Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-28
FIGHTING CHANCE"
CONCEDED BENTON.
Maryland Painter Shot in Al.
legged Robbery Attempt.
Two Held as Aids.

ShoG n an alleged attempt to
burglarize store near Bladensburg
Md, Sunday morning, william H. Ben
ton, 28-year -old Hyattsville painter.
was conceded Fighting chance" to
live, by Casualty Hospital physicians
today.
His niece and her husband, Gerald
Stroup of Riverdale, are being held in
$1,000 bond as accomplices. A third
man. who left after taking Benton to
the hospital, is being sought.
About $3.50 o'clock Sunday morning
w. A. Davis, colored proprietor OF the
store at Buena Vista, on the Defense
Highway, was awakened by an unusual
noise at the front door Of his store.
Listening at the door, he heard the
slight, grating noise Of a key being
cautiously inserted In the lock. Step
ping back, Davis raised 45-caliber
rife and fred through the closed door,
Hears Auto Speeding Away.
The explosion was followed by a
stified scream and the sound of rum
ming feet. A few seconds later Davis
heard the claShing of gears as an auto
mobile SpeQ quickly away.
Ten minutes later a woman and three
men, one OF the latter suffering from a
bullet wound In the abdomen, aroused
DR.. w. B. Baker Of University Park.
After hasty examination, the physi-
clan advised that the wounded man be
taken to hospital.
They drove to Casualty Hospital,
where the bullet victim was identified as
Benton The others said they were his
niece and her husband, Gerald Stroup
of Riverdale and Jack Schrodt of Seat
Pleasant.
An examination disclosed that Ben
tons intestlnes had been punCtured in
three places and DR.. A. M. Mcdonald
prepared for an emergency operation.
Meanwhile attaches at the hospital
communicated with Maryland authors
ties. Before the State police arrived
Schrodt disappeared, and subsequent
efforts to locate him have been fruitless.
Changes Made in Story.
The Stroups first told police they had
attended a party at Riverdale Saturday
night, at which Benton was present.
Later, they said, they drove to Chevy
Chase, Seat Pleasant and Baltimore.
When they returned home, they said,
Benton, who boarded with them. was
not there, and that they started to look
for him.
After visiting several relatives with
out finding Benton, they said, they
started back, and just before reaching
their home found him leaning against
a telephone pole. He told them, they
said, that he had been shot by two
strange men, and they took him TO the
hospital.
Sergt. H. @. Machen Of the county
police and County Constable Claude
Reese were not satisfied with this story
and started an investigation.
When they learned Of the attempted
robbery and that Davis thought he
wounded one of the burglars, they ques-
they say secured confession from
both.
Stroup, according to police, admitted
that he and Benton made their attempt
to enter the store while Mrs. Stroup
and Schrodt waited in the machine.
Says He Warned Benton.
Stroup told police that he heard Davis
moving around in the store and warned
Benton, who was trying to Mt key
into the lock, to run. Just as they
started to leave, he said, the shot was
fired.
Benton uaS Cluns 10 IliS ok9SnioA SVoAJ
that he was shot by two strange men,
and prolonged questioning yesterday
failed to change this version. When
his condition permits. the police will
confront him with the alleged con-
feSsion.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stroup, were. placed
under $1,000 bond each by Justice OF
the Peace Herbert J. Mofiat Of Hyatts-
willie for their appearance before the
April term Of the grand jury In Upper
Marlboro. LookoutS have been sent to
adjoining counties for Schrodt and
police believe his arrest Is imminent.
According to Benton's relatives, he
has q wife, who before her marriage
was Miss Irene Harbaugh. They were
separated three years ago. They have
one son, who Is staying with the
r,anfher,s family In pef,Ysvlva mia