officers had procured this statement i asked one of the officers, Mr. Marble, for permission to see and read the same, because I had been invited out of the room. but I had opened the door to see what had been going on I read the statement and there was nothing in it to the effect that my son was on duty at the time he was shot. I called Mr Marble's attention to it. and Mr. Marble stated, that my son, William Thompson, had told him in the presence of the other officers that he was on duty at the time he was shot. that they all knew such was the fact, and that it was not necessary to insert in it such a statement. Dr Burton Brown. head of the staff, at the Pierce County Hospital. was standing there when my son told these officers, he was on duty Mr Marble, by the way, was not on friendly terms with my son. because my son would not take him out on cases with him any more. The reason for this was that my son would go out and build up the cases and then Mr. Marble wanted to go with him when he made the arrests or when the case was just about finished so that he Marble would get half of the credit for the arrest. My son was given an official puria with the flag of the United States Government draped acrossed his casket and his Government badge on top of his coffin He also had prohibition officers for pallbearers. This certainly wasn't a burial of a man who had dishonored his office as an United States Government officer Surely not with the flag of our country draped on his coffin The Government regulations under which my son worked provided that prohibition officers are always on duty The United States Government required my son, during the time he was in the service, to search for and to accumulate evidence to convict persons of crime against the prohibition laws, and that it was necessary in order to get such evidence that my son and others employed by the United States Government should purchase and consume liquor in order to get such evidence. The United States Government paid for all liquors purchased and consumed by my son while employed in the prohibition service at Seattle. I never saw my son intoxicated or under the influence of liquor so far that he was unable to care for himself or to perform his duties While my son was in the Pierce County Hospital at Tacoma, after he had been shot, he requested me to get his star and memorandum book and money which had been taken from his person, from the office of the hospital, and I went to the office and procured this memorandum book, star, and money which was left from said hospital office on Sunday after the Wednesday when my son was shot. At the time my son told me that the memorandum book contained the memoranda of names and addresses and liquor he had bought and evidence obtained at each of the following places: Joe Wells, Craney Crow, the White House, Garfield House and others, on the night before the morning he was shot. After I procured the mentioned articles from the office I took them immediately to my son, who then examined the book and found that the names of the places visited the night before the morning he was shot and other memoranda made that night had been torn from the book. This book was later obtained from me, after my son's death, by Officer Reagan, of Seattle, Wash. I believe it is in the possession of the prohibition enforcement officers of Seattle, Wash Gentlemen, I know that it is the earnest desire for men who are helping to make the laws of our country to see justice done. I have compiled evidence over a period of years, 20 years to be exact, that prove conclusively that my son was on duty when shot, that even his own superior officers. Mr. William Whitney and Mr. Roy C. Lyle, have made affidavits stating such to be the case All I can do now is hope and pray that after a 20-year fight, my son will be proven on duty when shot. This time I really feel that justice will be done to the widowed mother of Agent William Harvey Thompson of the United States Government. SARAH E. THOMPSON. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of July 1947. [SEAL] S. W. THOMPSON, Notary Public in and for the State of Washington, residing at Seattle. STATEMENT OF ROY C. LYLE, RE CLAIM SARAH E. THOMPSON, RELIEF To Whom It May Concern: I, Roy C. Lyle, former prohibition administrator, at Seattle, Wash., hereby state that I again reaffirm my belief that William Harvey Thompson, a United States Federal prohibition agent, working under me in 1927, at the time he was shot by a police officer of the Tacoma, Wash., Police Department, was on active duty at the time, working on a special assignment and detail, under instructions of William M. Whitney, legal advisor and Assistant Administrator. That I have checked the record as made by Government officials and agents, which review strengthens my belief. I am making this statement re the claim of Sarah E. Thompson, for relief due to the death of her son, William Harvey Thompson, to be used in her renewal of application for relief before a congressional committee. Dated at Seattle. Wash., this 27th day of April 1949. ROY C. LYLE. