Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-08
SLAYER OF OFFICER
DIES FROM WOUNDS
IN HOSPITAL TODAY

CONTINUED From First Page)
States Navy from 1917 TO 1924, serving
as q first-class petty officer with the
hattleship squadron. He was born in
New London, Conn.
The rookie officer, who went to his
death while playing lone hand in the
capture of the colored desperate, left
mute evidence that he was game to
the last. When found his body was
lying across that of the bandit, and
hands. Pierce died within a few mo-
lnents after he was struck, according
t., Coroner T. Marshall Jones OF this
city, from a .32-eailber bullet which
struck him high in the chest.
The gun duel, which took place about
one-half mile north OF the Alexandria
City line on the Alexandria Washington
road, in Arlington County, but within
the 1-mile police jurisdiction Of the
city. was the elimination of night Of
hold-ups here. Five men reported that
a colored man. armed with gun, held
them up before midnight Saturday
night, and a gasoline filling station at
tendant was robbed of between $40 and
SIS in change by q bandit who entered
the station from the rear about
o'clock yesterday morning.
Bandit Admits Hold ups.
Capt. w. w. Campbell of the local
Police Department said the colored man
admitted to him he had committed the
hold-ups About $l4 in change and 50
In bills were found on the man when
captured.
Pierce, who was stationed near Four
Mile Run following an accident there
earlier yesterday, Is believed by Capt.
Campbell to have seen q man answer
ing the description of the hold-up man
as he started back to headquarters in
his police car some time after o'clock
in the morning. knowing that the man
had a gun, Capt Campbell believes
Bierce drove part of the way TO the city
and asked q motorist to follow him
back to where he had seen the bandit.
Meanwhile the colored man had
moved over beyond the city line when
Pierce came upon him. The story as
reconstructed by Capt. Campbell then
would indicate that the bandit fired as
Pierce stepped from his car to arrest
him. and that the bullet shattered the
windshield of the officers car. Both
, then fired at close range until their.
guns were empty. sinking to the ground
In final death grapple.
E. B. Higgins OF 1927 Eleventh street,
Washington. told police that shortly
after O'Clock Pierce pulled up beside
| his car on the railroad bridge on North
Washington street extended and said.
For Gods sake. follow me-" With
that Higgins reported, Pierce set on at
high speed north. Higgins followed
/ to Potomac Yards. where he stopped to
call local police He then drove to the
scene of the duel. where he found
Pierce lying across the colored man.
He kicked the gun from the colored
mans hand and returned TO Potomac
and again called police.
Had Thrown Away Gun.
When Sergt Heber Thompson Of the
local force arrived the colored nan had
extricated himself from beneath Pierce
and had taken off a pair of overalls
he had on and thrown them with
Pierce's gun down an embankment
Police believe that the man thought
he was throwing away his own gun
when he disposed Of the officers
weapon. Pierce's gun and the over
alls were recovered from nearby
ditch
Jack Allen, a reporter of The Star.
and G. j. Love of 1928 M street, WASH
ington, took Pierce to the Alexandria
Hospital, where .he was pronounced
dead by, Coroner Jones. Sergt. Thomp-
son took Wroten In and established a
police guard over him.
i An inquest into the affair will be held
some time this week. according to Cor
oner Jones Funeral arrangements for
the dead policeman have not been COM
pleted.
Pierce was Che fourth policeman to
| have Been aAet "a the histery q the