Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-29
POLICE GUN FIGHTS
RESULT IN SUICIDE
AND TWO WOUNDED
Man Who Kills Self Had Shot
Estranged Wife 3 Times
Before Pistol Battle.
ALL ARE BADLY HURT
AND WOMAN MAY DIE
Lone Officer Shoots Down Wielder
of Revolver When Two Bullets
Strike Second Subduer.

Cornered by two policemen last night
in his apartment at I'LL Columbia
road, where he had barricaded himself
after shooting his estranged wife three
times, Joshua H. Burke, 35, colored,
turned his gun upon himself and hred
a bullet through his heart.
Burke killed himself following an ex-
change of shots with one Of the police
men, Pvt. w. S. Kelley, whom he dared
to come on and fight" Kelley mar
rowly escaped being shot.
At about the same time the Columbia
read shooting was in progress, James
Harris. 80, colored, 81 l. street north
east. was wounded seriously in gun
battle with Policeman d. l.. Guest OF
the ninth precinct. George Thornton,
10. colored, 627 Second street northeast,
also was wounded in the shooting,
which occurred at 612 Gordon avenue
northeast.
Wounded Wife May Die.
Kelley and Pvt. l.. II. Wolfe, bcth OF
whom are attached to tenth precinct,
went to the Columbia road address In
response to a telephone message that
a woman had been burned.
When they reached the apartment
house they met Burke's wife, Alma, "a,
descending the stairs. She told them
her husband had just shot her and
asked to be taken to hospital. The
ninth precinct scout car took her 10
Emergency Hospital, where 1t was found
she had been wounded twice In the
abdomen and once in the chest. Her
condition was termed critical this morn
ing and she was operated on later
in the day.
While the wounded woman was being
taken to the hospital. Kelley and Wolfe
went to Burke's apartment. Burke re-
fused to admit them and they obtained
a pass key.
Gunman Shoots Self.
As Kelley threw open the door, Burke
fired twice, both shots striking the door.
Kelley drew his revolver and fired at
the colored man, who ran into rear
bed room.
Slamming the door, Burke yelled:
why don't you come in and fight ike
soldiers?"
AS Kelley and Wolfe stepped toward
the door, another shot was fired. They
forced their way into the room and
found Burke lying on the floor. 80
caliber revolver near his outstretched
arm.
Left Suicide Note.
The shooting had attracted large
crowd and two headquarters cruisers,
scout cars from the eighth, tenth and
thirteenth precincts and reserves from
the third and tenth precincts were sent
to the scene.
Burke, who had been occupying the
apartment with his sister, Lucinda, was
pronounced dead by DR.. Raymond w.
Cozby of Emergency Hospital note
addressed to his sister, in which he
said he intended to end his life and
gave instructions as to the disposition
of his effects, was found in the apart
ment. The coroner issued certi1cate
Of suicide.
The Burke woman went to the apart
ment yesterday, according to her sister
in-laW. and became involved i'll quar-
rel with her husband.
Other Gunman CIinches.
The Gordon avenue gun battle
started when Guest went to the house
in response to a report shooting was
in progress there.
He was met outside the house by
Thornton, who explained Harris was "on
a rampage" AS the policeman opened
the door Harris stepped out and fired
his revolver.
Thornton seized him and the two
scuffled for a few moments. Then
Harris fired two more shots and Guest
decided it was time for action.
Both Seriously Wounded.
He whipped out his pistol and fired
six times in rapid succession. Harris
fell with O. wound in his neck. AS he
dropped, his 45-caliber automatic fell
from his hand.
Both he and Thornton, who was
wounded in the chin and chest, were
taken to Casualty Hospital. After re-
ceiving treatment Harris was trans
ferred to Gallinger Hospital. where he
was placsd under guard. while Thorn
ton remained at Casualty. Both men
were said to be in serious condition
TODAY