Evening star., 1947-05-16
Clerk and Policeman Are Victims
OfDisbarredLawyer> >2Wounded
AssuiIunt FeIIed
In Street Bottle
While Fleeing

A court employe and a police
man were shot to death and two
other men were wounded this
morning in gunfire at the Mu-
nicipal Courts civil division
building and at Sixth and n
streets before the assailant, al
disgruntled bar applicant, also
fell under a hail of bullets.
Killed were: Ray E. Devendorf, IS,
OF 201 Second street NE, a clerk
for the District Courts Committee
on Admissions and Grievances. Pvt.
Hubert Estes, 81, policeman In
the First Precinct.
The wounded:
George Walter Dalzell, 10, secre-
tary to the Admissions and Griev-
ances Committee, wounded in chin
and shoulder, condition fair.
Cecil A. Claig, 43, of 1887 Twenty
eighth street Sc, a courthouse
building guard, shot in the face and
neck, condition fair.
The assailant, identified as Daniel
Williams, 40, colored, of 1927 81
street NV, a former jackson
(Miss.) attorney, shot four times,
condition undetermined.
Members of the Admission and
Grievance Committee said Williams
was enraged because the commit
tee had denied his application to
practice law in the District because
he had been disbarred previously in
Mississippi.
Scores See Gun Battle.
The trouble started shortly after
10 am. on the third floor OF the
court building, where Williams shot
Mr.. Daevendorf and Mr.. Dalzell,
then fed to Sixth and F streets
for the dramatic gun battle before
the eyes of scores of spectators.
There were no witnesses to the
courthouse tragedy, which ended
with Williams dashing out the front
door of the building with Mr.. Claig
and Walter Bramhall, Municipal
Court clerk, in pursuit.
At 613 F street, witnesses saw
Williams dash into the office of
Perry Howard, colored attorney, a
former Republican national COM
mitteeman from Mississippi. When
Miss Marie Cooper told him Mr..
Howard was not in, he rushed out |
again. A minute later, Miss Cooper
said, she heard shots.
Meanwhile, Pvt. Estes, a liaison
officer who reported at the court
house at 10:30 am. to relieve an
other officer, had heard of the shoot
ing and asked permission OF his
superior officer, 1t. Earl P. Hart
man, to join the chase.
Reloaded on Elevator.
williams emerged from the build
ing with pistol drawn. He had re-
loaded on the elevator while fleeing
from the courthouse.
Pvt. Estes struck at the pistol with
his blackjack, but missed and struck
the assailants sleeve. Williams
dropped to the ground, firing, and
two shots struck Pvt. Estes in the
chest and right shoulder. One bullet
struck Mr.. Claig in the face.
The policeman went down firing,
and four of the bullets from his
service revolver struck Williams in
the right hand, right arm, left
shoulder and chest.
Felled by the barrage, Williams
was removed to Gallinger Hospital
where doctors said his condition was
not critical, but that it might be-
come serious if the chest wound was
deep. They did not plan an immedi-
ate operation.
Started Argument.
Reviewing the courthouse shoot
ing, police said Williams arrived
shortly after 10 am. and went to
the third floor of the Committee on
Admissions and Grievances. /
He was angry because the COM
mittee had refused to approve his
application to practice law in the
District. He started an argument
with Mr.. Dalzell, who was alone in
the room. Mr.. Dalzell told him there
was nothing he could do about the
application. /
Then williams fired one shot at
Mr.. Dalzell, who later said he did
not Immediately know he had been
struck. Williams backed out OF the
room and crossed the corridor to
another room where Mr.. Devendorf
was seated at his desk.
George ClemmonS, colored, Of 1905