Evening star., 1940-06-16
Truck Driver Held
To Grand Jury in
Policeman Death
U. S. District Attorney
Attends Inquest, First
To Do So in 20 Years

A 24-year-old colored man Is be-
ing held for grand jury action with
out bond In the street Staying Of
Park Policeman Ivan w. Thompson
Friday afternoon. The inquest in
Mr.. Thompson's death yesterday
was marked by the first appearance
Of a United States district attorney
at such morgue hearing in at least
20 years.
The coroner's jury held that
Clarence Blocker, who yawned and
dozed during the four-hour hearing,
was responsible for the policemans
death.
Apparently determined to bring
the case to trial as quickly as pos
sible, representatives of the dis
trict attorneys Office said evidence
in the case would be presented to
the grand jury first thing" tomor-
row morning.
Curran Present With FihelIy.
United States Attorney Edward
M. Curran accompanied his assist
ant, John w. Fihelly, to the morgue
and sat in on the entire proceedings.
He, however. asked only one routine
question of witness, Mr.. Fihslly
conducting the Government inquiry.
Mr.. Thompson was slain with his
own service revolver during a fight
which followed his attempt to arrest
Blocker at First and I streets NE.
after a traffic rule infraction.
Nineteen witnesses were called.
DR.. Christopher j. Murphy, dep
uty coroner, testified that five bull
lets were fired into the officers
body, one in his back which plowed
through his lung, punctured the
aorta and came out just below his
| neck.
Policeman Fired One Shot
Testimony of the many witnesses
varied in several minor details lead
ing up to the killing, but most of
them agreed that Blocker emptied
the revolver into the policemans
body after they had struggled for
possession of the weapon, which
Mr.. Thompson had attempted to
use as blackjack. The witnesses
also agreed that the policeman
/ fired one shot before the final strug-
gle for the pistol. Most of them
were certain" Mr.. Thompson fired
! the bullet into the ground" to
| frighten Blocker.
Blocker appeared at the inquest
with his forehead bandaged Just
above his eyes. Two policemen tes-
tilted the wounds were inflicted
when the prisoner grappled with
them in an effort to escape as he
was being placed in patrol wagon
following the shooting.
Blocker at one point during the
testimony nodded to such an ex-
tent his counsel, George D. Horn
ing, jr., had to arouse him.
Defendant Declared Illiterate.
One officer testified he learned
that Blocker advanced only to the
third grade in school and was un-
able to read or write. Blocker, driv-
ing a truck usually operated by his
brother, forced Mr. Thompsons car
into a curb, it was testified, and
the fight ensued when the police
man attempted to place Blocker
under arrest. The latter, according
to testimony. did not have drivers
permit and had not been given per-
mission to take the truck.
Detective Sergt Aubrey Tolson Of
the homicide squad said Blocker
commented he resisted arrest be-
cause Mr.. Thompson told him he
was not on duty" at the time.
The policeman was on his wav
home, 2240 Evarts street NE. when
the incident took place. He was in
uniform.
Blocker was handcuffed and
f1anked by three policemen when
taken to the morgue for the hear
ing. Two of the policemen sat in
side the railing before the coroner's
bench during the proceedings after
Blocker, according to one of his
guards, said he thought he would
TRY to get away as he left his
cell for the inquest.
OF Mr. Currans attendance at
the inquest, Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald, who has served for 10
years in that capacity, said it was
the first time to his knowledge the
United States attorney had at
tended such a hearing.