HOLD-UP MAY LINK WITH FATAL CRASH
Hit-and-Run Death of J. C. Duke Leads Police to Investigate.
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
PRIEST BRIDGE, Md., May 31. — With two colored men under arrest in Annapolis as a result of a fatal hit-and-run accident near here last night, Prince Georges County police today launched an investigation to determine whether they are members of the gang of bandits responsible for a series of hold-ups during the past week.
Joseph C. Duke, 49, superintendent of the People’s Life Insurance Co., Washington, was the victim of the hit-and-run accident, which occurred about one mile from here on the Defense Highway.
The spot is within two miles of the gasoline station and barbecue stand where John T. Geary, 43-year-old proprietor, was shot during a daring robbery staged early yesterday by three colored men.
Witness View Suspects.
Because of the proximity of the scenes of the two crimes, Sergt. A W. Hepburn of the Prince Georges police force, said he would take Albert Sweeney, 21, of Leeland, a witness to the Geary shooting, to Annapolis in an effort to identify the prisoners arrested after Duke’s death.
Occupants of the car that struck the insurance man deserted their machine and fled. State Policeman J. C. Gates arrested the two colored men whom he found walking along the road not far from the place where Duke was hit. They were held for investigation only.
Duke, who lived at 3726 Connecticut avenue, Washington, was hit by an automobile said to have contained two colored men as he was standing on the road where two other cars had crashed.
Accompanied by Mrs. Duke.
According to police, Duke and his wife, Mrs. Mary Perrie Duke, and a friend, Angus P. Gares, 1400 block of Columbia road, Washington, were returning to Washington after spending the day at a Summer resort near Annapolis.
Their car was following one driven by Miss Harvey Chiswell of Washington, who also works for the People’s Life Insurance Co., and was a cousin of Duke.
The young woman’s car was in collision with a machine which police said was driven by Paul H. Shaw of Annapolis. Although her car left the road and overturned, Miss Chiswell was uninjured. Shaw and two occupants of his car also escaped injury.
Hit Near Wreckage.
Duke alighted to view the wreckage and was hit a few moments later. Elmer Stagner of Annapolis rushed him to Emergency Hospital, Annapolis, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Albert L. Anderson.
Further evidence that Geary was shot by one of the gang that robbed Town Policeman Lawrence Dayton of Bladensburg was collected by Prince Georges County police yesterday when Dayton identified a blackjack which one of the robbers dropped during the hold-up and shooting at Geary’s establishment.
County Policeman G. William Gray reported that Dayton positively identified the blackjack as one which was taken from him by two colored men who also stole his automobile, gun, badge, watch, and money.
Miss Mary Collins, a waitress at the barbecue stand, told Sheriff W. Curtis Hopkins that she recognized the car the bandits used as belonging to Dayton.
Geary was reported “slightly improved” at Casualty Hospital this morning.
Duke was born in Bakerton, W. Va., July 31, 1885, the son of George W. and Frances Chiswell Duke. After the death of his parents he moved to Washington, and for the past 26 years had been associated with the Life Insurance Co. Since 1924 he has been superintendent of agents.
He was a member of Columbia Lodge of Masons and of the Mineola Tribe of Red Men. His widow is the only survivor.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the residence of his cousin, Mrs. F. F. Leith, 3101 Macomb street.
