The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05
SHOT BY AN OFFICER
Rudolph Heer Dangerously Wounded by
Patrolman PurviS. N Is
THE LATTER STILL AT LARGE.
He Claims to Have Fired His Pistol
in SeIf-Defence.

shortly alter midnight at the corner Of Seventh
nue. and Twenty sixth street. Tie cnief In the
all .r was Patromau John Purvls. and the principal
sufferer young named Rudolph Heer. OF No 222
East Thirty eighth The origin and nature OF the
disturbance haye not yet boon satisfactorily q.
pained various and conflicting stories beng told by
the participants and other witnesses The main fact
agreed upon by all Is this, that the ocer,
from ono cause or another ut tho place and time
specified drew revolver aud inflicted a dangerous
wound the young msn named. There ~ ssiIl con-
siderable doubt as TO whether the shot was nred in
sedefence as the officer claims. or whether he him.
sell bud provoked quarrel and drawn his weapon to
enforce his words The latter theory Is advanced by
the whi,n gathered tho scene while the DIS
iurbance yet IL progress. aud general ipdigna-
ton expressed ut the reckless way In which the
representative OF the law discharged his busss with.
out regard 10 whom they might hit.
THE PoLIcEMAN's STORY.
The OF the affair given by Patroiman Purvis
Is this-Bctween nine ana ten O'Clock on Saturday
evening called at the Twenty ninth precinct station
house, Thrtieth street. between sixth sevs6th
avenues, and drew his pay for tho past month,
amounting to 500 The reuaiader OF The evening he
spent the company OF friends aud at about twelve
O'Clock started for home By way vi Seventh avenue.
Reaching Twenty-scvcntn street he noticed tive
three young men ing about the Though
not actually IN conversation they appeared TO
be companions. Tuer presence made no particu-
lar impression the officer, aud he passed by with
but glance in their direction. lhe next momens
OF them bru.hed against him aud was told to
Keep OIL. Tue repeal short dsta nee
hey oud. and the officer again warned the young man
to dossi, tolling him that he was policeman and
would not sand such behavior Being In ctiizons'
dress he displayed his snield But this seemed Ia
have effect the persistent young man, the
OF Tweuty SIKH street third time closed
win Patroman Purvis, approaching him from be.
hind aud throwing his arm about his neck. The
officer had about Ills person over $780, including hrs
months pay and u tow dollars besides. Believing
this money and watch, which he carried In the
lett hand pocket Of his wasrcost TO DO tho object
the attack no drew his revolver and putting under
his left arm fired. The young man suddenly relin.
pushed his hod and tcd up the street, his sompan
IONS WHO had kept somewhat IN the rear, also run
ming for dear hic. The officer turned aud nred two
shots alter his rereatug assaiant, who had been
severely wounded In the riga breast by the first dis
charge. Inc revolver has i've chambers, but two OF
the cartridges snapped, that only three balls
discharged.
THE VICTIMS DENIAL.
The above Is the Story told 10 IA HERALD reporter
yesterday afternoon Wy Patronan Purvis himself ls
Is denied IN toto ny Radolpb Heer, the young man
anray, us given 10 superintendent Ludlain, OF tho
New DIRK Hospital, where no was taken Ut an carly
hour yesterday morn ing, IS as ioows:-A shoit time
alter Midnight yesterday he VAS wagins along
Seventh avenue. and naa hts attention attracted by
row vi some KIND IN progress NJ the corner OF Twenty
sixth street From natural curiosity to
learn The cause OF the disturbance no to tue
spot aud mingled IN the crowd Onlcer Purvis stood
IN tho MIDST OF tho group defying all about him. ana
aourishtng revover In threatening inamner. SUD.
| singing sensation IN tie right breast. TWO other
shots fred but failed TO take effect The crowd
| rapidly Increased In numbers and the wounded
was carried to q ncighoorrng drug store,
bleeding profuseiy from the bullet wound.
