OFFICER UEL M. (GALES) GAILE
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JULY 19, 1933, PAGE 1
TRIO WOUNDED IN GUN BATTLE; ALL MAY DIE.
NINTH STREET POOL PARLOR “SHOT UP;” POLICEMAN ENDS FUSILLADE.
Three downtown Ninth street habitues, one of them an innocent bystander, were mortally wounded late last night in a fierce gun duel at the Academy Pool Parlor, 744 Ninth street northwest.
Detective Sergt. John C. Dalglish, of the Homicide Squad, early today attributed the bullet fusillade to a “whisky quarrel” between two of the wounded men, Frank Snow, 30, and Charles McAvoy, 36. The wounded bystander was said to be Charles Neil, 27, of 1233 Twelfth street northwest.
The battle was brought to an abrupt end, Dalglish said when Private U.M. Gales (Gaile), First Precinct, dashed into the bullet‑swept poolroom. Dalglish said McAvoy was standing on his feet with a smoking revolver in his hand, according to witnesses.
FIRED AT POLICEMAN
The detective declared McAvoy fired several times at the policeman who returned a like volley. Whether the policeman’s shots felled McVoy could not be learned.
By this time, a dozen or so poolroom hangers‑on had fled, said Dalglish, reconstructing the scene. Most of them dashed to a nearby rooming house at 917 H street northwest, he continued.
A half‑dozen policemen surrounded the boarding house, and from the apartment of Mr and Mrs Frank Pope herded eight men and several women to police headquarters.
Ninth street from Pennsylvania avenue to New York avenue by this time was a vortex of excitement. News of the gun fusillade ran like lightning through every restaurant and dance hall. Shrieking ambulance and police cars added to the bedlam.
SPRAYED WITH BULLETS.
Dalglish said he believed the quarrel had its inception after a drink fest at the Pope apartment. Threats and counter threats were passed, it was said.
The pool parlor’s walls were sprayed with dozens of bullets. Furrows were plowed on the billiard tables and several windows were smashed.
Early today Emergency Hospital physicians indicated they held scant hope for any of the men’s recovery.
Homicide detectives early this morning were still grilling the group picked up at the rooming house, but announced they had not yet cleared up the motives for the quarrel.
(FRANK SNOW AND THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER, CHARLES NEIL, DIED OF THEIR WOUNDS. MCAVOY SURVIVED AND WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER.
THE CORRECT SPELLING OF OFFICER GALES’ NAME IS UEL M. “GAILE.” THE POST USED BOTH SPELLINGS IN SEVERAL SEPARATE ARTICLES ABOUT THE OFFICER OVER THE YEARS. GAILE LATER DIED IN A LINE OF DUTY ACCIDENT