Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-31
BULLET IN Staying
SOUGHT BY POLICE
Lieut.. Fowler Believes SIugs
in Murder and HoId-up
Link Two Crimes.

The 45-caliber bullet which killed
Mamie Solomon, 29-year-old taxicab
driver, on Wednesday night was being
sought by police today as the key to
the mysterious Staying.
At the same time, police were con-
tinuing their search for three colored
men. who attempted to hold up a gro
Gerry at 1856 South Capitol street about
two hours before Solomon was shot.
bullet fired by one Of the bandits
when Isadore Koblem, proprietor of the
store, yelled for help, was OF the same
ealiber as the one which pierced the
taxi drivers neck, according to Lieut.
John H. Fowler, police ballistics ex-
pert.
Starts Search for Slug.
Comparison of the slug found in the
grocery and a discharged shell picked
up near Solomon's wrecked cab re-
vealed the same .45-caliber automatic
apparently was used in both the muir
der and the attempted robbery, Lieut.
Fowler said.
To verify this theory, however, the
ballistics expert began search for the
missing bullet, which passed through
Solomon'S neck.
After an examination Of the slain
mans taxi and a search at the scene
of the shooting had failed to disclose
any trace of the slug, Lieut.. Fowler Of
fered a SIS reward for its recovery.
Police Get New Details.
Two boys living in the neighborhood
in which the killing occurred, found two
bullets and turned them over to Lieut.
Fowler but the ballistics expert decided
neither of them was the one which
caused Solomon's death.
The theory the taxi driver was shot
by the South Capitol street bandits was
strengthened. police said, when they es--
tablished definitely that three men were
involved in the Staying.
They refused to divulge the source OF
this information.
Previously police had been told by
witnesses that two men were seen run
ming through nearby alley immedi-
ately after the shooting.
Torn Shirt Hints Struggle.
Lieut.. Fowler's report, coupled with
the new information about the number
and color of the men seen near the
murder scene, caused Inspector Frank S.
w. Burke to adopt the theory robbery
was the motive for the killing.
The hold-up theory was strengthened
by the fact the cab drivers shirt was
torn and a small amount of money was
scattered about on the floor of his au-
tomobile.
The torn shirt, it was pointed out,
| indicated Solomon was struggling with
some one at the time the shot was fired
and caused his car to crash into a tree
near Union and o streets southwest as
his lifeleSs form slumped over the steer
| ing wheel.
Detailed descriptions of the bandits
who attempted to rob the South Capt.
toll street grocery, furnished by Kob-
| lem, and fingerprints found on a piece
| of glass from one of the windows of
Solomon's machine were considered the
most important clues in the possession
of police.
Three Arrested in Case.
| Belief two colored men who held up
Sam Wittenberg, proprietor of a tailor
shop at 342 Eighth street northeast,
yesterday afternoon may have been
members of THE trio thought to have
slain Solomon and attempted to rob
Koblem also was expressed by police.
Two women and a man, all colored,
were arrested In connection with the
killing but no charge has been placed
against any of them.
/ Although a coroner's jury was sworn
in over the taxi drivers body yester-
day, the inquest will not be held until
police have made more thorough in
yestigation of the murder.
Solomon lived at TOT Quincy street.