Evening star., 1963-03-21
z Are Thought
To Have Seen
First Encounter

Less than six hours after the
patrolman, Pvt. Elmer L.
Hunter, "a, was found mortally
wounded in a gutter at Alabama
and Nichols avenues Sc, de-
tectives picked up the dish
washer and charged him with
murder.
Joseph @. Jenkins, the ac-
cused of the first block of U
street NV, faces a coroner's
inquest at II am. tomorrow.
According to Homicide Squad
detectives. jenkins has ad-
mitted shooting the policeman
because he was afraid of go
ing to jail" Pvt. Hunter. po-
lice said, had taken the suspect
off a D. c. Transit System bus
when the latter allegedly failed
to pay his fare.
Were on Bus
The two missing bus riders
and one other passenger, who
has been located. were aboard
the bus when Jenkins boarded
it shortly after IL pm. Tues
day, police said.
Authorities hoped the two
passengers can be located in
time to testify at tomorrow's
inquest. /.
The driver, william F. Skotta,
81. said jenkins stepped into
the bus at Alabama and Nichols
avenue Sc, sat down close to
the drivers seat but did not
pay his fare.
Mr.. Skotta said he asked the
silent passenger several times
to pay his fare but that Jen-
kins sat mutely in his seat with
a blank stare"
Less than 100 yards from the
bus stop, the driver said. he
saw Pvt. Hunter walking by
and stopped the bus, honktng
his horn. The policeman
stepped into the bus and began
questioning jenkins. At one
point, Mr.. Skotta said, jenkins
stood up and took a bus token
out of his pocket,
Two Leave Bus
Then, the driver said, The
policeman said something to
the man and the two of them
got off the bus.
jenkins repeatedly told two
detectives who apprehended
him six hours later that he
had protested being arrested
and fired at the policeman as
they approached a police call
box. The suspect. police said,
declared that Pvt. Hunter re-
fused to ''let me CO."
Pvt. Hunter was found by
fellow officers sprawled in a
gutter. He had been hit three
times. in the chest. abdomen
and back, but had managed
to fire one round at his fleeing
assailant.
Pvt. Hunter. who Joined the
police department last April 2,
died an hour later-at 1915
am. yesterday-in Hadley Me-
mortal Hospital. A native Of
the District and a Navy vet
eran. he lived at 1910 Mississip-
pi avenue Sc. with his wife.
Jacqueline, and two small
sons.
jenkins was Jailed without
bond on a first-degree murder
charge.
FOndness for Hat
His fondness for q Russian
type astrakhan hat that he
dropped at the Staying scene
led TO his capture early yes
terday. police said.
The hat was found In the
800 block Of Nichols avenue,
where the shooting occurred.
Detectives said the dish-
washer told them he fled the
scene and hid for nearly six
hours in q red car" parked
about four blocks away. When
he crept out Of his hiding place,
he was intent on recovering the
lost lambs-wool hat, he told
police.
At 4:50 am. police said,
jenkins emerged from an alley
near Nichols avenue and
Raleigh street Sc. He was
spotted almost simultaneously
by q robbery squad cruiser
and a patrol car manned by
Armed Forces Police.
Apprehend Suspect
Detectives william J. Dunn,
40. and Robert c. Harris, so,
apprehended jenkins. In the
umbrella he was carrying. they
said, a .S2-caliber revolver was
found. One live bullet and five
empty shells remained in the
cylinder.
An Armed Forces Police
spokesman today credited two
military policemen. Boatswalns
Mate 2ic c. I. Burton and AIR
man nc B, J. Benson. with
spotting jenkins shortly before
8 am.
nj 60