Memorial to George D. Chinn
End of Watch: October 20, 1921
Rank: Officer, Badge No. 678
Age: 24 Years of Service: 3
Location of Death: 1148 Lingers Court, NW
Duty Assignment: Third Precinct
Circumstance:
Officers Chinn and Collins responded to 1148 Lingers Court, NW for the sounds of gunfire. Upon arriving, officers found numerous individuals fighting over a craps game. As the officers approached, they were met with gunfire. Officer Chinn was shot in the side and disabled. Officer Collins continued up into the house and returned fire expending all his rounds. Officer Collins then returned to Officer Chinn and retrieved his gun and again entered the house and returned fire.
The suspect, George Scottage was later caught and confessed to the murder.
As Officer White walked up the stairs the subject drew a .40 caliber handgun and shot Officer White striking him in his chest. Officer White was wearing a protective vest and the impact from the .40 caliber bullet knocked him down to the ground. Before Officer White had a chance to draw his weapon, the subject stood over him and shot him numerous times in the face. The subject also shot Officer White’s partner in the shoulder. The subject was convicted of murdering Officer White and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Biography:
Officer Chinn had been with the Metropolitan Police Department for three years. Chinn’s father and sister were with him at the time of his death, having come here from their home in Stafford County, Virginia, where the officer was born.
Articles from the Washington Post – transcribed by Dave Richardson, MPD/Ret.
ON OCTOBER 17, 1921, OFFICER GEORGE D. CHINN WAS SHOT IN THE ABDOMEN, AND THEN SEVERELY BEATEN AS HE LAY HELPLESS ON THE GROUND. HE DIED THREE DAYS LATER.
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED OCTOBER 17, 1921, PAGE 1
OFFICER SHOT, DYING
Policeman Chinn Hit in Battle With Gang in Northwest
SOUGHT SOURCE OF GUNPLAY
Volley Greets Two Patrolmen Seeking to Enter House
Woman Shot Twice as Injured Man’s Comrade Empties Pistol in Dash Into Building, Places Two Men Under Arrest—Chinn Beaten After He Is Shot Down By Culprits.
Policeman H.B. (wrong) Chinn, of the Third precinct, was shot and perhaps fatally injured early this morning when he and Policeman Millard Collins, also of the Third precinct, went into Linger’s court northwest to investigate a shooting affair. Chinn was shot through the left side and severely beaten about the head. Drs. Kilroy and Borden, police surgeons, and Drs. Hearn and Herzmark, of the Emergency hospital staff, performed an operation and found that the bullet had penetrated Chinn’s abdomen. They stated that the injured policeman’s recovery was doubtful.
Chinn and Collins were patrolling their beat when the sound of pistol firing in Linger’s court attracted their attention. Both went to investigate, but Chinn was in the van.
Volley Greets Officers
As the officers neared the house of John Henderson, 1148 Lingers court, where the shooting occurred, they were met with a volley of shots. Chinn fell with a bullet in his side and while he lay helpless in the alley-way was unmercifully beaten.
Collins went on into the house and emptied his gun in the general direction of the firing. Later he returned to his fallen comrade, secured his pistol and again went into the house. Jenette Davis, 21 years old, of 514 Ricketts Court northwest, was hit twice during the firing—both times in her legs.
Rescued by Chauffeur.
While Chinn was lying in the alley and Collins was inside the house, Clarence Jones, a chauffeur, of 1144 21st Street, NW, was attracted by the injured policeman’s cries for help. He fought off several subjects who were beating the policeman, placed him in a machine and rushed him to the Emergency hospital.
Persons in the vicinity of the shooting notified the Third precinct and Headquarters Detectives O’Brien and Livingston and reserves from the Third precinct were rushed to the place. In the meantime Policeman Collins had arrested John Henderson, in whose home the shooting occurred. Third precinct reserves arrested James Davis, husband of Jeanette Davis. All are being held for investigation. A police watch is being kept on the Davis woman at the Emergency hospital.
Police are looking for George Scott, of 2140 D Street, NW. Police learned, they say, that a craps game was in progress in Henderson’s home when an argument arose between Henderson and Percy Sanders. Shooting over the dice game attracted the officer’s attention. Police are also looking for a fourth man who was in the house at the time of the shooting of Chinn.
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WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED OCTOBER 18, 1921, PAGE 2
SUSPECT ALLEGED TO HAVE SHOT CHINN IS CAPTURED
George Scott, 19, Surrenders After Long Chase—Policeman’s Hope Slight.
Surrounded by a squad of detectives when discovered hiding in an attic at 2115 D street northwest, after being hunted for 12 hours for the shooting of Policeman H.B. (wrong) Chinn, of the Third precinct, George Scott, age 19, emerged from his hiding place when officers threatened to fire a volley into the attic where he cowered, and was placed under arrest.
He was taken to the Third precinct, and held without bond.
At a late hour last night, physicians at Emergency hospital held little hope for Chinn’s recovery, stating that the bullet perforated the intestines in several places.
Eleven persons were arrested by the officer, in connection with the shooting, and are held for investigation.
Chinn was shot when he and Officer Collins attempted to place under arrest a crowd of subjects in Linger’s court northwest, Sunday night.
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WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED OCTOBER 20, 1921, PAGE 1
POLICEMAN CHINN DIES; SHOT IN ALLEY FIGHT
Loses Game Struggle for Life, Waged Since Shooting Sunday in the Third Precinct
George D. Chinn, a member of the Metropolitan police department, who was shot Sunday night when he and Officer Collins of the Third precinct were called to Linger’s court northwest to quell a fight, died at the Emergency hospital shortly after 1 o’clock this morning.
Eleven persons, were arrested in connection with the shooting of the officer, and after an all-night chase, George Scott, 19, was trapped in an attic at 2115 D street northwest and surrendered to a squad of detectives who threatened to fire a volley into the attic.
Scott, after his arrest, is said to have admitted shooting the officer.
Chinn was appointed a member of the department about three years ago, and was assigned to the Ninth precinct until two months ago, when he was transferred to the Third precinct. Chinn’s father and sister were with him at the time of his death, having come here from their home in Stafford County, Virginia, where the officer was born.
In an effort to save the officer’s life, Inspector Charles Evans gave a quart of blood which was transfused to Chinn by physicians at the hospital.
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A PARTIAL WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED APRIL 2, 1922
2 ADMIT KILLINGS; RECEIVE LIFE TERMS
J.T. RISON, ALLEGED WIFE-SLAYER, AND GEORGE SCOTT, HELD IN CHINN DEATH, SENTENCED
Pleading guilty to charges of second degree murder, two men were sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday by Chief Justice Walter I. McCoy in criminal court. They are George Scott, 19 years old, and James Thomas Rison, 45 years old.
Rison was arrested August 4 in a room at 317 Pennsylvania avenue after, it is alleged, he had hacked his wife to death with a hatchet and battered her face and head with a flat iron found in the room. Rison was formerly a railroad employee, and when arrested stated that he had attacked his wife following a quarrel in the room over his return to Baltimore, Md. He said that he did not intend to kill his wife. When she was found, the woman’s face was battered beyond recognition.
Charged With Killing Policeman
Scott was held in the shooting and killing of Policeman George D. Chinn, 24 years old, of 450 11th Street, NW. Chinn was killed when he entered Linger’s court to investigate a shooting affair. Scott is said to have stepped from a house as the officer entered the alley and fired at him, inflicting a mortal wound.
The two men will under the law have to serve 20 years in the penitentiary before they are eligible for parole.