Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-04
BANDIT IS KILLED
TRYING TO HOLD Up
DRINK SHOP OWNER
One Robber Escapes Fire of
Intended Victims Gun
as Bullet Misses.
Staying JUSTIFIED.
YOUTH, rs, CONTENDS
Sorry I Didn't Get the Other One"
He Says While Awaiting
Coroner's Inquests.

Two years ago q drunken colored
man shot at Sol Buckner, 25-year-old
proprietor Of soft-drink establishment
at 4O1 o street. The bullet missed its
mark. but Buckner resolved to learn
to shoot.
For months he practiced in the base
men and last night when two coIored
hold-up men attempted to rob him his
forethought was proved, and, although
one of the bandits escaped. the leader
died with q bullet from Buckner;s glIn
through his jugular vein. The man
KILLED was Identified as James Edward
Armstrong, 20 years old
In the dead mans hand was clutched
the empty revolver with which he had
attempted to bluff Buckner into turn
ing over his money. The other fed
when he saw his companion fall.
Buckner shot at him just as the door
swung behind him, the slug making
hole in the door,
Il was perfectly justified in shooting
and I'm only sorry that 1 didn't get
the other fellow" Buckner declared
this morning at the twelfth police pre-
cinct, where he was held to await the
coroner's inquest.
When the inquest was held this morn
ing Buckner was exonerated by a
coroner's jury after less than three
minutes delibertation.
Immediately following the verdict, S.
8. MeSser, q lawyer, who lives at 1899
Park road, came to the morgue and
identified the dead holdup man as one
Of two colored men who robbed him
at the point Of pistol a week ago last
Saturday while he was walking along
Thirteenth street at T street.
The holdup then occurred about Z
o'clock In the evening. MeSser thinks
he can identify the other bandit.
He has always kept gun behind
the counter in the store, the young
proprietor said today, but until two
years ago knew little of its operation.
not having fired it more than half q
dozen times in his life.
Mother Walks Into Danger.
Near Christmas in 1926, he said. he
was standing behind the bar one night
when an obviously intoxicated colored
man entered and, rendering o five-
dollar bill, demanded that it be
changed. Because of his condition
Buckner ordered him out. The man
became enraged and attempted to tug
gun from his pocket.
Buckner, seeing his intention, seized
his gun, a 32-caliber revolver, and ran
to the end of the counter. Just then
his mother, Mrs. Eva Buckner, entered
the room. As he tried to persuade her
to leave, the colored man wrenched
the gun from his clothing and leveled
it at Buckner
I'VE stood there like two old duelists.'
Buckner asserted. His gun was point
ed at me and mine was resting on the
counter, leveled at him turned to
force my mother down behind the coun-
ter and just then he fired. The bullet
struck the wall at the height where my
neck had been. If it hadn't been for
me pushing mother, I probably would
have been killed"
Following the incident, he purchased
q .38-cabiler revolver and practiced in
the basement of the store Thinking
himself sufficiently proficient about a
year ago, he left OF practice.
Alone in Store.
Buckner was alone in his store at the
time of the attempted hold-up last night.
and his mother and sister, Miss Lillian
Buckner, had just retired to the floor
above. Buckner was sitting behind the
counter reading magazine when the
bandits entered.
Police are attempting to link Arm
strong with a series of recent corner
store hold-ups in that vicinity. He had
previously been arrested for joy-riding.
His companion Is being sought.