Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-19
MAN, SHOT BY DRY
OFFICER, MAY DIE
Reported Attempt to Escape
Is Blamed for Wounding
by Policeman.

James G. Grotts, %, of Lexington,
N. c., is in a critical condition at
Casualty Hospital with a bullet hole
through the lung as the result of an
alleged attempt early today to escape
from Spottswood Gravelly, prohibition
enforcement officer at the third pre-
cinct. Gravelly said that he shot
Grotts when the latter made a move
ment as If to draw gun from his
pocket. GrottS later was discovered
to be unarmed.
Policeman Ardin G. Swartzel of the
fourth precinct Is under arrest at the
third precinct in connection with an al
legged attempt TO extort money from
women in an apartment house in the
1900 block OF First street which pre-
cipitated the shooting. Gravelly is not
under suspension.
A hold-up OF the same house last
Saturday by some unidentified gang
sters, thought to have been from Phila-
delphia, also was thrown into the story
of today's shooting, when 1t was learned
that GraveIly and Detective w. F..
Burke were investigating the hold-up
when the shooting took place.
The hold-up which Burke was in
In jewelry and $165 in cash, according
to a complaint made to the Police De-
partment by Della Greathouse, Of the
First street address. She said that at
an early hour Sunday morning, two
men came into the place and held up
eight men and four women who were
there, robbing all the women If their
jewelry and the men of their wallets.
Car Is Found Abandoned.
The men are thought to have used 3
stolen roadster belonging to Miss Helen
Robinson of 1929 F street, daughter OF
the former Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy.
This was reported stolen to police by
Gordon Z. Barter, her chauffeur, who
found the garage door jimmied Sunday
morning. The car later was found
abandoned near the corner Of Eight
zenith and F streets.
Headquarters detectives believed that
the hold-up was staged by gang OF
racketeerS from other cities and gave
that as the reason for the careful watch
on the house at the time the shooting
occurred. According to Miss Great
houses complaint, after the holdup
men had taken all the jewelry and
money available they robbed the men
VI tIleLT tIOuSeTS ana SHOES, anu IOCkSQ
all of those in the house in a room and
escaped in the large roadster.
Were Guarding House.
According to stories gathered from
various police sources, Burke had asked
Gravelly to help him keep a watch on
the house as they were expecting the
return of man alleged to be gang
Ster
Marie Foster, %, a resident of the
apartment house. who knew the police
men were lowering near, went to them
and complained that man exhibiting a
police badge had tried 70 extort $50
from her.
Burke and Gravelly, who had been in
the rear, went to the front where a
coupe was jrawn UP at the curb in
which three men were sitting. One of
them, Grotts, jumped out and ran
toward q street. Gravelly followed him
and eventually shot him, while Burke
placed the other two under arrest and
took them to the third precinct. One
of these was Policeman Swart1el and
the other gave his name as John c..
Elgin, "a, of the 1900 block of K street.
.Swartzel and Elgin now are held at
the third precinct on a charge of in
veStigation. Inspector Thadeus Bean
said that Miss Foster had identified
Swartzel as the man who had attempted
to extort money from her. He said that
Swartzel had dictated statement deny
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