South Capitol street.
The colored men jumped out and ran
north on South Capitol street. Two
shots were fired by the officers as they
took up the chase on foot.
At I street the pursued men turned
to the east and ran to One-half street
southeast, where Langdon took aim and
fred ut Burton. The colored man
dropped in his tracks and his compan-
ion was captured by Arlington. The
other colored man. Charles Feels, Is,
of the 1900 block of First street south
west, was charged with speeding. Illegal
transportation and possession OF WINS.
Ky. As yet no charges have been placed
against Burton. ~
Fired ut His Feet.
when Burton turned the corner ana
started to run down street" Langdon
said, ct raised my pistol, took deliberate
aim and fred at his feet. The bullet
struck the pavement just behind him
and ricocheted into his body
Langdon said he fired because he be-
lieyed Burton was trying to take pis-
toll from his pocket. After Burton had
been taken into custody. Langdon said,
he found a .3s-caliber pistol OF Spanish
make in his pocket.
The oficers said they found SO quarts
of corn whisky In the rear compartment
of the roadster.
sIperintendent Of the warehouse OF the
standard Oil Co., located at South Cap
itol and streets. Coyle said that SIX
shots were fired instead Of three, as
claimed by the officers. About so en-
ployes Of his company and bystanders
scattered and ran when the firing began,
he declared.
In front of Langdon and running away
Coyle said. Langdon picked the colored
man I'D after the shooting and tried to
make him walk, but when he could not
he said, he put him In an automobile
and drove to South Capitol street. He
then put the colored man in his own
roadster and started to the hospital.
"I then walked up to the other col
ored man, who was being held BY Ar
rington, and asked him why he had
been arrested" According to Coyle,
Feels answered. "they thought We had
liouor in the car, but We didn't have
any this time"