Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29
Opportunity to Test Legality
of abbreviated" Body Is
Given by Reports.
ROBBERY Staying LAID
TO FOUR COLORED MEN
Ten Counts Accuse Quartet of Kill.
ing Filling Station Employe in
Attempted Hold-Up.

Ample opportunity to test the legality
OF its proceedings is contained in the
first report of indictments by the
abbreviated" grand jury of % persons,
which was filed today with Chief JUS
tice Walter I. Mccoy. The grand jurors
indicted six persons for murder in the
first degree and one for manslaughter.
Some of these cases are sure to reach
the Court of Appeals, where final de-
cision will be made of the validity of
sessions by a grand jury of % instead
of the old practice of maintaining %
on its membership, which has obtained
for so years in this jurisdiction.
First-degree murder is charged In an
indictment against Joseph Hardy, James
E. Crawford, Carl NJ. Terry and Benja-
min Branson, all colored, in connection
with the killing of Philbert j. Bitner, an
attendant at a gas-filling station at
Sixth street and Rhode Island avenue.
on last Thanksgiving night. The in
dictment is in 10 counts, of which
charge premeditated murder, the first
counts placing the pistol in the hand
of each of the four defendants, the
fifth count placing the weapon in the
hand of one of the defendants, the
identity of whom is unknown to the
grand jurors. The last five counts
charge a killing while engaged in an
attempt to commit a robbery. The
sixth to the ninth counts place the
pistol as in the first four counts and the
NJ an
one of the defendants.
BOngers Is Indicted.
George Bongers, 43, who shot his wife,
Eva lola Bongers, 80, in Judiciary
Square October 5 last and then shot
himself, was indicted for murder in the
first degree, following the wife's death,
which occurred three days after the
shooting. BongerS was in the hospital
for a long time, and his life was in the
balance for many days.
First degree murder also IS alleged
against Lawrence A. Gray, colored
Mary c. Brown, also colored, following
an argument at 1745 Kalorama road
September 16 last.
Two assaults to rob are charged
against James Venney. colored. who is
said to have attacked two white women
November 3. The first alleged victim
was Mrs. Lillian v. Funkhouser, 211
C street. who was struck on the head
with brick and her purse containing
SIS taken. Later the same evening
Venney Is charged with attacking Miss
Catherine F. Downing near st. Aloysius
Church as she was coming from the
church.
Weiner Is Exonerated.
Daniel Lambert, colored, was indicted
for manslaughter. He is said to have
caused the death of william Smith,
also colored, December last at 5718
Blaine street northeast.
Grand jurors exonerated Lyman
Weiner, young white man, of a charge
OF homicide in connection with the
death OF Mrs. Annie Shea, who was
struck by truck driven by Weiner
early in the morning of November 20 as
she was on her way to early mass. There
was misty rainfall and the streets were
slippery. the grand jurors were told.
SllaS Carter, colored, was cleared in
the death of Ruth Lewis, also colored.
who was shot August at 31212
Virginia avenue southwest. The shoot
ing was declared accidental.
Other charges ignored include: VIII
liam Wright, housebreaking; Pewee
Paul, depreciation on private property,
and Lew Kekenes. larceny after trust.
Other Indictments Listed.
Others indicted and the charges
against them include: Alphonso Hill
1.-TWO cases. and John o. Macon, assault
with dangerous weapon; Lew Kekenes,
larceny after trust: Calvin Scott,
Raleigh Vrannock. alias Raleigh Ban
mock, robbery; Delana B. Duff, alias
Jack Perry. violating white slave traffic
act; Karl Esper, forgery and uttering;
Jerome w. EelSer. non-support; Melvin
J. Quinn, removing mortgaged property;
Wesley S. Smith and John Glenn.
HOUSEKEEPING ans larceny; William
Richardson, Hazel Curtis. Marie Huff and
George Young. grand larceny; Robert
]. Brooks, housebreaking and larceny:
Robert j. Brooks. James WalSAs Ecn-
dali, Frank P. Thomas, Merrill rsosrcs,
John F. Coltrene e cases.. robbery:
Arthur B. Wilson, Lawrence Edward
Caylor and Thomas Ballard, non-sur1f
port: Stanley P. Sampson, Joseph ~
Fletcher, George Bell and Roosovc.s
Rogers. joy-riding; Philip N. McAtel.
grand larceny and joy-riding: Hez,c "a
Randolph, carnaf knowledge: Thcr1,s
Simms, assaulting with dangsrs,,;
weapon; Frank M. Drake, false r.,-.
lenses; Daniel E. Lee, housebres 49,.
and larceny; Latimer Matthews, hoo:c-
breaking