Evening star., 1932-08-02
BONUS GUN DRAWN
FIRST, Jury HEARS
IN HUSHKA PROBE
Rioter Aimed Pistol at Police,
Financial Agent Says at
Coroner's Inquest.
TWO MARCHERS' Deaf.
IS UNDER EXAMINATION
Scope of Hearing Broadened to In
clude Staying of Carlson
During Disorders.

Policemen Miles Znamenacek and
George w Shinault were eXoner-
ated by a coroners jury this after
noon after an inquest into the fatal
shooting of two bonus marchers here
Thursday. Znamenacek took the
witness stand, but Shinault declined
to do so.
Testimony that a bonus army rioter
aimed pistol at invading police before
the latter drew their guns and fired
during the height of last Thursdays
battle was given this afternoon at
coroner's inquest into the fatal shoot
ing of two B. E. F. members.
This version of the riot was re-
lated to the jury at the Morgue by
Stephen Armstrong, 14lO M street,
financial agent for the Miller MagneSite
Co.
Scope of the inquest, originally called
TO probe the death of William Hushka
of Chicago was broadened to include
the shooting of Eric Carlson of Oak
land, Calf, who died early today from
a bullet wound. AS the jury assembled,
the body of Hushka was being buried
in Arlington National Cemetery.
A Casualty Hospital surgeon testified
that Carlson died from a bullet that
entered his back near the left side and
punctu-ed the intestines- The bullet
was fired by Policeman Miles 1name-
nacek.
Armstrong declared Znamenacek was
descending the stairs of a partly wrecked
building in which some OF the bonus
marchers had taken refuge, when
man, obviously member of the B. E. F.,
pointed a gun in the general direction
Of the policeman.
Tells Story of Clash.
His account of the clash follows:
It noticed a large crowd of men that
I would call 'roughnecks gathered near
the rear of the vacant and partially
razed building. One big, burly fellow,
who looked like he hadn't been shaved
for week, motionsd to the others and
shouted, You guys come upstairs.
First a few went in response TO ms
command and then there was rush
of men up the stairway. Suddenly:
Znamenacek appeared at the top OF
the stairway and started down, passing
the oncoming bonus marchers as ne
went. When he was about one-third
of the way down, saw roughly clad
man on the second floor pull an auto
matte pistol from his pocket. This
weapon was pointed in the general d.
rection of Znamenacek, but / did not
see the man flre.
THE officer, however, suddely ap-
peared to be stunned, and grabbed his
right arm as though it had been struck.
Then the policeman drew his own gun
and pointed it down the stairway
Il did not see it fired, but heard
two shots. and then two more.
AT that point the crowd Of civilians
began to break. MY God I said to a
man standing nearby is tnat mop COM
ing over here|
Il Jumped up and ran across the
street shouting to the people, They're
going to blow up that building over
there. You-all run up Third street
The people turned back at that and
soon were going in the opposite direc-
ton on the run"
Under cross-examination by Assistant
United States Attorney William H Col
Inns. representing the Government, Arm
strong said he was positive he saw
man on the second floor with a gun
in his hand He said this man was not
a policeman and that he thought he
was one of the leaders of the bonus
marchers He said he did not actually
see any shots fired at any time.
Making United States Contracts.
Jesse C. Duke, an attorney for the
American Civil Liberties Union, asked
Armstrong if he had any contract with
the Treasury Department or District
of Columbia government Tor his com-
pany. Armstrong replied that he was
Just beginning making such contracts.
DR.. Mcdonald read the police report
OF the shooting of Hushka, which SAID
that Officer George Shinault fired While
going to the assistance of Znamenacek,
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