Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-27
FIVE FIRST-DEGREE
MURDERS CHARGED
BY GRAND JURORS
Man Held on Second Degree
Count Accused of Hitting
Wife During Quarrel.
COMPLAINT AGAINST TEAR
GAS GUN-USER IGNORED
Man Who Figured in Fatal Auto
Accident Is Held on Man
slaughter Indictment.

Seven persons, all colored, are charged
with various degrees of homicide in the
grand jury's report today. Five are
charged with murder in the first de-
gree, one.with murder in the second de-
gree and one with manslaughter.
First degree Is charged against Ben
jamin Pruitt, who is said to have killed
Elmer Neverson. also colored The
shooting occurred January 10 at 2006
Green's court and Neverson died the
next day.
Ludy Robinson is said to have shot to
death Frank Lloyd, also colored, jan
uary 16 at 7O1 S street.
David Marshall is also charged with
flrSt-degree murder in connection with
the death of Daniel Taylor, also colored
This tragedy also occurred January 16
Taylor was shot at 442 Grace court
southwest.
A joint indictment for first-degree
murder was returned against Arthur
Lanier and James c. Lanier. They are
accused of causing the death of Willie
Coates, also colored, when the latter
sought to interfere in a fight between
two persons January IL near Second
and l. streets southeast
Second-degree murder is alleged
against Lawrence Madison, colored, who
is accused of causing the death of his
wife, Lottie Madison, by striking her
with fiatiron during a quarrel at the
wife's home, 216 d street, last Christ
mas eve.
Walton Clinton Geary is charged with
manslaughter as the result of an auto
mobile accident at New Jersey and
Florida avenues January IL. James R
Butler was killed when the machine
overturned and buried him under it
Hit Man With Glasses.
Because he struck a man wearing
glasses and caused him to lose the sight
of one eye, Emilio r. Torres is charged
with mayhem in an indictment re-
ported today. Torres is alleged to have
struck Alfred A. Weisfeld in a cafe al
629 Pennsylvania avenue December 10
| causing Weisfeld's glasses to be broker
and his left eye permanently blinded
1t is stated.
The grand jurors declined to indici
William DietZ, who was charged with
firing a tear gas gun into the face OF
Stephen w. Kendrick, a taxi driver
following a dispute over the cost of q
ride which had terminated in front OF
the Commodore Hotel Without warn
ing. the police reported, the passenger
drew from his pocket a small device
like a fountain pen and sprayed tear
gas into the eyes of Kendrick. Dietz
is declared to have paid the expenses OF
his victim at the hospital.
A charge OF homicide was also ignored
by the grand jury against Richard H
Hight, who had been accused of being
responsible for the death of George
Stephens December 81. Stephens, II
was reported, had b5en engaged with a
number of companions drinking at Ale
Sixth street and fell down a flight OF
| stairs. A charge of manslaughteI
against James Vernon Clatterbeck was
also ignored.
Three Charges Ignored.
The grand jurors also refused to in
dict lie Roy Douglas, charged with ar
assault; Clarence Minor, joy-riding, and
Joseph F. Marshall grand larceny.
Others indicted and the charges
against them include: Walter Mitchell
McGrady, taking a mortgaged automo-
bile out of the District; Charles VIII
liams, grand larceny; Lora E. Howe
false pretenSes; Samuel Baron, non-
support of minor children; Joseph
Berry, John William Colbert, Charles
David, Robert E. Lawson 1.-TWO cases.
and Howard B. Berry, HOUSEKEEPING
and larceny; Howard B. Berry and
Robert E. Lawson, HOUSEKEEPING; Ray
mond r. Hawkins, William Bradley, Jo-
Seph Eugene Reid, James Russell, Ste
phen Murphy Charles George Pagioli
alias Charles Carl Paglioli; Joseph Par
ham and Harry Willie Wilson, violation
of the national prohibition act: Robert
j. Taylor, Joseph C. Jones and James
Thompson, assault with dangerous
weapon and assault with intent to kill