Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-10
Victim Shot Riding With Two
on Way to Sell Stolen
Pistol.
FATAL BULLET PIERCED
SEAT OF AUTOMOBILE
Shooting Suspect Stole His Gun
and Cash, Third Man Arrested
Tells Police.

Three men w;re being held by police
today in connection with the killing OF
Charles Frederick Brandenburg, 38-year-
old father of seven children, about l
o'clock this morning, while riding in
an automobile mar Fourteenth and 1
streets.
Those under arrest are Nelson Harri-
son, IS. who said he came here recently
from New York and has no perman Mt
address; Charles A. Neill, jr., IS, of 1923
Twelfth street. and William Everett
Waddell, SO, of 637 l street.
Brandenburg, according to police, was
shot by Harrison with 45-caliber au-
tomato. which was stol-n short time
before from Waddell.
Shot While Riding.
At the time of the shooting, Brandon
burg and Harrison were riding with
Neill in the latter's car, seeking a pur-
chaser for thu pistol, it was said.
AS the machine passed T street, going
south on Fourteenth. the gun ''choked,"
both Neill and Harrison told police Har-
rison, who was on the rear seat, was
examining the weapon, he said, when it
was accidentally discharged.
The bullet. according to Detective
Sergt. Michael Dowd. who is investi-
eating the case, went through the
front seat and pierced the body Of
Brandenburg, who was sitting beside
Neill.
Brandenburg was taken to Emergency
Hospital where a staff physician pro-
nounced him dead. officials of the
institution notified police and both
Neill and Harrison were placed under
arrest.
Waddell was arrested short time
later in his ROOM where he was asleep.
VI ln11
said he met Harrison last night and
they started drinking together. Later.
Waddell related. he took Harrison TO
his room and they retired.
When Waddell aWoke, he continued,
Harrison was gone-and so were his
pocketbook, watch and pistol, as well
as several neckties.
Tried to Sell Gun.
Brandenburg and Neill are said TO
have met Harrison at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. Unsuccessful in
his attempt to sell them the gun, he
accompanied them to restaurant near
Fourteenth and u streets. The shooting
occurred a few minutes after the TT %
left the lunch room.
Harrison, according to Sergt. Dowd.
has been arrested for minor offenses
several times in Baltimore. He was
planning to return to that city at the
time of the shooting. the detective said.
Waddell told Sergt. Dowd he pur-
chased the gun from D street second
hand dealer for $40 not long ago. Har-
rison is said to have a sister living
in Anacostia.
Besides his wife, Mrs. Alice Branden-
burg, and their seven children. Bran
denburg is survived by his widowed
mother, Mrs. Mary Jane Brandenburg,
726 Sixth street southwest; a brother,
KurtZ, who lives in Woodbridge, and
sister Mrs. Myrtle Meadows, Arlington
County, Va.
Boy Supports Family.
With the exception of a married
daughter-Mrs. Eleanor Dwyer, l6. of
318 C street Mrs. Brandenburg and
her other children are dependent upon
a son, Emory, 10, for support, she said,
Brandenburg, a former taxicab driver,
had been unemployed for about two
months, his wife explained. She said
Emory, who earns SIS a week as an
apprentice printer. is the only child
old enough to work.
The other children are Betty, IS;
Mary, IL; Frances, IL; Myrtle, 8, and
Glars nee, S.
Brandenburg, according to his wife.
was handicapped in his efforts to OBJ
tain employment by the fact he was
convicted on liquor charge about two
years ago and still was on probation.
AS a result of the conviction, she added,
his drivers permit was revoked and he
was unable to continue driving cab.
Until recently, he worked in a Ninth
street pool room.