Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-05
INQUEST REVEALS
DETECTIVE KILLED
THIEF IN DEFENSE
Shimon Fired When Aimed at
by Pursued Youth, Find
ing of Coroner.
TILLMAN'S COMPANION
IDENTIFIED BY FIVE
Lipscombe Home Suspect, Who
Escaped, Arrested Hiding
Among Rafters.

Detective J. w. Shimon, third pre-
cinct. shot and killed Fred Tillman, Is,
colored, in defense OF his cv'1 life and
in the line of duty" a coroner's jury
decided today.
The verdict was returned after three
witnesses. including another third pre-
cinct detective. Rupert MCNEIL. had
testified that Shimon opened fire only
after Tillman'S companion, Alphonzo
Frazier. l8. colored. had drawn a re-
volver and pointed it at the policeman
The shooting occurred Saturday al
ternoon. following the discovery tnat
a pocketbook containing about 81 had
been stolen from the home of William
H. LipScombe. 1924 Massachusetts ave
nue.. Leonore Lucas, maid IN the
Iinscombe home. testified she saw Till
man and Frazier lettering near the
house shortly before she discovered her
purse had been robbed.
Testimony Corroborated.
Her testimony was corroborated by
her husband, Nassau Lucas, butler IN
the home, and Arthur 1ruSSell, a ga
rage foreman, employed by the hfm OF
Barber g. Ross. Mr.. Lipscombe, VINO,
with his wife. was out of town at the
BlIlle Oh the dliGBGu lODONlg, 10 oAAAAAAA
istrator of the estate of the late Samuel
Ross, a member of the firm of Barber
& Ross.
Both Lucas and Trussell, after tell
ing of having seen the two colored
youths near the house, testified they
accompanied Shimon and Mcneil
when the detectives set out in quest
of them Tillman and Frazier, the
jury was told. were found sitting in
r. yoII hn
Street Bridge, playing cards.
When Shimon and Mcneil called to
the fugitives, the witnesses agreed
they jumped and darted into Rock
Creek With Mcneil, Trussell ano
Lucas standing on the bank of the
stream, Shimon followed Tillman ano
Frazier. who were running about neck
and neck it was testified.
Aimed at Detective.
AS Frazier mounted the opposite bank
of the creek, the witnesses related. he
drew a gun from his hip pocket and
leveled it at Shimon. The latter also
drew his revolver and, without hating,
emptied it in the direction of the flee
ing youth. Tillman dropped TO The
ground with the first shot it was testi-
fed but Frazier continued running and
disappeared over the top of an embank-
. WueIl OptIleu IlIe. II " do
added, MCNEIL did likewise, firing three
shots.
Frazier was seen when he reached the
top of the embankment by Capt.
George W. Johns. who testified he saw
the youth put something in his pocket. >
Il was sitting in my automobile,
waiting for my wife, when 1 heard sew
eral shots" Capt. Johns testified. 1T
was a moment after this that l saw
han Nv
chased him several blocks, but lost him
when he darted into an alley. Twice
during the pursuit he drew something
from his pocket and pointed it at me. -
Capt Johns added he was positive
Frazier was the youth in question.
TruSsell, Lucas. Mrs. Lucas and the
two detectives also positively Identified
both Frazier and Tillman as the
burglars.
Found Hiding In Home.
Frazier was arrested early yesterday
by Defective Sergt. Dennis j. Murphy
who said he found him hiding in the
rafterS beneath the roof of his home,
at 1925 Sherman avenue. Frazier, who
was released from the District Reform
atory at Lorton about a month ago,
after serving year and q day for
llousebreaking. took the stand and ad-
mitted that he and Tillman stole the
81 from the Lipscomb residence, but
denied having had gun in his posses
sion.
Neither Fred nor I was armed, .
Frazier declared
He also denied having been chased
by Capt. Johns, insisting he had hailed
a taxicab and gone home Immediately
after escaping from the valley.
According to Capt. Edward ]. Kelly
assistant chief of detectives, Frazier
has a police record dating back to Sep
TENDER 3. 1924. He has been arrested
Is times since then, once for carrying
a concealed weapon, Capt. Kelly said
Tillman also has a police record, hav-
ing been IN trouble at frequent intervals
since he was II years old, Capt. Kelly
added.