MAN ADMITS HE SHOT JAPANESE

Walter Creddell, 43 years old, Negro, 1302 Yesler Way, confessed yesterday that he shot James M. Hara, Japanese proprietor of a drug store at 14th Avenue and Yesler Way.

Creddell, a pick-up truck operator at the Quartermaster Depot, confessed in a written statement to Capt. Clyde V. Dailey, head of the homicide squad.

Creddell told Dailey that when he entered the drug store he was whistling "God Bless America." He declared Hara made a disparaging remark. Creddell said he became angry and shot Hara with a .38-caliber revolver. Police said accounts given by witnesses did not bear out Creddell's statement.

Creddell also said that about two weeks ago his wife told him that she had been in the drug store and that Hara "didn't seem to want to wait on her."

Creddell was arrested at 1:30 o'clock yesterday morning at East Marginal Way and Hudson Street by Detective Lieuts. M.J. Griffin and James Lawrence and Patrolmen Claude E. Rix and C.D. Norris. The revolver, from which one shot had been fired, and found in Creddell's room.

Hara was recovering from a flesh wound yesterday in Columbus Hospital.