Evening star., 1939-04-04
Charges in Shooting
Await Cab Drivers
Battle for Life
Model Prisoner II,
Confesses to
Police Officials

Rugged Martin F.. Bartschek,
whose body was pierced for the
thirty ninth time by bullet Sum-
day night, hovered between life and
death in Georgetown Hospital to-
day while police continued their
questioning Of 17-year-old Clarence
Sidney Catir, the reform school
fugitive vino is held in the shooting
Catir, mild hammered, pleasant
youth, who surrendered yesterday,
has not been charged and will not
be. police say, until the outcome of
Mr.. Bartschek's battle for life is de-
termined.
The youth, according to Inspector
Bernard w. Thompson, chief of de-
tectives, has admitted that he shot
Mr.. Bartschek, a cab driver, after
an argument Sunday. Following the
shooting the cab zig-zagged down
the street and crashed head on into
q truck.
Catir was brought to police head
quarters from the eleventh precinct
this morning and sat about the room
OF the Homicide Squad, chatting
with detectives and reporters. He
appeared eager to answer questions
put by detectives and said he was
prepared to 60 to the scene of the
shooting this afternoon to aid police
IN making pictures.
Youth Makes Statement.
Inspector Thompson said the youth
nan mQHn
most aspects of the case. The de-
tective chief announced at the same
time that the pistol with which Mr..
Bartschek had been shot and the
wallet which was taken from his
pocket had been recovered.
The youth was surrendered earlv
Yesterday at the Harbor precinct
by his father. Alex Catir, 1864 Liv-
ingston road Sc, a Navy Yard ma
chinist.
After being questioned and signing
statement, the boy led police to a
wooded spot near the scene of the
shooting at Canal road and Weaver
terrace NV, where the cab drivers
wallet was found. 1t was empty.
Later the boy was said to have re-
enacted the shooting.
Young Catir had been given leave
from the National Training School
for Boys, where he had been con-
fined for year, to visit his father
and mother on Sunday.
Just before time for him to return
to the reformatory-at $50 pm.
Sunday-he slipped out of the house,
telling his family he was going to
the store. In his pocket. police said,
he carried .25-caliber pistol which
had been hidden in the house.
He hailed Mr. Bartschek's cab and
ordered the driver to proceed to
Great Falls, Va. On Canal road he
argued with the driver over the fare,
Inspector Thompson stated.
Mr.. Bartschek halted the cab and
scuffle ensued. 1t was at this point
that the pistol went off, the bullet
striking the driver in the head.
Young Catir jumped from the cab,
after relieving the driver of his wal
let, and fled, Inspector Thompson
added.
Semi-conscious, Mr.. Bartschek at
temped to drive on His cab ca
reened down the street and collided
with truck driven by Walter Rive
OF Arlington, Va.
Father Turns Boy Over.
The father set out to search for
the boy when he did not return. He
went Immediately to Great Falls,
where the boy has friends. He
found the youth and turned him
over to harbor police yesterday, with
the remark:
Here's the boy who shot that tax
icab driver
The youth was then questioned
by homicide squad detectives. The
father gave police what information
he could and later took the pistol
to headquarters. He appeared at
headquarters this morning and in
formed police that the boys mother
was PROSTATE with grief.
Inspector Thompson said he was
checking reports that Mr.. Bartschek
had some money in his wallet. A
little more than SO was found in
his pockets and Inspector Thompson
was trying to ascertain what had
happened to a pension check Mr..
Bartschek was understood to have
cashed
DR.. M. B. Root, acting superin-