Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13
KILLING
INQUEST DELAYED
Officer Who Shot Navy Yard
Worker Is Confined in
Hospital.

The inquest into the death Of Will
liam Douglas, 40-year-old navy yard
boilermaker. who was slain early yes
terday by Policeman B. F. Howe of the
eighth precinct, has been postponed in
definitely until the officer RECEIVERS suf-
ficiently from the beating he received,
before shooting Douglas, to appear be-
fore the coroner's jury.
Douglas took Howze's night stick from
him and broke 1t on his head when the
officer came to an apartment at 1921
Belmont street to quell a disturbance
during the course of an admitted liquor
party. The officer Is in Emergency
Hospital with a badly lacerated and
bruised head and face. It4was necessary
to take a dozen stitches IN his scalp.
Mai Henry G. Pratt, superintendent
of police, has received a report of the
affair from Capt. Robert e. Doyle of
the eighth precinct, and although re-
fusing to comment as to whether Howe
was justified in shooting Douglas he has
taken no action toward the suspension
of the oficer. Meanwhile Howe is
technically in custody at the hospital.
Companion Under Bond.
Thomas Edward Smoot "a years old
of Ballston, Va, who together with
Douglas and two 23-year-old telephone
operators, were at the party. was ar
rested Immediately following the shoot
ing for assault on Howe. Late yeSter-
day he was released under 5000 bond.
The two girls, Margaret Elizabeth
Frye, in whose apartment the party was
held, and Mae Virginia Campbell, of
1917 Riggs place, were stili being held
at the House of Detention last night as
material witnesses. When the officer
entered the apartment, he said. all its
occupants were in various stages Of
undress.
According to attaches Of the women's
Bureau, the two young women seemed
composed last night, although during
the day Miss Campbell had been
slightly historical. Douglas had been
Miss Campbell'S escort to the party,
which was being held in his honor,
New York, where he had been offered
a job.
Howe was patrolling his beat about
3:l5 o'clock yesterday morning when he
heard noises coming from the Frye
apartment He entered the building
and knocked on the door. Howe said
one Of the men told the girl not to let
him in. Instead. however, she requested
him to wait a few minutes.
Waited Is Minutes.
Howe said he waited in the hall
almost IS minutes before he was finally
admitted. Meanwhile an occupant of
neighboring apartment. disturbed by
the noise, telephoned the eighth pre-
cinct and Policeman c. c. Williams
was sent there in the police emergency
car
Smoot. the two young women and
Howe all told Lieut.. Joseph c. Morgan
of the homicide squad substantially the
same story of what occurred when
Howe entered. They said that Smoot
hit Howe In the eye with his fist,
knocking him onto a lounge in the
corner. Then Douglas snatched his
baton and struck him repeatedly on the
head.
The oficer said that his assailant
struck him twice after he had leveled
his gun at him. He fred three shots.
all of them taking effect In Douglas
body. Apparently death was instan-
taneous.
Smoot hurried from the apartment
to telephone for an ambulance and the
two women, scantily clad. ran scream
ing into the hallway Miss Frye left
the building and hid in the tonneau
of q parked car until the police ar
rived. Miss Campbell went to an ad-
iacent apartment. When Smoot re-
turned Howe refused to allow him to
leave the scene of the shooting again.
Last night at Emergency Hospital
physicians said Howze's condition was
much improved and 1t is thought now
that his skull is not fractured, as was
first feared.