Evening star., 1945-11-13
State 'sAttorney
Pushes Probe Of
Officers Death
Host Held in Shooting
Of Navy Man at
Maryland Party
By a Star StafT Correspondent.


LEONARDTOWN, Md, Nov. 13.-
Dissatisfied with the police inquiry
into the fatal shooting of Navy 1t.
Rodgers Edward Wilson, 28-year-
old Pennsylvania. Sunday night
during party in a private home
near here, States Attorney B. Henry
Camalier today directed a more
thorough investigation.
1t. Wilson, police said, was shot at
the climax of drinking party at
the California (Md) residence of
George William Booker. "a, a slot
machine repairman. State Troop
er G. F. Sanger said he had
sworn out murder warrant against
Booker, who is being held without
bond in the st. Marys County Jail
pending hearing.
Mr.. Sanger said his investigation
showed that late in the evening at
the party at the Bookers' home, 1t.
Wilson addressed dirty remark"
to Mrs. Booker, 80. Booker took
offense and ordered Wilson out of
the house" the trooper related.
Paul j. Bailey, counsel for Booker,
said after talking with his client
this morning that Booker had been
assaulted by 1t Wilson. Reporters
noticed that Booker had two cuts on
his face.
Will Plead Defense of Home.
Mr.. Bailey. who said the Bookers
had been happily married for II
years, stated that Booker's plea will
be "justiflable homicide in defense
of his home"
In ordering 1t. Wilson out of the
house, the attorney said Booker was
supported by 1t Wilson's compan-
ion, 1t. Howard Baer, who COM
mands light naval patrol boat
on which 1t. Wilson served as exec
utive officer.
The attorney said 1t. Baer re-
turned to his base at Solomons after
the shooting, and that Mr.. Camalier
planned to talk with the officer there
today.
Mr.. Bailey said 1t. Wilson had
known the Bookers about a month
and had visited them once or twice
before.
Wife in West Virginia.
Mrs. Booker, emotionally upset by
the shooting, has been taken to
West Virginia to stay with friends,
Mr.. Bailey said. Too distraught for
coherent questioning, the attorney
said she will be returned to Leon
ardtown when needed.
Booker, his attorney said, served
in the merchant marine for nine
months in 1912. Booker's parents live
In Florida.
Returned for Coat.
-sLta=Wilsen and~<bt~~Baer depart
ed, the trooper continued, but out
side 1t. Wilson announced he was
returning to get his coat. On re-
entering the house, Mr.. Sanger
added, 1t. Wilson approached Booke,
in a threatening manner and the
host went into a bedroom and came
back with a pistol"
The lieutenant, a resident OF
Edgewood, Pa, near Pittsburgh, was
shot once in the left arm and by
another bullet which penetrated
both lungs and heart.
An autopsy was performed at the
Solomon's Mine Testing Station
near Leonardtown, where 1t Wilson
was assigned to duty.
Plans Early Hearing.
Booker and his wife came to Cali
fornia only a few weeks ago from
Roanoke, Va.
Magistrate Ralph Abel, before
whom the murder warrant wa.
sworn out, indicated a hearing prob
ably would be held this week, per.
haps Friday.
Mr.. Camalier, expressing his dis.
satisfaction with the investigation
said he believed "the boys (police)
had fallen down on the job" anc
that the findings seemed incomplete
to him.
| Neighbors, attracted by the shots
said they entered the Booker house
to find 1t. Wilson on the floor, annie
evidence of a struggle. Booker's
shirt sleeve was torn, they said, anc
chair was broken.
Played College Football.
1t. Wilson, unmarried and the sor
of Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Wilson ol
Edgewood, Pa, was a graduate O.
West Liberty State Teachers Col.
lege, w. Va, where he played on ths
football team several years ago.
The Navy Department said 1t
Wilson was commissioned at the Re.
serve Midshipmen's School at North.
western University in December
1943, and that he served on small
patrol craft and coastal transport.
in the Pacific, and on small boats il
lthe Atlantic.