Evening star., 1932-02-18
SHIPPING MYSTERY
IN DEATH Of R|EDEL
UNSOLvED BY Jury
Verdict at Coroner's Inquest
Holds Gun AssaiIant
!. "UnknoWn."
POLICE INVESTIGATING
NEW ATTACK BY GUNMAN
Navy Department Clerk Is Target
While Standing in Front
of Home.

A coroner's inquest today failed to
clear up the mystery surrounding the
murder of Paul Riedel one Of four per-
sons shot by the "shoot-and-run gun
man during the past two weeks. The
Jury's verdict was that the 45-year- old
baker came to his death as the result
of gunshot wounds inflicted by per-
son unknown" to that body.
Six witnesses, including two police
men assigned to investigate the case,
were called to the stand, but their teS-
timony revealed nothing that was not
known the night Riedel was shot in his
bakery at 32l5ia Mount Pleasant street.
Witnesses were Detective Sergt. John
c. Dahlglish, who was summoned to
the bakery Immediately after the shoot
ing; Miss Yvonne Barnett, who saw the
mystery gunman emerge from the bak-
cry, and her escort, Harry R. Altemus,
who made an unsuccessful attempt to
trail the slayer.
Inquiry Was Delayed.
The inquiry had been postponed to
give police an opportunity to capture,
or at least learn the identity of, the
gunman believed to have killed Riedel
and wounded Gordon T. Backus, Helen
Andrews and Doris Beall.
After two weeks intensive investiga-
tion, however, the police admittedly are
no nearer solution Of the mysterious
series of shootingS than they were
when they began work.
The inquest was started while the
police were investigating a report that
a shot was fired last night at ]. Edward
Rossiter, standing in front of his home
at 3005 Tenth street northeast.
Rossiter, clerk in the Navy Depart
ments Bureau OF Navigation, said he
was standing with his back toward the
street when a small roadster pulled up
to the curb and one of the two men in
it fired at him.
The automobile Immediately speeded
up Rossiter said, and continued north
on Tenth street. turning into Irving
street and heading westward. Three
more shots were fired as the car disap-
peared around the corner, Rossiter
added,
His statement was corroborated by
several other residents. some Of whom
were on the street when the shots were
fired.
Fail to Find Gunman.
As the first shot rang out, Rossiter
ran into his house and telephoned the
police. Although the neighborhood was
SlFCll d SCdICll, llO tIdCc VI
the "shoot-and-En" machine was
found.
Rossiter. who Is 81, is a brother-in-
law of Hank Crawford, chief clerk of
the Police Department. His wife, Mrs.
Marguerite r. RoSsiter. is clerk in the
Department Of Agriculture.
Meanwhile Robert Statham, "a, who
gave an address in the 1900 block of
Wisconsin avenue IS being held in
connection with the activities of the
gunman, although about 20 witnesses
failed to identify him last night.
Arrested in Bethesda, Md, by Mont
gomery County police, Statham was
turned over to Detective Sergts. Larry
O'Dea and Howard Smith, who took
him to police headquarters. Questioned
there by Detective Sergt. H. K. Wilson,
chief of the homicide squad. Statham
insisted he has no knowledge of the
series Of shootings.
Backus, 51-year-old Agriculture De-
partment forester. still is a patient in
Emergency Hospital. where he is being
treated for a wound in his back. He
is expected to return to his home at
3433 Mount Pleasant street soon.
Miss Andrews, who is 18, lives at
5811 Sixth street, and Miss Beall, who
IS l6. at 1411 G street southeast. Both
are high school students.