Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-14
Haiti Diplomat
Shot Dead by
EnbassyAide
Staying Follows
Row; Question Of
Immunity Roised

Haitian Embassy was shot and
killed today by the first secre-
tary of the Embassy at the
Haitian chancery.
Dead in a fusillade Of bullets
was Samuel Devieux, about SO.
Police and Embassy employees
said the gun was fired by Andre
Toussaint, about 80, who had
come to Washington only a few
weeks ago. He was married
last Saturday.
Tenth Precinct 1t. Israel j.
Tew said he was told Toussaint
had been recalled to Haiti this
and blamed the min
lister counsellor for the recall.
Shooting Follows Row
The shooting followed q
quarrel between the two diplo-
mats in a f1rst-floor ONCE Of
the tan brick chancery at 400
Seventh street NV.
It was the first time in the
memory Of veteran diplomats
that the question Of diplomatic
immunity has arisen because
of a murder in this country.
While high-ranking police
officials and detectives stood
by. Haitian Ambassador Luc
Fouche called his home govern
ment in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
to determine whether the gov
eminent wanted to waive i'm
munity and permit the diplo-
mats arrest and trial in this
country
Police also called the State
Department for instructions.
Custody Advised
Less than two hours after the
shooting, the State Department
advised Ambassador Fouche
that he might ask Washington
police. to take Toussaint into
protective custody pending
word from Port-au-Prince.
Diplomatic questions we're
involved even in the disposition
OF the body. After Mr.. Devieux
was pronounced dead on ar
rival at the Washington Hos
pital Center. his body was
turned over to the coroner.
The coroner, however. was ad-
vised that he would have to get
permission from Port au-
Prince before performing an
autopsy.
Hospital Reports
The hospital reported that
Mr.. Detieux apparently died of
wounds to the chest and neck.
The neck wound may have been
caused by a bullet grazing the
neck but not lodging.
The outbreak Of shooting in
the quiet upper Northwest resi-
Dental section came about
l0:45 am.
An embassy Official said the
minister counselor had just re-
.ceived a letter ordering Tous-
saints dismissal. The official
surmised that the shooting
probably arose out OF a dis
cussion Of that matter"
Roger Dreyfuss. second Sec
Rotary at the embassy, said he
was going into Mr.. Devieux's
Office.
Il saw Toussaint. with a gun
in his. hand and shortly after,
he began shooting. I think
there were two or three shots.
He was standing about four
feet from Devieux when he
started shooting. l was too
far away to stop him or even
to try to defect the weapon"
Mr.. DreyfuSs said Toussaint
accused the dead man Of in
stigating his recall to Haiti.
Married Saturday
Mr.. Dreyfuss added that
Toussaint. just married Satur-
day to an American girl. had
felt that he had been fired
Mr.. Dreyfuss said Toussaint
accused Mr.. Devieux Of telling
Haitian authorities that Tous-
saint was allied with members
of a Haitian rebel faction now
in exile in New York. The Sec
rotary said as far as he knew
Toussaint was not In league
with the exile rebels, and that
minister-counsel Devieux did
not instigate Toussaints recall.
The second secretary said
the Haitian Ambassador is
awaiting word as to what ac-
ton should be taken against
the slayer.
He said he felt that Tous-
saint would be sent back to
Haiti for trial there. How
ever, he said definite action de-
ponds on word from Port-au-
Prince and the United States
Department OF State.
Raephael Dugrul, an En-
baSsy chauffeur. said Mr.. De-
vieux was seated at his desk
when Toussaint opened fire.
He said he half arose from the
chair and fell 20 the floor with
See SHOOTING. Page A-6