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of April 1949. STATEMENT OF WALTER MARBLE RE CLAIM OF SARAH E. THOMSPON To whom it may concern I, Walter Marble, resident of the city of Seattle, Wash., state, that in the year 1927, I was a regular appointed and qualified United States Federal prohibition agent, working under Roy C. Lyle, Prohibition Administrator, and William M. Whitney, legal adviser and Assistant Administrator. That I performed special work under direction of said Whitney. That on July 27th, 1927, I was detailed by said Whitney to make a complete and detailed investigation of the shooting of prohibition agent, William Harvey Thompson, at Tacoma, Wash., by a member of the Tacoma Police Department. That I made such investigation in company with C. Bertil Johnson, Deputy United States District Attorney, stationed at Tacoma. That this took several days and involved following the movements of said Thompson the previous day and night, interviewing witnesses as to his movements and the facts surrounding the shooting and interviews with Thompson in the hospital at Tacoma, prior to his death. That I made a detailed report of my investigation in writing to my superior and thereafter was forwarded to Washington, D. C. From said investigation, I am firmly convinced that William Harvey Thompson was on active duty, carrying out the orders and instructions of his superior, said Whitney, at the time of the shooting by the police officer, from the effects of the wounds he died on 3rd day of August, 1927. Dated at Seattle, this 27th day of April 1949. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 27th day of April, 1949. [SEAL] WALTER MARBLE, Former Prohibitent Agent. B. A. NORTHROP, Notary Public for the State of Washington, residing at Seattle. AFFIDAVIT OF GOLDIE NAPPLE County of King, ss: STATE OF WASHINGTON, Goldie Napple, being first duly sworn, upon oath deposes and says: I was acquainted with Harvey Thompson during his lifetime, and first became acquainted with him about 1 year before the time of his death. I was with said Harvey Thompson on at least two other occasions than the time hereinafter related when said Harvey Thompson was engaged in obtaining evidence in the service of the United States on behalf of the prohibition enforcement officers. That at about 11:30 p. m. on the 26th day of July 1927, said Harvey Thompson my sister, Juanita Snow, and a young man known to me by the name of Louis left Seattle, Wash., and rode together to the city of Tacoma, arriving at Tacoma at about 1:30 a. m., on the morning of July 27, 1927: that shortly thereafter we drove to a hotel, the name of which I do not remember, but which is situated upon Pacific Avenue, in the city of Tacoma, and that we all went in said hotel and said Harvey Thompson there bought liquor from some person in charge of said hotel, the name of whom I do not know, for all four of our party, myself included. From this hotel just referred to we proceeded to the Garfield House, No. 1101 24th Avenue South, in the city of Tacoma, and all entered said Garfield House together, and that at said Garfield House, Harvey Thompson bought one small bottle of moonshine liquor, which was consumed by the members of the party while within said hotel. From there we proceeded in the automobile, Harvey Thompson driving, to a service station situated upon the mountain road to the south of Tacoma a distance of about 5 miles, and at this service station said Harvey Thompson bought liquor for all four of the party, which was consumed at said station; from this service station we proceeded still farther south on the mountain road to a roadhouse known as Craney Crow, situated near the mountain highway, about 7 miles south of Tacoma. We all entered this Inn and that here Harvey Thompson purchased and we drank two quart bottles of beer; to the best of my judgment the party remained at said Craney Crow about one hour and from there we proceeded to a roadhouse known as the White House, situated about 7 miles south of Tacoma and about 21⁄2 miles from said mountain road: that at said White House Harvey Thompson again bought and the party consumed one round of whisky and two bottles of beer, and said Louis bought one round of whisky; that twice at the said White House and once at Craney Crow Harvey Thompson did not drink the liquor purchased, but when he was not being observed by the bartender threw the liquor in a cuspidor or upon the floor; that the party left the White House some time after daylight and proceeded to Tacoma, Harvey Thompson driving the automobile. That at about two or three blocks from the place Harvey Thompson was shot my sister and said Louis commenced quarreling and I suggested to Harvey Thompson that we stop the car and let them out, which was done, and I remained. sitting in the front seat with Harvey Thompson; that after my sister and Louis got out of the automobile Harvey Thompson drove to the place he was shot, for the purpose of turning the car around; that while he was turning, or attempting to turn the car around, he was accosted by an officer, who put his foot on the running board, and who told Harvey Thompson to get out of the car. that he wanted to search it, to which Harvey Thompson replied that he would not do so; the officer said to Harvey, "You won't?" and Harvey said "No," and that without further conversation or any warning whatsoever the officer, without a moments hesitation shot Harvey Thompson in the mouth; that at the time Harvey Thomp son was shot