Evening star., 1949-02-16
Lone Policeman
Captures
After Shooting
Another Is Wounded,
Fourth Hurt in Fight
Over Dice Winnings

W.T. INV w ssbsttssSS
Courageous action by a lone
policeman was credited today for
the capture of two armed men
shortly after another man was
shot and a fourth injured in
a downtown street fight over
gambling winnings.
On the losing end Of the battle,
about 7 pm. yesterday in the 900
block of Ninth street NV, were
Edward E. Ryan, jr., 1000 block OF
Eighth street NV, recovering in
Mount Alto Hospital from a bullet
wound in the thigh, and Lonnie
E. Poison. "a. of the 17O0 block
of Sixty-second avenue, Cheverly
Md. treated for q head cut in
fiicted by pistol butt.
The winners in the fight, but
losers in race with the law, were
identified by police as two Balti-
more salesmen, James Thomas
Skeens, 27, and John Joseph
Bruno, SO. Both were charged
with assault with a deadly weapon
and carrying a concealed weapon
Poison was booked for assault
and released under $500 bond.
Captured by Police Veteran "
Skeens and Bruno were captured
at Tenth and F streets NV. by
Pvt. Theodore Marquis, So, Of the
First Precinct, o 25-year veteran
of the force.
The arrest climaxed an exciting
chase through downtown streets,
with Pvt. Marquis and cab driver
he hailed trailing Skeens. Bruno
and a third man who escaped dur
ing the flight.
Later Pvt. Marquis and other
police told this story of the fight
and what led up to it:
Skeens and Bruno came to
Washington to collect their share
of about 500 won in a dice game
that f1oated from the Mayf1ower
to the Ambassador Hotel last
Thursday and Friday.
Met in Pool Hall.
The four men met in a pool
hall in the 900 block of Ninth
street NV, and when an argu-
ment started, moved out into the
street. Ryan apparently went to
the aid of Poison. whom the Balti-
more men had approached about
the money. and was shot by
Skeens' gun.
About the same time. Poison
was hit over the head by the butt
Of gun welded by Bruno.
Rounding the corner of Ninth
and I streets on his beat. Pvt.
Marquis heard the shot and saw
Ryan lying on the sidewalk. Wit
fiesses pointed to a car moving
away from the curb and Pvt.
Marquis went into action. -.
He hailed a cab driven by Hen
~ Schulze. 81, Of 1190 Morse
street NE, an auxiliary police SER
geant during the war. Then be-
gan a zig-zag chase through the
rain over slippery streets.
At Tenth and G streets NV.
the pursued car slowed up enough
to allow the third man to leap out
and escape. Police still are look
ing for him, 40-year-old Arling-
ton man whose name they say
they know.
. AS the chase closed in. Pvt.
Marquis sought to conceal his
identity as a policeman by turn
ing his cap around. SO that the
visor and badge would be to the
rear.
At Tenth and F streets NV.
the fugitive car slowed for a
traffic light and Mr.. Schulze
seized the chance to pull in front
of it and block it.
Pvt. Marquis leape6 out, though
he knew the men were armed. and
ran to the driver. jamming his
service revolver into his body. He
fprced the two to alight. stand
With legs apart and arms upraised
sgainst the car while he searched
Mem.
Hill Pistol Dropped.
!AAPvt. Marquis said Skeens
dropped a .38-caliber automatic to
the seat of the car when he was
accosted and that Bruno had an
italian automatic.
Hi, Holder of several citations, Pvt.
Marquis lives at 4709 Sheridan
Hneet, Riverdale, Md, with his
Wife. They have three children.
llIEThe policeman thwarted the
holdup of a grocery store at 81
E street NV. on April Is. 1910,
Mounding a bandit armed with a
H5-caliber automatic.
IlltMr. Schulze also has faced pos
Mble gunfire before. Two years
HRo he blocked an alley with his
HAb in an effort to capture a
Hnuor store bandit. The armed
b&ndit got away, but when he
later was captured Mr.. Schulze
identified him.
Pnkistun Seeks Bonk Seat
,iKARACHI, Pakistan, Feb. 1e
R.-Pakistan is seeking admis-
sion in the international None
tary Fund and the International
Bank of Reconstruction and De-
,Yelopment. it was announced to-
day.