Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-09-28
SHOOTING AFFAIR ON WASHINGTON
STREET BO ton

A CLEEK ATTEMPTS TO KILL HIS EMPLOYER.
No little excitement was created short
ii me since in the yicirity of the Adams
House on Washington street, Boston, grow
ing out OF a shooting affair The widest
and most sanguinary rumors were fiat for
time, but the facts of the case are these
The parties in the affair we're Adolph Prayer,
VINO keeps gentleman's furnishing store at
81 Washington street, and clerk in the
store named Frank W. Rounds. The clerk
was the sssailant and the employer the VIC
tim aud the cause, as alleged, business MAJ
tcrs between the two parties. Another yer-
sion has it that there is a woman ia the back
ground. Time will doubtless show the real
lr all the causes which led to the use Of pis-
OILS. /, appears that Rounds WAS formerly
ln the employ Of Mr.. Prayer, and after being
o1t Of mis- employ for considerable time had
feturned, and been again employed for the
past few weeks. During the forenoon Prs-
ger notified Rounds that his services would
not be needed after Saturday. From this
ime until after II ID o'clock, more or less
angry words passed between the two. At
his time Rounds, who must have dellberated
the assault, drew a pistol from his pocket
md fred the contents at Prayer. The shot
missed ito object, when Rounds drew navy
-evolver and discharged the same. Prayer
inding his life in danger ran from the store,
followed by MS excited clerk, who discharged
hree more shots at him, and Mr. Prayer fell
upon the opposite sidewalk, bleeding from
wounds be mad received. The wounded man
vas Immediately carried back into his store,
where ne was attended by Drs. Gay and
Hodges, who found that one shot had grazsd
he right side Of his neck anot1er had en-
tered the right thigh inAicdng "a painful
wound, and the third shot passed through
the calf of the right leg. Immediately on
seeing Mr.. Prayer fall, Rounds ran up Nor
1olk place pursued by Officer Bennett, OF
the Fourth Police, and threatening to shoot
auy one who should attempt to arrest him,
at the same time holding navy revolver in
his hand. Rounds was personally acquainted
with the off er, and said to him, " II 60 to
the station with you if you'll protect me,
and the two went TO Lagrange street. He
wss armed with two navy reyolvers, and the
smaller pistol with which he fred the first
shot was found on the floor OF the store
Prayer was conveyed to the Massrchuseti :
q neral Hospital, where he ives placed ia
me icaI charge. His wounds are not gard
ed as dangerous, though at last accounts Q
oall was still in the thigh.
1t is not probable that the real causes OF
the trouble will be aseertained until legal
investigation is made, Ia the absence ~ this
we gather from various sources the rumors
which are freely in circulation. Prayer not
long since arranged to sell out to Rounds,
but as the papers we're about to pass, Prag-
sr's figures were found to be more than the
agreement This led to a disagreeable feel
ing Rounds also accuses Prayer Of talking
scandal, to young lady concerning him and
this conversation preceded the assault. Ac-
eording to the clerk, every occasion when the
slightest pfovocaIion for quarrel was pre-
sented, Prayer was sure to embrace It. SO
far as can be ascertained from conversation
with Rounds, the only provocatlon apparent
/ is to be found in the fears entertained by
him that his life was endangered, as Prayer
Rounds says, has many time threatened H.
Reports to this effect have been made by
Rounds to his friends as far back two
months age; and the only reason that he
gives for remaining in the employ OF Prayer
that should he leave he could not obtair
recommendation from Prayer, and he woald
be without situauon During the war o.
words on Saturday, Rounds says, he was I'M
pressed that Prayer intended shooting him
and he used his Derringer to protect himself
and intimidate Prayer, and he accordingly
discharged his pistol at the floor instead o
at vital part. The reason of following ur
Prayer was because he still considered hi'
liie insecure. he did not desire to take
Prayers life he says, for il he mad he could
nave done 50. This is the version Of one
side. Mr.. PTsger,s may put quite differ
ent aspect upon the case. Public judgment
should be suspended in the meantime. Pra
gers wife is with him ut the Hospital, but
callers are forbidden to see him. Rounds
has mother in Charlestown, with whom h'
has hitherto resided. His character has beeI
regarded as good.--Boston Post.