Evening star., 1953-08-16
PxSa|eofGun
In Shooting
Brings Probe
Marine Is Held
After Wounding of
Women in District


law-enforcement authorities re-
garding sale of firearms by an
Arlington Marine post exchange.
Marine Pfc. Duane M. Greene.
81, who police said admitted the
shooting. said he bought the
pistol from the PIX at Henderson
Hall, where he is stationed.
Pfc. Greene and a companion.
Corpl. Alfred j. Ellison. %. were
ordered held under $4,000 bond
each by Municipal Court Judge
Almond w. Scott yesterday
afternoon. The two Marines.
both Korea veterans, we're seized
shortly after Mrs. Irene S. Ewell.
SIS, colored, Of 1909 Riggs place
NV, was struck by a bullet
as she walked toward a grocery
yesterday morning.
Reported in Good Condition.
Mrs. Ewell was taken to Freed
mems Hospital. where she was
reported in good condition last
night. The bullet pierced her
thigh.
Pfc. Greene fired two shots,
according to police. but the Sec
ond hit no one. The shooting
spree was the aftermath of a
brawl outside an after-hours
club at which the two Marines
had been drinking, police said.
The gun was fired from a NOV
ing automobile.
The two Marines had been
beaten up by a group of colored
men and Pfc. Greene said he
fired as the car moved up the
street in order to get revenge,
according to police. The gun
jammed after two shots, and the
two servlcemen were seized near
the Fourteenth Street Bridge
after a weaving chase.
Rover Criticizes Sale.
United States Attorney Leo A.
Rover was among the officials
who voiced criticism of the sale
of the pistol to the Marine.
I'm very much surprised to
hear that PXs sell firearms" Mr..
Rover said. Il don't know why
guns should be sold for the use
of Marine personnel off duty.
1T certainly adds to our crime
problem" he asserted, adding:
Il think they would make it
very difficult for anybody to get
a gun except for a serious need,
such as carrying a lot of money
late at night"
Allowed Under Permit.
District law forbids carrying a
pistol in the city without a police
permit, and such permits are
issued only in case of demon
Strated need, Mr.. Rover said. The
Arlington Marine was violating
the law in bringing a pistol into
the city, he pointed out.
Pfc. Greene bought the pistol,
.38 calibre, 9-Shot automatic,
from the post exchange last
April. The sale was approved by
the Arlington police department
at the request of the Marines
company commander.
The PIX has a stock OF fire.
arms of various types, sold most
ly for sporting purposes. In his
application to the police depart
ment, however, Pfc. Greene
stated he wanted the pistol for
personal protection.
To Be Kept in ArmOry.
The application also stated
that Pfc. Greene lived on the
post and that the pistol would
be kept locked up in the armory
and issued only after being
signed out.
Capt. T. H. Hughes, the COM
pany commander, said he has
also approved requests of two
other Marines to buy pistols.
Two applications now are pend
ing with the police department,
one for a As and the other a .38.
but these are both requested for
target practice.
The Marine post has a pistol
range, and a number of the men
use it. Capt. Hughes said. He
said as a result of yesterdays
shooting he was inclined to think
sale of pistols should be ended.
Investigation Pushed.
Marine headquarters and the
Armed Services Police detach-
ment here both launched inves-
legations of the shooting and the
pistol sale.
a spokesman at Marine head
quarters said the Marine Corps
permits PXs to sell pistols and
other firearms for target practice
and hunting. He said Pvt.
Greene probably had checked out
his pistol for target practice.
Capt. John r. Billings of the
Armed Services Police said yes
terday he had never heard Of
pistols being sold in PXs before,
and an Army spokesman at the
Pentagon said no firearms what
ever are sold at Army PXs in the
United States.
No Permits Needed.
An Arlington police official
said Marine officers first began
submitting applications for PIX
pistol sales about six months ago.
The police department handles
applications for on-post person.
mel only on courtesy basis,
however, because Arlington has
no authority over military posts.
the official said.
Arlington does not require per-
mits for the carrying Of pistols.
but all residents of military
posts must apply to the police
in order to buy them. Applica-
tions occasionally are denied,
even to military personnel, ac-
cording to the official.