Evening star., 1948-04-22
Detroit Detectives
Working on Hot Tip
In Reufher Attack
BY the Associated Press

DETROIT, April 22.-Police said
they are working on a "hot tip" to-
day in Detroit's great manhunt for
the gunman who shot the CLOS
Walter P. Reuther.
Chief Of Detectives Jack Harvill
said three union members would be
brought in for questioning at once.
He did not identify them further.
1--WE have hot tip" Mr.. Harvill
told newsmen. 1T looks good.
That's all I can say"
His officers, meanwhile, checked
an empty shell that may have come
from the shotgun in the hands OF
Mr.. Reuther's assailant.
william Muntford, a 16-year-old
neighbor, found the empty 16-gauge
shell near the curb on street not
far from MIR. Reuther's home. Wit
nesses told police the getaway car
a red sedan-traveled at high speed
down the same street.
10 Detectives on Case.
This indicated, police theorized,
that more than one man took part
In the attempt on the life of the
40-year-old CIO United Auto Work.
ers' president by firing a shotgun
blast through a kitchen window.
Mr.. Reuther, on a fruit juice diet
In a hospital, was said by his physi-
clan to be doing fine" His right
arm was shattered by the shot.
Detectives-there are 40 Of them
assigned to the widespread search
for the would-be killers-said the
shell apparently was thrown from
the right window of a car. If it
came from the red sedan, they
added, it might mean that another
man besides the gun handler was
at the wheel
Sitting through the pile Of posi-
bilities, officers questioned dozens
of the friends and enemies the fiery
union leader had made on his climb
to the presidency of the CIO United
Auto Workers.
But despite the offer Of rewards
totalling s117.900-perhaps the larg-
est in the Nations history-real
clues to the Tuesday night shooting
remained rare.
Mr.. Reuther himself, lying in
New Grace Hospital with his shat
tered right arm suspended in a
traction cast, could offer few ideas.
He told Prosecutor James v.
McNaIy that Il haven't the slight
est idea" when asked who might
have shot him.
1t might have been, said the labor
leader, management, Communists
or a screwball."
Amateurs" Suspected.
Following one of the Scant clues,
police checked all garages in the
locality to find the red sedan that
was seen dashing away from Mr..
Reuther's house a moment after
his stealthy assailant fired shot
gun blast through window.
Police Commissioner Harry S. Toy
said the fact that the car had not
been found abandoned apparently
proved at least one thing: That the
shooting was probably done by an
amateur
"A professional would have dis
posed of the automobile by this
time" he declared.
Mr.. Reuther's associates in the
JAW pledged their au-out aid to po-
lice.
Michigan State police also as
signed crack detectives to aid De-
troit authorities in their search,
while the FBI offered its complete
laboratory facilities.
Reward Offers Flood In.
Reward offers flooded in. The
JAW itself pledged 100000 to the
person or persons who could give
information leading to the would
be assassins. The city Of Detroit
offered $4,000. From the AFL In
ternational Brotherhood of Team
sters came $4,000, while $1,000 each
was offered by the West Side Anal
gamated Local and the Michigan
CIO Council.
The Communist Party, which Mr..
Reuther had bitterly fought, offered
$500 along with statement de-
nouncing the attack as "the most
desperate of a number of fascist
assaults against the security and
civil liberties of the American
people"
Meanwhile. police theorized that
two or possibly three persons had a
part in the actual shooting. Near a
corner of MI. Reuther's modest home
they found some footprints indi-
eating a lookout might have been
posted to aid the actual gun wielder.
Another lead was turned in by
Ford Motor Co. executive. William
Gossett, an attorney and vice-presi-
dent of the company, called Mr. Toy
to report Ford patent attorney
had some important information"
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