Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-14
GUN BATTLE WON
AGAINST 3 BANDITS
Maj. Edward L. Potter of D.
C. Unhurt in Capturing
Gun at Fl. Monroe.

HAMPTON, Va, August 14.-Held uE
by three highwaymen early yesterday
morning 100 yards from the Mill Greek
guard house at Fort Monroe, Maj
Edward L. Potter of Washington wrested
the gun leveled at him from one of the
bandits and engaged them in a battle
The bandits escaped. More than SO
shots were fired
To the inaccurate aim of the high
waymen Maj Potter and Pvt Herbert
T. Powers, Headquarters Battery, 5lst
C. A. c., and sentry on duty, who came
to his aid, owe their lives. Bullets
struck the roadway and whistled over
head.
The bandits automobile was only 80
yards away at the height of the
shooting. &
Believes Driver Struck.
Corpl. Lonsilchto, on duty at the
guard house, believed the driver of the
highwayman's automobile had been
struck by a bullet. He said the old
Ford touring car stopped and appar-
emily changed drivers after leaving the
post.
Mai. Potter was entering the reserva-
ton when held up. The highwayman's
automobile drew alongside, and one of
the three knocked on the window of his
automobile, instructing him to stop.
Apparently not satisfied. the man fired
through the left front window. shatter-
ing the glass, as the major stopped the
machine under a light between the
Phoebus Bridge and Mill Creek guard
house.
A pistol was pressed to his stomach
and he was ordered to get back and
drive" as he stepped from his ma
chine. Grabbing the gun barrel. Maj
Potter wrested it from his assailant, a
man of medium height, weighing about
$50 pounds and with a handkerchief
over his face.
After the scuffie the highwaymen
opened fire. Standing under the street
light, Maj. Potter returned the fire
with the gun taken from the bandit
As bullets rained about him, he ran
to cover behind an old cannon mount
ed on the driveway. Pvt. Powers join
ed him in sending fuSillade toward
the bandits.
After discharging several rounds the
highway1nen drove onto the reservation
ut Fort Monroe, Maj. Potter said.
While Corp Lonsilchto attempted to
obtain reinforcements through the OFF,
Ger of the day, the bandit car returned,
bound for Phoebus, and, trailing an
other car, as the touring car came
abreast of the guard house, Powers rec
ognized it. He and Maj. Porter opened
fire again. The guns were answered by
another fusillade from the highwaymen.
A survey of the guard house porch yes
terday showed that four bullets had
embedded themselves in the woodwork.
The touring car stopped on the bridge
for a few seconds after the final ex-
change of bullets, and it was then that
Corp. Lonsilchto believed drivers of the
car were changed.
Aside from minor cuts inflicted by
flying glass when a shot from the
bandits gun shattered the window of
the car, Maj Porter was unhurt He
Is on duty with the 503d Coast Artil-
lery, Reserve Corps Unit. at Fort
Monroe, for IA days training. Maj.
Potter is an attorney for the Bureau
of Internal Revenue, Washington, in
civilian life, and resides there at 1901
Sixteenth street. Maj. Potter had no
money on his person. The officer be-
lieved the bandits were looking for an
other party, probably the owner of a
machine similar to his Lincoln road
ster. The Washington attorney was
holding as a souvenir of his unusual
experience the revolver he took from
the bandit. In the stock of the weapon
were three notches.