A physician was called IN, and, after the
wound was dressed, the sufferer was taken tue
Twepty-niuth precinct station house, few blocks
distant Oniosr Purvis had already arrived tuers,
bringing with him another young man WHOM lac &C.
cused OF having been WIN Heer when tho latter made
as si ns name a-:. N 81. nolan
Twenty sixth street. was locked up over nignl, and
hser, who rapidly failing IRON loss OF blood
! carried IN an ambulance TO the New YORK Hospital
| THE scENk IN COURT.
| The Jefferson Market Ponce Court opened yes.
| tsrday morning shortly alter eight O'Clock. ono
two cases were nrst disposed OF, anu then Michael
Nolan was brought before Judge Murray. The couri
iuiL In the audience many persons
who had Witnessed the midnight ARRAY AZ tho corner
OF seventh avenue and rwentysix,h street. and were
Interested IN the disposition OF tho about
TO be examined. PaiToman Purvrs appeared IA
person @ . p,e,e1 70 charge arg assI., yoSIx
| strong TO WARRANT his being he'd Tor triaL He aid
not charge the prisoner with having made attempt
to rob hun, but claimed that he was ono Of crowd
which atismpted 10 wrest his revolver IRON his hand
after ne had fred At his assailant He was no now
| ever, absolutely certain even OF TINS, aud did net
bring forward single witness 10 support his state
| ment
l
| asked II There WAS any ono present who had Wit
Messed thu ARRAY SONS fifteen or twenty men rose
Ia response TO this demand nfd TOUR or i've OF them
were successfully placed The witness stand but,
instead Of supporting the officers story OF the attack,
tney were unanimous la accusing him oil ntoxication
! and gross misconduct Ono vi them claimed that ho
HAD seen he officer staggering along The street,
aud others testified that they mad seen him
facing = crowd and hring promiscuously IN their
midst, without provoeatoa Of ANY KIDD They
sad that he had created disturbance himself while
drunk, and perhaps imasio,ng thai his purse aud
watch were Ia danger protected hiinser by random
hrug at his supposed sssaans the Witnesses were
bitter iu iher den unciaton Ut hts couduct aud
pressed aesirs to enter formal complaint against
MN. Not one OF them, however, had actually seen
tho shot fired which brought Ruaolph Hscr 10 the
ground, aud had only seen h,m when carried into The
arug store near by. Ono man wished To prefer
charge OF ielonous assault against tho ofcor
ground thai he had pointed his revolver NJ him AID
"wss the revolver Iosdeds" asked Judge Murray.
mo, was tbs answer, ''or ia have been rs badly
hurt as the other fellow"
'Arc you sure II wasn't loadedY
''Yss;' SO the oncer could not he held the
charge OF felony, which oniy holds la tho case OF
| loaded weapon.
Had the witness sworn that the pistol was loaded
Judge Murray says that he would not have hcsitatsd
| to hold Onicsr Purvis for EXAMINATION and trial.
A. II was tho testimony not sofieisnt, he
thought. TO warrant sucn a course Oae OF tue
witnesses testified that at the station house, when
ths officer brought hrs prisoner there, amer the ARRAY,
IN snort was made to mako a complaint oil dranken-
ness and disordcriy conduct against MIN tpurvs but
Captain Williams said that the chasgs mad better DO
made before tho Police commissioners Finally.
after a half hours examination, Judge Murray de.
ciacd that nothing had boon proved against young
| Nolan, asd accordingly dismissed hnn.
The appearance. OF Patroimsn Purvis as he stood In
court Was generally remsrkcd HIS eyes wcre heavy
and slightly biosdshot aud his other features we're
somewhat swollen In speech and action, too. he was
slow and awkward and seemed not 10 be perfectly
clear IN his mind TO the details Of the AFFAIR Of the
early morning When seen by reporter at his resi-
deuce, No 25i West Nineteenth street, In the after
noon he appeared to TO sui IN tho same partially
stuponcd condition, though relating hts story as
gwen above straight enough Whom asked " ne had
been drinking lately he sand no, but admitted that
lac might have taken "a small glass oil becr the pre-
yious night
Purvs has bsen a member Of the pohce force In this
CITY since February ~ ls73 During the past i've
months or 80 be mas been stationed IN the Twenty
ninth precinct. He 10 nov on summer vacation OF
eight Jays, which Will expire tomorrow.
Another account gwen OF the conflict In Seventh
avenue by O fellow ohcef who yesterday made some
] la Tho effrcl