Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
COAST GUARDS KILL
FLEEING SUSPECT.
Buffalo Police Lieutenant's
Son BIeeds to Death From
Bullet Wound.
By the Associated Press.

/
BUFFALO. N. Y, December 26.-Eu-
gene F. Downey, jr., 81, son Of Police
Lieut.. Eugene F. Downey of this city,
bled to death last night after being
shot by Coast Guardsmen in the Co.
2245, which was partoling the Niagara
River for rum runners and narcotic
smugglers.
Downey and a companion, in motor
boat known as the Dodge, were suspect
ed Of having aboard a load Of liquor
from Canada.
After the shooting the Dodge was
found to be empty. Downey's companion
escaped after the Dodge had been run
against a Buffalo pier.
Medical Examiner Rocco G. De Do
miniciS said today he was at loss Just
how to proceed in the case, due to the
attitude of Richard H. Templeton, Fed
eral attorney for this district.
Bars Questioning Of Guards.
Templeton gave orders that the med
ical examiner should not be permitted
to question the Coast Guardsmen con-
nected with the shooting.
DR.. De Dominicis was allowed to in
spect the Dodge, which has five bullet
holes, three above the water line and
two below.
The fact that Downey was shot in one
leg led to speculation.
"The river was rough last night" De-
tective Chief Thomas =. Riordan of the
Buffalo department, said today, "and 1t
does not seem reasonable that Downey
would be standing up in that 26-foot
boat while the waves were tossing the
Scvrno
were firing at the craft"
The medical examiner said he was
convinced that none of the five bullets
that struck the boat wounded Downey.
He voiced the opinion that the speed
boat outdistanced the Government
chaser and that the unidentified pilot
of the Dodge quickly lashed his boat
to the dock, climbed up the rope onto
the pier and ran away. He further
| theorized that Downey stood up and
attempted to climb UP on the dock
and was shot down then.
Downey was bleeding profusely when
Coast Guardsmen hove upon the scene
Much difficulty was experienced in get
ting him ashore, the pier being high,
and both police and firemen were called
to aid In the task. The wounded man
died 20 minutes after reaching a hos
pital Surgeons were quoted as saying
the wounded leg promptly his life would
have been saved.
Faced Rum Law Trial.
Last Friday Downey pleaded not
guilty to charge of conspiracy to
Smuggle liquor and was released in $1o.-
Rudolph Thompson, Asa Ennis and
Orville Grant were given as the names
OF the Coast Guardsmen connected with
last nights tragedy.
Coast Guard said that the Dodge was
sighted by Coast Guardsmen at 4:40
pm. on Erie Beach, Ontario. At the
same time, he said, four other men
were seen bringing a small boat down
over the ice in the Niagara opposite the
foot OF GeneSee street, Buffalo. The
officer in charge Of the Buffalo station,
the commander said, Immediately dis
patched the CG-2245 to the harbor en-
trance to await the coming Of the sup
posed rum boat, later identified as the
Dodge, into the harbor.
The Dodge, Rasmussen said, was
cruising without lights. The Coast
Guard craft hailed her, but she failed
to heave to. After the usual required
signals were given, one of the men
aboard the Government craft fired at
the motor boat, the commander ex-
planned.
A formal report on the Staying OF
Eugene F. Downey, jr, son Of a police
lieutenant at Buffalo, by U. S. Coast
Guards had not yet been received by
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
Lowman, he said at noon today
Pending study of the formal report
Mr. Lowman said he would make nc
comment on the matter.