The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-29

HOTEL SHOOTS AN OFFICER WHO ATTEMPTS
TO ARREST HIM FOR DIsoRpERLY CONDUCT

A FARMER STOPPING AT THE METROPOLITAN
HOTEL SHOOTS AN OFFICER WHO ATTEMPTS
TO ARREST HIM FOR DIsoRpERLY CONDUCT
CALM AND RATIONAL WHEN IN CUSTODY.
Yesterday about one O'Clock terrible tragedy was
enacted at the metropolitan Hotel officer i'll the
discharge of his duty-patrolman John II. Furnss.
of the Fourteenth Notwithstanding two pistol shot
wounds which. it is feared. must prove fatal. The
man who committed this crime is surmised to be a
lunatic, but his subsequent conduct renders this
suppo siton by no means certain.
In conversation with OF the clerks OF the Met
ropolitan this version OF the story was elicied:-
about O'Clock lady guest came down into the
Office. seemingly in state OF great excitement She
said that gentleman in the paror on the second
floor displaying pistols from his pockets, much
to the CONSERVATION of the guests especially the
ladies and children. They felt in danger of their
lives she sad and begged that something be done to
remove the take away his weapons. We i'm
mediatey despatched Detective Keely, who is regu-
larry in attendance at the hotel. to the parlor
designated. where he found that the excited
and obnoxious parsonage a guest who
had registered with Christmas Day under the
name of william l.. Palmer. OF New York. Mr.
Keely could not pacify the man. but finally persuaded
him TO go to his The detective then went TO
the Fourteenth precinct station house. and, represent
ing the apparent violent intentions of the Cap
tain Drosan detailed three oficers-John II. Furnss
Thomas Burns and William Ryan-to proceed to the
hotel and arrest him..
ARMED AND gNTREScHEp.
Arriving at the hotel the officers went to Palmers
room and demanded admission but as he
heard them he seemed to be worked into perfect
frenzy and cried out
Whoever comes in here / will shoot"
In the of this threat, and knowing Palmer to
be armed the officers would not the door, but
deemed strategy the best plan. So after hurried
consultation. hot only among themselves. but with
the hotel propretors they assigned adjacent
room, the instructions being to seize and disarm
Palmer as he should appear in the hallway.
He did not come out tor some time. Meanwhile the
guests Of the hotel in state Of CONSERVATION.
At length the man appeared and the officers advanced
toward him.
Officer Furnss the first to reach him, and
caught him about the body but the prisoner freeing
in the officers left breast. second shot fired al
most simultaneously. put . ball in the officers
stomach. This latter wound il the one most likely
to prove fatal to the brave patrolman.
ESCAPE PURSUIT AND CAPTURE
Owing to the conservation and the suddenness
of the attack Palmer was able 70 rush by the officers
and reach Broadway. down which he dashed with the
speed of a deer. Officers Burns and Ryan.
nearly Opposite the st. Nicholas Hotel cap
tured the desperate. 1t was then found that
the second discharge OF the pistol he had broken
finger and wounded himself badly in the hand He
taken to the Fourteenth precinct station. Mean
while poor Furniss was removed to st. vinccnts
but up late hour neither of the balls had been
extracted, and the patient was rapidly sinking He
was attended by his wife and four children.
AT STATION HOUSE
reporter of the HERALD visited the station house
to inquire into Palmer deneanor when taken there
by the officers The sergeant in charge said that the
man talked nationally and ntclligenty. He answered
the usual questions his age and occupation,
saying that he farmer. from Stonington, Conn.
When dollars in money and his watch and
trinkcts were taken from him he very coolly asked
to be shown the schedule OF his property and de-
manded to know how he was to recover his yaluables
when he got out He then taken to Bellevue
Hospital his request. in order that the wound
in his hand should be dressed
The revolver with which the officer shot is
Smith K Wesson. nickel plated, of thirty-tw inch
calibre, Russian model Only two chambers were
empty 1t Is retained in the Fourteenth precinct
ton house.
VICTIM AND PRISONER.
Furnss was a powerful man, weighing. probably
two hundred and twenty pounds. But for the
fatal error OF erAsping Palmer about the body, in
stead Of pinioning his arms. he would not have
ceived his wounds. Palmer il dark conpexioned
man. about thirtyfve years OF age, and black
mustache. He is said to be respectfully connected
at Stonington Conn., and has been in business there
He has stopped at the Aston House frequently. his
last registration the hotel books there being De-
cembcr IA. The clerks. on being questioned, said
that they observed nothing remarkable in his con-
duet.