Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-16

1
Johnson, colored, 20
M years old, of North
E&& Brentwood, Md.
Eugene Payne. The Arlington
County grand jury,
meeting today for the opening of the
February term of the Circuit Court
was asked by Commemorative Attor-
ney William c. Cloth to consider the
circumstances surrounding the death
early yesterday of Payne. volunteer
fireman Payne WIS almost instantly
killed when struck by an automobile
said to have been operated by Paul
Schmidt of the TOO block Alaska ave-
nue., Washington.
Stand Taken by Cloth.
In announcing that the case would
be presented to the grand jury, Cloth
said that the facts as presented to him
indicated that Schmidt had failed to
see Payne until after the latter had
been struck and that because Of the
uncertainty as to liability he decided
that it was best to let all of the facts
be brought out in this manner.
Payne, who was one of the founders
and oldest members of the BallSton
Volunteer Fire Department. had been
attending a small fire and was helping
10 TOIl tlOSS dlOIlS WISJH oOuIeFdIO
when Schmidt who said he had been
attending a wedding party at Falls
Church and was proceeding east toward
Washington, struck him. The injured
man was placed in the fire engine and
rushed to Georgetown Hospital, where
he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Released on Bond.
After going to the hospital Schmidt
An. r.
was ordered released under a $4,000
bond by Cloth.
Payne was not only one of the or
ganizers of the fire department but of
the Ballston Citizens Association as
we'll He was also a member of Balls
ton Council, No. SO. Order of Fraternal
Americans. Three members of the lat
ter organization and three members of
the fire department will constitute the
pallbearers.
Surviving him are his mother, Mrs
Columbia Payne; his widow, Mrs. Ida
Henson Payne and four children, Mrs.
Lille Hartke of Washington, Mrs Ber-
tina Darnell of Norfolk William E Payne
of Ballston and Elmer J. Payne of
Washington.
Paynes death is the first to occur
since the volunteer fremen of the
county were placed under an insurance
policy. Previous to this time the board
of county supervisors has assumed re-
sponsibility under an act which au-
thorizes the protection Of volunteer fire.
men.
The board Of directors of the Airing
ton-Falrfax Volunteer Firemen's Asso-
citation met yesterday and voted an ap-
preparation of 5000 to the widow, the
usual death award made by the asso-
citation
Payne was a guard at the Treasury
Department
Struck in Mount Rainier.
johnson was fatally injured yester-
day when struck by speeding automo-
bile believed to bear liquor as he was
about to board a street car at Thirty
fourth street and Rhode Island avenue
In Mount Rainier. The automobile con-
tinued on its way toward Washington
without stopping.
The death car, which was being
chased by two Prince Georges County
policemen, was said to be making be-
tween so and 70 miles an hour when it
struck johnson. The chase began at
Laurel.
johnson was thrown 80 feet, accord
ing to witnesses. His body was picked
up by two motorists and rushed to
Sibley Hospital. Washington, where he
was pronounced dead.
County Policeman Claude Reese said
that he and another officer had been
unable to overtake the death car at
which they said they fired several shots.
two of which pisrced the rear Of the
machine. The officers anticipate the
arrest of the occupants Of the car as
they believe their identity to be known.
Johnson's body was identified by re-
latives at the hospital. He was employed
as a chef in a lunch room at Mount
Rainier.
Injured February /.
Mrs Schwartz who was injured in
an automobile accident, February /, at
Sixth and I streets northwest, died of
her injuries yesterday ct the Sacred
Heart Home, Hyattsville, Md.
Mrs. Schwartz was passenger in an
automobile operated by Mrs. Cora
Rowan Of thu 200 block of v street,
when the machine crashed into another
operated by Thomas Simmons. 81 years
old Of the 400 block Of F street south
west. Simmons will appear before a
coroners jury today.
MACHINES Collide.
Coogan was fatally hurt yesterday
morning when the machine in which
he was a passenger collided with an
other and overturned at Fourteenth
street and South Carolina avenue
Coogsn was riding in an automobile
operated by Walter Groves. 40 years
old OF Westport, when the machine
crashed into one driven by Sylvester
Small, colored. 18 years old Of 219 T
street northeast. Coogan was pinned
beneath the overturned machine He
did at Casualty Hospital of head
injuries.
Small was taken into custody by fifth
precinct police and will testify at the
inquest into the death at the District
Morgue today.
Forced From Road.
Robert Reno, % years old, of X street
near Eleventh street. Washington. suf-
fered cuts TO the forehead, which re-
oIlired several stitches at Emergency
Hospital, as the result of his car being
forced from the road near Laurel, Md,
by an automobile which failed to stop.