Evening star., 1947-03-24
Man Held in Shooting
Al Sheridan Circle Put
Under $1,000 Bond

A houseboy charged with shoot
ing William A. Ransom early yes
terday at Sheridan Circle, today was
ordered held in 5000 bond by
Municipal Court Judge Ellen K.
Raedy. The case was continued to
April "a.
Judge Raedy frowned when the
accused. Wilbur Wright, SO, col
ored, of 1921 Decatur place NV,
stepped to the bench to answer the
assault with a dangerous weapon
charge.
"I'm getting sick and tired OF
people carrying guns and knives
and going around shooting other
people," Judge Raedy declared.
"I think if tighten up on these
people, we may put stop to some
things that go on in this town."
Judge Raedy already had meted
out several unusually heavy SEN
tences on assault and concealed
weapons charges this morning, and
set heavy bonds on several contin-
ued assault cases.
Police records showed Wright had
been arrested three times previously
in 1887 ON an assault charge and
twice in July, 1941, on charges OF
making threats and carrying a con-
cealed weapon.
Won Pistol in Dice Game.
Police said Wright admitted the
shooting, but said he didn't want
to hurt the men. I just wanted to
scare them" He referred to Mr.
Ransom and an acquaintance at
whom two shots were fired as they
stood talking at the circle.
The As caliber pistol used in the
shooting, according to the signed
statement police brought to the
courtroom, was thrown into Rock
Creek from the @ Street Bridge by
Wright. A police search has failed
to recover the weapon, which Wright
told police he had won in a dice
game at an Army hospital.
Mr.. Ransom, who is % and lives at
2017 Klingle road NV, was in good
condition at Emergency Hospital
where a .45-caliber bullet was re-
moved from his side yesterday, hos
pital attaches said.
Wright was arrested last night by
third precinct Plainclothesmen ]. T
Bailey and j. j. Fitzpatrick after
house toulouse canvass OF homes 1r
the Sheridan Circle area. They ar
rested Wright, 1t. Anthony Richitt
said, because he appeared nervous,
and booked him on the assault
charge when he admitted the shoot.
ing under questioning.
Third Shqoting in Is Days.
The shooting third incident o.
seemingly unprovoked gunplay or
Washington streets in the past l:
days, occurred shortly after mid.
night Saturday while MIR. Ransom
was talking with an acquaintance
1t. Richitt said Wright may have
mistaken the two men for severa
youths who allegedly had attacked
MIN earlier near the circle.
The clue which led police to the
home of the accused man, 1t
Richitt said, was Wright's muttereo
boast that, I'm tough guy. I wa'
with Gen. Patton's tanks"
Three youths reported encounter
ing an armed colored man neal
Sheridan Circle earlier in the eve.
ming, and said the man had boastet
of his service with Gen. Patton
The two detectives said they checked
all nearby residences for men witt
an Army background.
Companions Name Given.
Police also are searching for ths
man Mr.. Ransom was talking tt
when Wright allegedly approached
them and opened fire. His name
was given ss Capt. Richard Hard
ing, 2100 block of Florida avenue
NV.
Mr.. Ransom, an employe OF the
Washington Loan & Trust Co., tolc
police he believed two shots were
fired. One bullet struck him in the
side, the other apparently went
wild.
He was taken to Emergency Hos
pital in an automobile a few minutes
later by the same three youths who
had had an argument earlier with
the tall, slender suspect. They are
Armand Muller, is, of 1886 Nine
teenth street NV: Charles Balm
hridce n of 173O Church street
NV, and Robert Mcneil, is, Of
IT'S Church street NV.
AZ police reconstructed the incl.