Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-28
4 Students Use Sign Talk
To Describe Fatal Shootinq
D. C. Detective
I translates
At Inquest

-Four Gallaudet College stu
dents described in sign langu-
age at an inquest today how a
companion was fatally shot early
yesterday near the college.
Victim of the shooting was
John A. Ref. 20, of Centralia,
Wash.
Three men charged with homi-
eide in the Staying were arraigned
yesterday and are being held
without bond. They are:
Joe Granville Metoyer, jr., 26,
of 2l00 Nineteenth street NV,
who admitted firing the fatal
shot.
Charlie William Harris, 81, Of
$500 block of Fourteenth street
NV.
Albert Nicely, 80, of the 200
block of Ascot place NE. owner
of the car in which the trio fed.
All are Negroes.
Translator Assigned
Detective William berwick was
assigned to translate the sign
language of the deaf mute stu
dents.
The four students with Mr..
Ref at the time of the shoot
ing were Howard r. Busby, 10.
of Theodore. Ala; Roger F. PEN
dergraft. 81. of Marlin. Tex:
Thomas w. Holloway. %. of Tay-
Tor. Tex, and Larry G. Stewart,
10. of Long View, Tex.
The students said they were
on their way to an all-night res
taurant near the college about 2
am. when they came upon what
they thought was a robbery at
tempt. They said it appeared
that two men were attempting
to drag a third man into a car
parked near Florida avenue and
Sixth street NE.
The students said they went to
investigate, were rebuffed and
started to walk on. When the
car remained in the area, two
OF the boys returned to it. AS
they approached the auto, one of
the men got out Of the car and
chased them, they said.
Single Shot Fired
Four Of the students ran west
on Morse street. AS they ran
along the street, their pursuer
fired a single shot, which struck
Mr.. Ref in the back of the
head. Three of the students
went to the all-night restaurant
for help and Mr.. Stewart, who
had run in another direction,
went to the college to awaken
fellow students.
The quick capture Of the three
men was made possible, police
said, by tips from two men who
were near the scene OF the
shooting.
Arphelius Calling, jr., 80, Of 81
Seaton place NE. a postal en-
ploye, saw the trio speed away
and followed their car for a short
distance. He was able to give
police part of the license number
and a good description of the
1855 light blue, two-door Mer-
curry.
Described the Men
/ Also expediting the capture
was description of the men fur
nished by Lorenzo p. Price, SO, OF
1923 Georgia avenue NV,
Pentagon employe. He was
standing on the sidewalk. near
the scene Of the shooting. watt
ing for some one to pick him up.
he told police.
J Through a check of auto IL
cense records, police traced the
car and learned 1t belonged TO
Nicely, a cook at a Bethesda res
taurant. Police put a stake
out" at the restaurant and nine
hours after the shooting Nicely
and the other two, also employees
OF the restaurant. were arrested.
4 Metoyer said he and the other
two men had been drinking most
of the night at Prince Georges
County tavern. He said they
were on their way home when
Harris became unruly and they
decided to put him out Of the
auto. 1t was at this point that
the students passed by. Metoyer
said the students entered the
'scuffe and that he chased them
and fired the shot only TO scare
them away.
/ He said after the shot was
fired and he saw one Of the
boys fall. he and the other two
iHieh gu AlCO Vie car ana UeQs
Waive Extradition
Following their capture. the
three men were taken 70 Mont
gomery County Circuit Court in
Rockville where they waived ex-
tradition and we're returned "a
Washington. They we're ar
raigned late yesterday before
Municipal Court Judge Edward
A. Beard. He denied them bond.
but granted continuance Of
the preliminary hearing unit!
January 3.
Deputy Coroner Christopher
Murphy said Mr.. Ref, who died
in District General Hospital four
hours after the shooting was
shot from a distance OF about