Evening star., 1932-04-14
Said to Have Fired Bullet Into
Floor of Apartment
During "ViSit."
SUSPENDED TO AWAIT
TRIAL BOARDS ACTION
Looking for Two Girls" He En-
ters Woman's Suite and
Routs Guests.

Policeman Charles M. Skidmore
third precinct. was suspended early to-
day after he was said to have gone on a
rampage in the downtown section, Jam
ming his revolver against the face of
Elmer J. Mercurio and firing a bullet
into the floor Of the apartment OF Miss
Eunice Wilson. TAO Ninth street.
A short time bOfore the gunplay, Skid
more. who has been on the police force
less than year, was said to have
caused a disturbance in a drug store at
Seventh and E streets
Skidmore, accompanied by Anthony ]
GrasSe, 1000 block Of l street, went to
the Ninth street apartment house fol-
lowing quarrel with a clerk in the
drug store.
Encountering Merrurio in the hall.
SkiCmore is said to have drawn his gun
and accused him Of making too much
noise"
Searches Apartment.
After ordering Mercurio. who occu-
pies an apartment in the building. to
move on" Skidmore is said to have
knocked on the door of Miss Wilson's
suite. When the young woman re-
Sponded it is said, he brushed her aside.
saying he was an officer of the law"
and wished to search the apartment
for two girls whom he had seen enter.
Despite the remonstrances of Miss
Wilson and Harry Langley, 900 block CT
Grant place, who was visiting her, Skid
more is said to have searched the suite
Another couple were in the apartment
but they left a short time later and
police were unable to locate them for
questioning.
His search proving fruitless. Skid
more, it is said, removed his overcoat
and announced he was going to stay
a while" When Langley and Miss Viii
son demonstrated, he is said to have
drawn his revolver and fired a bullet
into the floor, directly in front of the
young woman.
Trailed by Auto License.
After some argument. however,
Grasse induced him to leave. Some
one jotted down the license number of
the automobile in which they drove off
and turned it over to Sergt. Otho
Saunders, Traffic Bureau. The traffic
officer took Skidmore into custody as
the latter was about to enter his home
in the 1900 block of Potomac avenue
southeast.
Skidmore and GraSse. who was picked
up with him. were taken to the first
precinct ponce station, Where tney were
questioned by Acting Lieut. Alvin S.
Boherer. All the witnesses except the
missing man and woman identified
SkidmOre and GraSse, according to
Boherer
Both Skidmore and Grasse admitted
having been in both the drug store and
the apartment. but denied having Great
ed any disturbance the policeman in
sisting he had not fired his gun.
Shows Signs Of Firing.
The revolver was empty when Skid
more was taken into custody, but. ac-
cording to Boherer, it bore evidence of
having been discharged a short time
before.
Though the witnesses declared Skid
more was under the influence of liquor,
Boherer said the officer appeared sober
at the time he questioned him.
No cvharge was placed against either
Skidmore or Grasse. but Boherer i'm
medlateiy suspended the policeman,
pending action by either the Trial Board
or Inspector T. A. Bean, first district
commander. Since Skidmore's period of
probation does not expire until April
"a, his case probably will be disposed
OF by Inspector Bean, as probationary
officers rarely are taken before the Trial
Board