Evening star., 1932-08-28
BULLET GRAzES
POLICEMAN HEAD
PIaincIothes Man GraveIy Has
Narrow Escape in Fight
With Two.

Spottswood Gravely, second precinct
plainclothes man, narrowly escaped
death last night when bullet fired by
one of two colored men with whom he
and two other policemen were fighting
after an automobile chase of several
blocks, grazed the top of his head.
Gravely was shot with his own re-
volver after one of the colored men
had struck him a paralyzing blow on
the hand with crank handle, knock
ing the gin from his grasp. Arthur
Davis, also a third precinct plainclothes
man, was bitten on the hand during
the fight, which ended in the capture
of the two colored men.
Both the injured officers we're treated
at Emergency Hospital, where physi-
clans found neither had been seriously
injured. The bullet, they said, cut a
groove In Gravely's head.
The chase that resulted in the battle
began near Eighteenth and K streets,
where Gravely. Davis and another third
precinct plainclothes man, James
Phelps, were cruising on the lookout for
iquor-laden cars.
Passed by Machine.
A machine occupied by two colored
men passed the policemen, who we're in
Phelps automobile. With Davis driving,
the officers set out in pursuit of the
other car, which, they said, was going
about As miles an hour.
After a short chase, the policemen
overlook the colored men and, forcing
the fleeing machine toward the curb,
ordered its occupants to halt. The
colored men, however, refused to stop
when the officers flashed badges,
cursing the policemen as they crashed
into Phelps automobile.
Following the collision, which re-
suited in only slight damage to Phelps
car, the colored men continued their
fight, taking a circuitous route that
led them to Seventeenth street, be-
tween I and K streets, where they were
crowded to the curb again.
Drawing his revolver, Gravely leaped
from Phelps machine, stepped upon
the running board of the other auto
mobile and ordered its occupants to
surrender. Instead. one of the men
later identified as James Netties, %, Of
313 L street-struck Gravely's hand
with crank handle.
Colored Man Fires.
The officers gun dropped into Nettles'
lap and the colored man, according to
the policeman, picked the revolver up
and fired Meanwhile, Davis and
Phelps had left the latter's car and
joined the fight. Another third pre-
cinct officer, w. E. Brennan, patrolling
his beat nearby, heard the shot and
ran to the assistance Of Gravely, Davis
and Phelps.
After a brief battle the policemen
succeeded in overpowering Nettles and
his companion, who identified himself
as Jerry Baldwin, %, of 1108 Fourth
street. The latter. according to the
officers, was driving the machine. Both
men were taken to the third precinct,
where they were booked for investiga-
ton.
Search of the colored mems auto
mobile failed to disclose any liquor, and
police began a check-up to determine
whether the car was stolen.
GraVely once worked with former
Policeman William F. Burke, who was
found dead in an N street rooming
house yesterday morning. Like Burke,
Gravely has had colorful and
troublous career on the police force.
In March, 1880, both men were in
volved in shooting, in which James
G. Grotts, %, of Lexington, KY, was
seriously wounded. During the sub
sequent investigation, Gravely said he
shot Grotts when the latter attempted
to escape from him while he and
Burke were inquiring into hold-up.
In July Of the same year, Miss Eliza
beth Campbell, then living in the 1900
block of w street, accused Gravely of
accepting hush money to permit her
to continue operating a disorderly
house.