Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-12
Navy Yard BoiIermaker Dies
With Broken NightstiCk
CIutChed in Hand.
SHOOTING BREAKS UP
REPORTED NOISY PARTY
Two Women and Man Companions
Are Held-Patrolman in Hos
pital With Head Wounds.

A reveler in a party at 1921 Belmont
street early this morning died before
the blaze of policeman's gun after
he had wrenched the officers nightstick
from him and broken it on his head.
Fifteen minutes later, when other
police arrived, the fragment of the club
was still clutched in his hand. The
room was in darkness when the shoot
ing occurred.
The dead man was William Douglas
Of 708 Seventh street southeast, 40
year-old .boilermaker. employed at the
navy yard. Others with him in the
apartment were Thomas Edward Smoot,
"a years old. of Ballston, Va, held
on charge of assault; Miss Margaret
Elizabeth Frye, % years old, in whose
Mae Virginia Campbell, % years old,
of 1917 Riggs place. Both girls are
being held at the House of Detention
as material witnesses. They sare tele-
phone operators. Smoot is a tile setter.
Policeman in Hospital.
The officer, B. F. Howe, 26-year-old
policeman of the eighth precinct, is in
45AAIA 5CAA~y 44OoR4bdA Will 1luIIlGIOuS
lacerations to his scalp and bruised
and badly swollen face from the terrific
beating he received. His condition Is
thought not to be serious.
Howe says he fired three shots from
his service revolver into Douglas body
as the man hit him on the head the
sixth time and broke the club. Howe
had been telled by blow from the fist
OF Smoot, he said today, had dropped
on sofa and sent the bullets into his
assailant's body as Douglas stood over
him.
Police reported that all the occupants
OF the apartment were only partially
clad and had been drinking Howe
says he entered the place when he
neard shouts and curses as he was
patrolling his beat.
According to statements obtained by
Lieut.. Joseph Morgan of the homicide
squad from Smoot, and by Capt. Robert
e. Doyle, commander of the eighth
precinct, from Miss Frye, the party
started shortly after o'clock yester-
day evening.
A Farewell Party.
Douglas was on a short leave of alb
sence to go to New York to investigate
an offer of new job and they decided
TO hold farewell party. Reconstruc-
ing what happened, police say that
Smoot was at Miss Frye's apartment
when Douglas accompanied by Miss
Campbell arrived just after dinner. An
other couple came in little later, but
about o'clock they went home.
Inc remaining four decided on an
automobile ride. Before returning to
the apartment shortly before midnight.
police were told, they purchased half
q gallon of liquor and several bottles of
glngerale. Both Smoot and Miss Frye
said they began drinking and the hours
slipped by almost without their knowl-
edge.
Howe was patrolling his beat about
3:l5 this morning when he heard
noises coming from the apartment.
Intending to warn the occupant to be
quiet, he went into the building and
Knocked on the door. Miss FRYE in
quired who he was and he replied he
was an officer. Howe said he heard
through the door one of the men say
not to let him In. The girl, however,
asked him to wait few minutes.
Howe said he waited in the hall
from IL to Is minutes. Meanwhile an
occupant of neighboring apartment,
disturbed by the noise, telephoned to
the eighth precinct and Policeman C. C.
William was sent to the house in the
emergency car.
When the door was finally opened.
the officer declared, the entire party
was In the room before him.
Asked for Warrant.
Have you a warrant?" Miss Frye
Howe replied that he had not and
demanded the names of the men,
They refused to give me their
Continued on Page 2, Column g.