The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-08-29
Dixie Officer Who Shot Soldier Charged With Assau
Witness Says
Man Orderly When
Shot In Abdomen
Texas Agrees To
Unarm Negro
M.P.'s On Duty

FL PASO. Texas. --( ANP)-A
white special officer here, after
three weeks OF attempted hush
ur.' was O. rged Saturday. Aug.
90, with aggravated assault with
deadly weapon" for shooting
end grayely iniuring Willis Tullis.
Negro soldier from nearby Fort
Bliss.
VI. P.'s Have No Guns
Robert (Bobi Moon. the officer.
was booked IN Justice OF the
Peace Windberg's court. few
days after the Army-"at long
last assigned Negro military
police 10 duty In those sections
4 equented by Negro troops. The
Army. however. bowed to Texas
when It sent Us MP's out bearing
only clube. while all It's white
MP's are also armed with re-
yolvers.
In fact the appearance Of the
Negro Mp's almos. took the spot
light away from tho shooting. as
both Negroes and whites gathered
on the corners 20 comment on. or
condemn whatever policy puts
youthful Nero MP's AT tho unfair
advantage Of being UNDERMINED
Some saw there Is gentleman's
acrcemcnt between the Army and
Texas that Negroes will not he
given guns In Texas unless n
white superior officer Is also on
hand
Not Disorderlv
Still llnrering between life and
death ~ tho Fort Rliss hosnital
PVT. Tullis 81 the 18th medical
detachment. was shot as he left
ouis cafe. in the 400 block Of
South Oregon street one ~ the
two sections where Negroes NAV
enter restaurant tavern or
hotel AS "hanrout" e IS FL
Paso's corner ~ i'5th am T.eno"
averue New York; or 41th and
Sorth Parkway frhicacol or 7ih
ana y street, (washir oton),
There r. more than one story OF
the shooting 4 Negro eyewitness
claims that whatever the reason
for the coming OF the officer TO
the cafe. Tullis was not involved
in any disorder and was walking
away from tho building when the
Officer arrived and shot at the
first Negro IN uniform he saw
Had Operation
Reliable information also say
thai Tullis had TO be operated on
and that four inches of his in
testines had to be removed No de-
tails OF the shooting can be OBJ
tanned from Fort Bliss.
Waited Three Weeks
Officer Moon made signed
statement i'm court but Until last
Saturday, three weeks had pass
ed since the shooting ana not a
single word on the intfiegnt had
been filed at police HEADQUARTERS.
This failure to make report has
cnused Negroes 10 wonder how
MANY colored soldiers arr being
SXnt In the South without any
record being made OF the same.
n Is also held by members OF the
local NAACP. which is pushing
the charges against the officer.
HAT failure 10 file report IS
partial Indictment Of Moon be-
cause. II he were sure he had act
cd within the law he would not
have had 10 hide the inciden
Cop Blames TulIls
chief OF Police Robey told the
press that South Oregon was a
troublesome spot and that he had
told the officer 10 get the situa-
lion under control
The special officers signed
story says. II arrested Tullis In
the .ouis cafe after an employe
OF the china Town cafe told me
thai Negro private had kicked
in a door. Tullis pulled away from
me and drew knife.
Il then struck him across me
head with my club and broke the
club. I told him that he was un-
der arrest. and told him TO put
The knife away. and drew my
pistol" Moon said
"He jerked away again ana
handed the knife 10 another Ne
gro. grabbed the knife. and
told him that he was under ar
rest. and that he must not resist
again
"He jerked away, tearing his
shirt. and | hit him on the head
with The barrel Of the pistol. When
I grabbed hie arm, he jerked loose
and ran.
II called TO him 10 stop two or
three times, and then shot twice
AZ the Negroes legs
A bullet struck Tullis near inc
left hin and came out through
his abdomen.
He ran down Mesa avenue nut
was overtaken by a military po-
lice truck and taken TO station
,...t,at ~ ~ Miss. the OHiccre