Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-20
TWO SHOT, Z HELD
IN ROADHOUSE ROW
Girl Believed Cause of Quar-.
reI-Fifth Man Is
Sought.

Two men are near death at Emer-
gency Hospital. two others are under
arrest and Washington and Maryland
police are searching for fifth man be-
lieyed to have shot the first two during
a quarrel over a girl in Green Gables,
a roadhouse near Suitland, Nd, about
$50 O'Clock this morning.
The wounded men are Charles Wesley
Poutra, 80 years old, OF the 1900 block
of street, and Joe Houser, 80 years
old. of 1900 block of Pennsylvania
avenue. A bullet entered Poutra's alb
domen. while Houser was struck In the
left shoulder. the bullet coming out
through his back. His left arm Is
portra was operated on shortly after
he arrived at the hospital by DIR. Arch
Riddick. but 1t was impossible to remove
the bullet. This morning DR.. Leon
Gordon, who first treated the injured
man. volunteered to submit to a blood
TRANSMISSION. A quart of blood was In
iected into the patient who rallied
slightly. His condition is still critical,
however.
Two Released Under Bond.
erick Behrens, 30 years old. OF 1900
block OF S street, known as John Bun
n.y. was struck on the head during
the fight. He drove his car to Emer-
gency Hospital, where l3 stitches were
taken in his scalp. He was taken into
custody there by Headquarters Detec-
| tives Richard H. Mansfield and Curtis
Trammell, who also arrested John Law
renee Brenner. 81 years old, of the 1900
block of Twenty-first street, when he
arrived with Houser in his car.
Both prisoners were returned today to
Marlboro. Md.
Following a hearing before Justice
of the Peace Harry Gore, Behrens and
Brenner were released under bond as
State witnesses. Behrens' bond was set
at 81 900 and Brenner's at $500. The
hearing was conducted by States At
torney Frank j. Parran.
Before he was arrested, Behrens paid
| in advance his companions hospital
bills. Behrens told detectives he and
Boutra went to the roadhouse together
last night. Shortly afterward. an
| Italian, whose name police refuse to
divulge, came to the place with young
woman and party of friends Brenner
and Behrens said many of the road
| house patrons were drinking.
l
Italian Objects to Dancing.
! Behrens was dancing with the
, Italians girl companion when the man
approached them and objected They
! quarreled, but the matter was settled
amicably and they all went to table
| and sat down. The Italian sat brood
| ing for few minutes and then arose
! to his feet with the remark that L
can lick any one in the place"
You can't lick me-" Behrens chal-
lenged, he told police
The Italian replied by leaning across
the table and striking him, police were
told. AS Behrens staggered backward
another man struck him on the head,
presumably with the butt of revolver.
Man Shoots at Feet.
The man who first hit him then drew
a gun and started shooting at Behrens'
feet, the prisoner declared. Behrens
backed up flight of stairs. In the fol-
lowing melee Poutra and Houser
dropped to the floor. shot by bullets
thought to have come from the Ital-
lan's gun.
Brenner's only part in the fight, he
and Behrens said, was to try and make
peace after the italian had hit Behr-
ems Seeing the serious condition OF
the wounded men, Brenner put Houser
in his machine and rushed him to
Emergency. A taxicab driver who had
been summoned to take a patron home
from the roadhouse volunteered to take
Poutra to the hospital. Although pain
fully injured. Behrens drove his own
car into the city.
Girls Identity Hidden.
According to witnesses, the man who
did the shooting fed from the scene In
car bearing Pennsylvania tags. His
name was given to police by one OF
the. wounded men, who said he was
from Philadelphia. Identity of the girl
who apparently was the cause of the
affair could not be learned.