Evening star., 1938-06-29
POLICE SHOOTING
PROBE CONTINUES
Grand Jury Will Take Up
Case of Fatality to
C0I0red Man.

The grand jury today was to take
up the case Of John E. Sobolewski,
rookie policeman, who fatally shot
Wallace Mcknight, 33-year-old COL
ored restaurant employe. early Sunday.
Omcer Sobolewski, now at liberty
under $4,000 bond, was held for the
grand jury yesterday by coroner's
jury which deliberated 20 minutes
following an inquest into Meningitis
death.
Seven witnesses were expected to
be called before the grand jury, in
cluding 1t. Arthur G. Belt, in CON-
mand Of the third precinct at the
time the shooting occurred. 1t. Belt
occupied the witness stand at the
inquest for more than two hours.
Others expected to testify were Drs.
Robert Bruce Mallett, A. B. Gordon
and Donald w. Mitchell. all of the
Emergency Hospital staff: DR.. c. J..
Murphy, deputy coroner; Lotion Wes-
ley. proprietor Of the restaurant where
Mcknight worked, and Mabry s. Bur-
kett, taxi driver.
Protests Soon Quieteds
A ripple Of protest was voiced by
friends Of the slain man at one point
in the inquest, but was quickly quelled
when Coroner A. Magruder MacDon-
aid threatened to clear the morgue
It came when 1t. Belt, describing
his investigation of the shooting, was
asked if he would have fired if he
had been in Sobolewskis place.
Il would have" he answered.
1t. Belt testified the officer told
him he saw Mcknight walking near
Fifteenth street and Massachusetts
avenue NV. with a package under
his arm, shortly before 4 an, and
the colored man crossed the street
in what the policeman believed was
an attempt to avoid him.
Sobolewski approached the man,
however, and Mcknight told him he
had some clothes in the package.
The ofiicer then asked the colored
man where and for whom he worked,
and was told he worked in the TOO
block Of K street, but could not re-
call his employers name, 1t. Belt
said,
Dropped Package and Fled.
During the questioning of Nc
Knight, the lieutenant said, the COL
ored man dropped the package and
fled.
"Oncer Sobolewski told me that
when the package hit the ground he
could tell by the sound that it con-
tanned something other than cloth
ing" 1t. Belt added.
The lieutenant said the rookie told
him he gave chase and shouted sew
eral times for Mcknight to halt, but
his commands were ignored. 1t. Belt
said Sobolewski told him the man
was rapidly gaining ground and he
drew his revolver and fired one shot
The jury was told that Mcknight
continued to run after the shot was
fired and Sobolewski commandeered
passing automobile and overlook
his quarry beyond Thomas Circle
Noticing that Mcknight was wounded
he hailed q taxicab and took him
to Emergency Hospital, where he died
~ hours later.
1t. Belt said it was discovered later
that the package contained about
S. worth Of food" stolen from Mr.
Wesley's restaurant at 1903 K street
A number Of protests against the
shooting were lodged with police ON.
cials. Another was voiced by DR.. Rob.
ert w. Brooks, chairman Of the Race
Relations Committee Of the Washing.
ton Federation Of Churches. Pre-.
viously, the Civil Rights COMMITTEES
Of the District Bar Association had
protested charges of police brutality
and hasty use Of guns by policemen