The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-06
ANOTHER WOULD-BE ASSASSIN.

BoAEDER IN A WEST STREET HOTEL TRIES
TO KILL Pile PRoPRIEToR-mRAcULoUs
ESCAPE OF THE INTENDED VICTIM.
At about ten O'Clock yesterday morning as Mr..
David ). Paige, ex-member OF Assembly and prop
rletor OF Palge's Hotel, corner or Spring and West
streets, was engaged In conversation with
samuel Decker one Of his boarders, Mr.. Paige
called the attention or Decker TO certain
remarks which 1t was alleged Decker mad made
use OF In referring TO him Page), and which ne
considered disparaging The two men finally be-
came violent in their conversation. and Paige or
dered Decker to leave the hotel, Decker repeatedly
making threats against Paige. They were, how
ever, separated, Decker leaving the house. Moth
ing further was seen OF him until about
haiEpast seven O'Clock last night, when, as
Paige happened to be in the dining room OF
the hotel, seated at table in the centre OF the
room taking his dinner, Decker entered and
walked toward him. The former was sitting with
his back 10 the door, and consequently did not see
Decker approach, who passed by him lew PAGES,
then turned around and retraced his steps, Paige
paid no attention to him, not suspec ing that the
man mad any designs upon his life. Again Decker
passed by him, apparently undetermined about
something or other he was brooding over. ana
again he retraced his steps.
by this time Paige, becoming alarmed at the
strange conduct OF the man, was about to ARISE,
u
pistol, and turning quickly around saw Decker
only few feet distant holding smoking pistol In
line with his head. Taking in the situation at
glance, ne spTang toward his assallant to seize
the weapon, but Decker pulled the trigger a sec
ond time, the pistol being aimed atPalge's breast.
the BAH hit him III the upper part OF
the abdomen, striking his watch cham and,
glancing sideways, penetrated his clothing ana
caused a slight abrasion OF the skin. Before the
assassin had time TO again nre several OF the em-
gloyes Of the place had run 10 the rescue Of Mr..
Paige, and Erappled with HIM. Decker, who is
evidently man OF considerable strength, fought
his captors with ferocty stil clutchlng the pistol
In his right hand He finally succeeded In throwing
them of and escaping, by backing out OF the
room and covering himself with the weapon as he
went. thus keeping his pursuers at bay. Calulng
the front door re ran up Washington street. FOL
lowed by number OF men in hot pur-
suit oncer Coughn, OF the Eighth pre-
the time, seeing the crowd joi is pE IN the
chase. Whlle thus engaged the policeman met
he acquainted with the facts, and the two
FASTENED after Decker. AT the corner OF Des-
brosSes ana washington streets they succeeded in
coming up to MIN AMI enecting ms capture.
The crowd now numbered about 100 people,
nearly all OF whom were friends OF
the prisoner, some OF them peremptorlly demand
ing OF Captain Mcdonnell TO give hun up or stand
him." l., nch him,n was loud and frequent, aud
from the excited appearance OF the mob the threat
OF lynchlng seemed not an idle one. Rapping for
assistance, the ofcers promptly received reinforce
ments ana while tue Capt lain, assisted by OF his
men, held the crowd ut bay BY expostu alton and
away. Not knowing the result OF the shooting,
the policemen deemed 1t advisable, despite the
angry crowd, to take Decker lrst TO the noteL so
that DE might be identified by Paige IN case the
latter was mortaly wounded. Mr.. Page
promptly recognized him the man WAC
did tue shooting, and the officers started
TO leave the house, but tue crowd
which had by this time swelled TO larger proper
lions, PaIrlcaded their exit demanding the sur
render OF tue prisoner. In The emergency the
policemen thought OF the rear u00r aud quickly
made good use OF the idea, two OF them quietly
slipping on by that way with Decker, while tne
others remained IN the hotel. on arriving
at the Prince street station house Decker
gave MS age as thirty-two years, anu reused 10
say anything at all about the shooting. lie was
then locked up.
rne pistol which ne nsed was q smith a
Wesson seven-shooter, all the chambers OF which,
when examined, were found to be loaded, with
the exception OF the two he had discharged in
firing at Paige.
The prisoner had boarded only few weeks ct
Paige's Hotel he was formerly CASHIER In the
Revere House, and has been connected with hotels
In different capacities for q number OF years.
Mr. Paige Is about sixty years OF age lie vas
q member OF the Assembly or this state ia 1878,
and Is at present one Of tue trustees OF the Eighth
ward public schools. He Ia also one OF the trus-
tees OF the West Side Savings Bank. lie has lived
IN this city for many years and Is wen and favor
ably known. Mr.. Paige was last night very reticent
about tho causes that led " the shooting prefer
ring not TO 90 into details.