Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-13
Secretary to See if Police
Are Properly Protecting
Legations.
SALvAD0RIAN DIPLOMAT
Is BEATEN AND ROBBED
Seventeen Stitches Required to Sew
Up Scalp Wounds of DR.. Don
Carlos Leiva.

An investigation to determine whether
Washington police are giving foreign
ENJOYS proper protection was ordered
today by Secretary Of State Stimson as
result of last nights attack on DR..
Don Carlos Leiva. counselor and charge
d'af1aires Of the legation of FL Salvador
at 2601 Connecticut avenue.
DR.. Leiva is at Emergency Hospital,
where II stitches were required to sew
three gashes in his head, inflicted bv a
band OF thieves whom he surprised as
they were removing 81 cases of liquor
from the legation. While his condition
was serious when he was admitted to
the institution, physicians said it has
improved and he probably will be dis
charged soon.
In announcing the inquiry by the
oCate department. Secretary Stimson
pointed out international law accords
representatives Of foreign governments
all necessary protection to their per-
sons and property. The secretary said.
however, he would not go SO far as In
say the result of the inquiry might be
24-nour police guard at all embassies
and legations.
1t is understood the State Depart
ment Will issue an expression of re-
greet for the incident.
Attacked at 2 AM.
DR.. Leiva, who is 81 years old. was
attacked about am, when he returned
from the home of a friend with whom
he had been playing cards. AS he en-
tered the building he saw a man sitting
on the steps leading to the second floor.
The intruder snapped a fiashlight in
DR.. Leivas face, at the same time COM
handing him to stick 'em upr'
Although he saw a revolver cleaning
in the robbers hand, DR.. LeiVa strobe
up the stairs and grasped the thief,
who had risen to meet him, by the
throat, The struggle which followed was
furious, the combatantS pushing and
pummeling each other down the stairs
and up and down the hall.
Suddenly the intruder struck DR.. Leiva
over the head with the butt of his pistol,
nearly flooring him. DR.. Leiva was
dazed for moment, but lunged at his
opponent again. AS he did so he was
struck two more blows in rapid success
sion. At the same time two shots were
fired, but both of them missed DR.. LeiYa.
With blood pouring from three gashes
In his head, DR.. Leiva staggered from
the legation and reached a delicatessen
store across the street.
IL Stitches Are Taken.
He told Achilles Orphanos, night man.
ager of the store, what had happened.
Orphanos telephoned police headquar-
tiers and took DR.. Leiva to a neighbour
hood physician. After receiving treat
ment there, DR.. Leiva was taken to
Emergency Hospital, where surgeons
put II stitches in his wounds They
said an X-ray examination will be
necessary to determine whetheE he Is
suffering from a fractured skull
Police searched the neighborhQcd, but
found no trace Of the robberA. They
broadcast lookout for three automo-
bileS which OrphanoS told them he had
seen cruising up and down Connecticut
avenue short time before. Occupants
OF the cars had used his telephone four
times, OrphanoS said.
Although DR.. Leiva saw only one man,
it is believed four or more were in the
group which rsided the wine cellar.
Ten cases of liquor had been removed
to a yard in the rear, and gunnysacks
had been ripped open and their con-
tents carried from the wine cellar.
II Gases Are Missing.
1t is believed the thieves were placing
the liquor in machines when DR.. Leiva
returned According to police, check
up revealed II cases are missing.
A f1ashlight and a small crowbar
to headquarters, where they were
to headquarters, where they will be
examined for fingerprints. Police believe
the light and the bar, in the hands of
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