he was offering no resistance to the said officer, and had not attempted to draw a revolver or to do the officer any harm; that both of Harvey's hands at the time were on the steering wheel; nothing was said either by Harvey or by the officer except as I have stated. I know that Harvey Thompson was engaged upon his duties at the time he was killed and during the entire evening of July 27 and up to the time he was killed; that on the way over from Seattle to Tacoma I rode in the front seat with Harvey Thompson and he stated to me that he had some places to visit which must be visited in the night time, and also had some places in Tacoma which he intended to visit thereafter in the morning; that on the road in to Tacoma from the White House, Harvey Thompson stated to me that he had several places yet to visit in Tacoma before he returned to Seattle, at which he expected to obtain evidence; I know that after each purchase of liquor by Harvey Thompson on this trip, both at the hotels, gas station, and roadhouses, he made a memorandum in a small book kept by him, furnished by the Government, of the date, place, and character and quantity of liquor which he had bought at each of such places; that I expected to return with Harvey Thompson from Tacoma to Seattle in the forenoon of the day when he was killed; that Harvey Thompson told me that at the other places which he had to visit in Tacoma and where he hoped to obtain evidence it would be necessary for him to be alone, and that as soon as he had finished such work he would return to get me at my mother's home, in Tacoma, and return with me to Seattle: that shortly after the party had left the White House Harvey Thompson stated to me that the White House was a place where he had been hoping for some time to collect evidence of illicit liquor selling, but that he had never theretofore been able to succeed, and that he was pleased to finally be able to obtain such evidence. That I was not acquainted with any of the persons from whom liquor was bought at the times herein stated, but believe I could identify the persons from whom liquor was bought if I had an opportunity of seeing them. GOLDIE NAPPLE. Notary Public in and for the State of Washington, Residing at Seattle. ADDITIONAL AFFIDAVIT OF GOLDIE NAPPLE STATE OF WASHINGTON, County of King, ss: Goldie Napple, being first duly sworn, upon oath deposes and says: That affiant is the same person who on the 8th day of March 1928, made an affidavit on behalf of Mrs. Sarah Emma Thompson, in support of her claim for compensation from the United States Employees' Compensation Commission. That on the night preceding the morning upon which William Harvey Thompson was shot affiant accompanied said Thompson from Seattle to Tacoma, and that before leaving Seattle said Thompson informed affiant he had been requested by William M. Whitney, legal adviser to the prohibition officers, to get evidence against a Ben Newman, who lived in Seattle but who had a cache of liquor or a still at or near Puyallup, Wash., in Pierce County, and that said Thompson drove from Seattle in the direction of Tacoma, on what is known as the Valley Road. That twice before arriving at Puyallup said William Harvey Thompson stopped his automobile and went into farmhouses, stating he was going to make inquiries relative to said Ben Newman. That after passing through Puyallup said William Harvey Thompson stopped said automobile and went to the residence of a farmer named Marmo, about 11⁄2 or 14 miles from Puyallup on the road to Tacoma, stating he was going to make inquiries at said place relative to said Ben Newman. That said Thompson told affiant that he had been unable to get the information he wanted in regard to the cache or still of said Ben Newman, and that he would endeavor to get such information on the road home the next day. That in Tacoma said William Harvey Thompson and I, in company with affiant's sister, Juanita Snow, and Louis Kaelin, visited and obtained evidence at two hotels, one on Pacific Avenue and one on Twenty-fourth Avenue South, as stated in affiant's previous affidavit, and that we then left Tacoma and visited and obtained evidence at a service station and two roadhouses, mentioned in affiant's said previous affidavit of March 8. 1928. upon the mountain road and road near the same, south of Tacoma. That we did not stop in said hotels, station or roadhouses to exceed an hour in any one place. That after leaving my said sister and said Louis Kaelin near my home in Tacoma said William Harvey Thompson and I proceeded on a road which finally came to an abrupt ending at some school grounds, and that said automobile could not proceed farther because of the steepness of the bank. That in order to turn around it was necessary to back said automobile a short distance, and that said William Harvey Thompson was about to back or turn around the said automobile when he was approached and shot by officer Nerbonne as set forth in said preceding affidavit. That no janitor appeared at said school grounds or at or around the same or until after said Thompson was shot, and that no quarreling or loud talking had occurred until after said Thompson was shot. That the next day affiant stated to policemen present, in the county jail at Tacoma, Wash., the number upon the star of