The Washington times., 1930-02-10
FROM
Alto MISS
LEWARk
fcontinued from Pege ~

Continued from Page ~
clares that the shots were fired
by unidentified occupants Of Q
large, cream -colored touring car
Two shots were fired at the con-
ductor while the street car was in
motion at New Hampshire and
Georgia Avenues Northwest, and
five more shots were fired at
Lewark while he was outside the
street car at the end Of the line at
Soldiers Home. None Of the shots
struck their mark.
Yesterday afternoon L. q
Parker, Tenth precinct policeman,
discovered a cream-colored tour
ing car, answering Lewark's de-
scription, abandoned at Eighth
and Randolph Streets Northwest,
about six blocks from the scene
Of the shooting. ---.---.-.
Car Stolen
Both tires on the left side of
the machine were flat. The ma
chine proved to nave been re
ported stolen at 1:4O o'clock yes
terday morning by Rufus r.
Hewey, 1900 block Nineteenth st.
N. w. The shooting was reported
about ! o'clock.
Lewark's statement declared
that as his car was proceed 7g
along Georgia Avenue at New
HanuShire he noticed a big,
crear1.colored touring car, with
top and side curtsinS up; parked.
He said that he paid no particu-
lar attention to the car until two
shots rang out and the machine
sped away along New Hampshire
Avenue.
"I thought 1t was just back
firing" the conductor continued,
until after we turned dawn
UpShur Street and again crossed
New Hampshire Avenue, where
we found the automobile waiting
again.
"The car followed us out to the
end of the line, and there as I
stepped from the street car to
switch the pole there were five
more shots, two first and then
three more.
IT saw the flashes and then
the automobile again sped away.
A few seconds later a mounted
policeman who had heard the
shots came through the Soldiers
Home grounds, and we told him
what had happened"
Reports Of the gunplay were
confirmed by several citizens Of
the section. Among those who
said they heard the shooting
were Mrs. w. T. Sanford, 1000
block New Hampshire Ave. N. w.;
Mrs. E. r. Graves, 410O block
New Hampshire Ave. N. w., and
r: s.. Benhanr, 4100 block Fifth
ST. N. w.
The report of the traction COM
pany said that no damage was
done to the street car. The re-
port Of the motorman and con-
ductor was turned in when they
went on duty yesterday after
noon.
The testimony of Lewark was
considered of chief Importance
among that of more than 900 per-
sons questioned by the Depart
ment Of Justice in the inveSciga-
tion Of the death of Mrs. Vir-
ginia Mcpherson, who was
Strangled to death in her Park
Lane apartment supposedly early
the morning of September IS,
1929.
It was largely the story told by
Lewark, it is believed, that was
responsible for the decision of
Special Prosecutor John Laskey
to hold a second Grand Jury
hearing on the case.
Lewark told of taking a man,
whom he positively identified as
Robert A. Mcpherson, jr., hus-
band Of the slain woman, down
town on the street car a few
minutes. past midnight on the
morning of September 13, the
night Of Virginia MCPHERSON
strange death. The man alighted
at Ninth Street and New York
Avenue Northwest, Lewark said.
The motorman said that he was
positive of the date, as it was
his birthday, and also said he
was certain of the identification
OF his passenger, as he knew Nc.
PherSon personally.
The Grand Jury, however, ap-
parently did not attach enough
Importance to Lewark'S testimony,
which was borne out by the mo-
tornnan Of the car, to justify in
dictment of Mcpherson, who in
troduced many alibi witnesses
whose ctories contradicted that of
the conductor.