Evening star., 1942-04-30
Army Deserter, Is,
Arrested in Beatinq
Of Lee|ess Man
Victims Skull Fractured;
Fire Lieutenant Captures
Youth in Stolen Cor

A 16-year-old Armv deserter con :
fessed today, police said, that he had
severely beaten Lee K. Cornett. 80,
of 233 Kentucky avenue Sc. be-
cause he thought Mr.. Cornett was
about to turn him in to Army au-
thorities.
The youth admitted beating Mr..
Cornett, legless cripple. with ma
chinist's hammer in the latter's
apartment Tuesday night, according
to police. They quoted him as say
ing that he noticed his victim, who
had given him a ride here from
Laurel, Md, talking in low voice
on the telephone and he suspected
he was calling Army officers.
Police said the boy told them he
slipped up behind Mr.. Cornett and
struck him several times in the head
with the hammer and then dragged
his unconscious form to the bath
room.
Victims Skull Fractured.
Mr. Cornett, a clerical employe at
the Embassy-Fairfax Dairy. was
said at Casualty Hospital to be in a
critical condition. He has frac.
tured skull. q.
After the assault the youth fled
in Mr.. Cornett,s auto and was cap
,tyred today by 1t. Julian Fincher,
q fireman with No. II Engine Com
pany, who lives at 1113 Buchanan
street NV.
The youth yesterday afternoon
had called on 1t. Fincher's son,
Olen, 18, whom he knew, in the
stolen automobile. 1t. Fincher, who
was home on leave, said he became
suspicious when the youth said he
had bought the car from q man who
had just been drafted.
After the youth offered to sell him
the spare tire for SO, 1t. Fincher
took several cards from the autos
glove compartment and kept them,
believing at the time that the car
possibly had been stolen
Seizes Youth in Chase.
1t. Fincher read of the assault in
the morning papers, recalled that
Mr.. Cornett's name was on the
cards, and, when the youth drove
by his house today. gave chase. The
fireman forced the youths car to
the curb at Georgia avenue and
Farragut street NV. and took him
to a nearby restaurant and called
police. Capt Robert J. Barrett,
assistant chief of detectives, and
other officers were waiting at 1t
Fincher's home when he brought the
youth there.
Mrs. Florence Simmons Of the
1900 block of South Carolina avenue
Sc. told police she and Mr.. Cornett
drove to Fort George G.. Meade,
Md, Tuesday night to visit Mr.. Cor
netts former roommate, Arthur
Kleisath, inducted in the Army last
week.
On their return trip to Washing
ton they picked up an Army SER
geant and the 16-year-old soldier,
who were thumbing a ride, at
Laurel. The sergeant got out at
Fifteenth and H streets NV. and
Mrs. Simmons was let out at her
home.
Mr.. Cornett was found later by
his apartment house janitor lying
unconscious in the bathroom, fully
clothed. with his head on a pillow.
Hammer Found in Hall.
The bloody machinist's hammer
was found in an entrance hallway.
The telephone had been torn from
the wall.
The youths identity as an Army
deserter was gained from informa-
ton which he gave Mrs. Simmons
on the ride to Washington. He
is said to have escaped from a
guardhouse at camp at Indian
town Gap. Pa.
Police said Mr.. Cornett lost his
legs in 4 railroad accident in Ken
lucky several years ago. He has
artificial limbs.