said officer who had shot William Harvey Thompson, and that the officers in said police station looked up said number and stated that affiant had given the correct number of the officer who had done the shooting. That in addition to accompanying said William Harvey Thompson on the night and morning when he was shot affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and other prohibition enforcement officers working out of Tacoma and Seattle upon numerous other occasions. That on one occasion in the latter portion of June 1926, affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and officer A. F. Sadler and visited and procured evidence at approximately 20 places in the city of Seattle in one night. That the places of which affiant can remember the names and addresses so visited on said night are: The Huston Hotel, (in back portion), 1411 Fifth Avenue; Loring Hotel, 1419 Fourth Avenue; The Imperial Hotel, 1408 Fourth Avenue; Windsor Apartments, (2d basement), on Sixth Avenue; The Sather Hotel, 6061⁄2 Pike Street; and the Fern, on Pike Street. That affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and said A. F. Sadler to Everett a few times, on which occasions we also obtained evidence of possession and sale of liquor. That affiant also accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and said officer, A. F. Sadler, on two trips to Tacoma about the months of September and October 1926, at which times we visited and obtained evidence at two places on Pacific Avenue. That affiant also accompanied William Harvey Thompson and said officer Sadler one night in the spring of 1927 and obtained evidence at three roadhouses out of Tacoma, and visited but were unable to obtain evidence at the roadhouse operated by Joe Wells; that several of such roadhouses so visited by said Thompson, Sadler and affiant, were, as affiant heard, raided by said Sadler and Thompson and officers in Tacoma the next day succeeding our said visit to the same. That affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and officer George D. Murray about the month of June 1926, on an occasion when we visited the Lind and St. Lawrence Apartments, the latter at Howell and Olive Streets, in Seattle, Wash., and obtained evidence of unlawful possession and sale of liquor at said St. Lawrence Apartments. That affiant also accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and officer Carrouthers on several occasions in Tacoma in the spring of 1927, and obtained evidence of the unlawful possession and sale of liquor at several hotels on Pacific Avenue and other places. one hotel being named the Ogel Hotel. That in addition to accompanying said William Harvey Thompson on the night preceding and on the morning when he was shot affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson on numerous other occasions for the purpose of obtaining evidence of the unlawful possession and sale of liquor in the city of Seattle, in the city of Tacoma, Everett, Enumclaw, Auburn, Kent, Orillia, O'Brien, Mt. Vernon, Algona, Puyallup, Edmonds, Marysville, Sumner, Tukwila, Snohomish and Renton, in the State of Washington. That such visits extended from March 1926 up to the time said Thompson was shot on the 27 of July 1927. That affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson and officer Carrouthers on one occasion in the winter of 1926-27 to the city of Tacoma for the purpose of obtaining evidence of the possession and sale of liquor, on which occasion one Barbara Kelly was also with us. That affiant was paroled by Hon. Jeremiah Neterer, district judge for the Western District of Washington, Northern Division, to William M. Whitney, legal adviser to Roy C. Lyle, prohibition administrator, at Seattle, for 1 year and a day, beginning on or about the 3d day of June 1926, and ending on or about the 4th day of June 1927, and that during the time affiant was so paroled to said William M. Whitney affiant accompanied said William Harvey Thompson, officers A. F. Sadler, Carrouthers, and George D. Murray, in obtaining evidence of the unlawful possession and sale of liquor. And that during all of the time affiant was so paroled to said William M. Whitney and during the time affiant was aiding the officers working under said William M. Whitney in obtaining such evidence said William M. Whitney never told affiant not to assist such officers in obtaining such evidence, and did not tell affiant not to accompany said William Harvey Thompson to Tacoma or to any other place. That affiant accompanied the officers working under said William M. Whitney, including said William Harvey Thompson, on so many occasions that affiant is convinced that said William M. Whitney and his superior officer, Roy C. Lyle, knew that affiant was acting and aiding said Thompson and other officers in procuring evidence of the unlawful possession and sale of liquor. GOLDIE NAPPLE. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 3d day of May 1929. CONSTANCE H. ALLEN, Notary public in and for the State of Washington, residing at Seattle. AUGUST 2, 1927. To Whom It May Concern: I, William H. Thompson, make this statement this day August 2, 1927, that I was on duty for the Government and doing my duty when officer William Nerbonne shot me and I was not intoxicated. Witnesses: R. L. MULLALLY. |