The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-06
WORSE THAN LAWLESS.
Captain Joel Smith, of Brooklyn,
Shot by a Patrolman.
A DELIBERATE ATTACK.
Morris Heffernan Procures a Substitu-
ton Of Charges.

The Brooklyn Police Department and many citizens
wore greatly excited yesterday afternoon by an at
tempt tho part of Patroman Norris Henernan 10
murder Captain joel smith, Of tho First precinoI, IN
the station house Washington street. In that CITY,
The circumstances attending the case are OF most
atrocious character and TAIL thus far to develop u
single mitigating circumstances. Patroman Hcifcr
nan, who what Is termed the ''short day sec
tion went out with his platoon eight O'Clock In the
morning, his post being the northwest side OF
Fulton. Court and Atlantic strecrs. Ho returned to
the station with tho section which he belonged at
Aftcen minutes past one O'Clock. Sergeant Walsh
was at the desk at the time and Captain Smith
was standing against the telegraph instruments
with his back 10 the window reading lot
ter Hcifernan instead OF remaining in line
with the other officers until tho signal Tor
dismissal was g,ven to them ran rapidly up stars,
and going 70 closet No IL, which officer Tierney
kept his clothes and revolver, he seized tho latter
weapon and nastened back 10 the office.
DELIBERATE
Walking up to the railing. and Standing within Tour
feet OF his intended victim exclamed:'sThis is
nice job you have put up on me" The Captain
caught glimpse OF the pistol, dodged downward to
get behind the desk just HeTcrnan fred deliber-
ately at him. tho bullet taking effect in Captain
Smuh's neck. In an Instant the woui-bo assassin
fred second shot, but Officer Riley seizsa his
and threw u upward the bail entering the wood work
above door on the opposite SIDE Of the room. The
desperate man dlsarmed by Officers Rie u.
s,monson and Quinn, ana removed 10 cell on the
ground tier IN the rear OF the Office. He offered no
resstauce 70 his excited brother officers as they
thrust INN forward his foon quarters the coli
door closed upon Heiernan he SAID. Nov you
can hang mel and taking OF his coat
OF the cell, ana either fegned sleep or
cid sleep for several minutes The wounded Captain
walked INTO his room alter being shot ana several
surgeons were summoned The bullet was found by
DR.. Mord.uIh, the ambulance surgeon, to have en-
tered tho neck little below the the lett soe
and passed lower down, little above the right shout
The wound, though serious, s not believed TO be
fatal Alter passing through the 1esh the bail lodged
in tho wainscoting benind tho desk, where 1t WIS
aug out. The Captain was removed TO his house, No.
~ tary Inn,aa ara ana ws a. ne
station house, and alter learning tho uagica affair."
expressed their Indignation at the dasardlY attempt
10 muruer the @ sptain.
ANTICIPATED CHARGES
heincentive 10 thc CRIME on the part OF Hefernan
SAID TO DO knowledge Of tho iacs that charges
10 have preferred against him to-day before the
Boarc OF Police commissioners, by Surgeon EoDkins,
and he regarded Captain Smith the orisinator rho
complaint was based on the ground OF absence from
duty without cause On TUESDAY last Henernan drew
his months pay and on that Same evening he sent
| word to the station house by messenger that no
was sick. The following day Surgeon Hopkins
called to see him a. his residence, No. ~ Lawrence
street, but he was not IN. On Thursday Heuernan
called on the Doctor who saw that he had been drnI
ing. Tho day (Fraay) he reported Tor duty Tho
Captain directed the Doctor to prefer charges against
officer which, It Is believed, IS what the prisoner
meant when no said. 'rhat Is nice JOB you have
me-" There ID little doubt but that he has
been drinking TO excess OF late The weapon used
| was smith patent nvc-chamber revolver, two
charges OF which were found to nave been fired Wnen
| II was taken IRON the prisoner.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE PRISONER
| superintendent Campbell and Inspector Waddy
| had inierview with Oliccr Hshernan Yesterday
| afternoon, but they would not repeat what he had
said, Iurtncr than that no considered himself az
gricved by the Captain. Tho prisoner they said.
under very great excitement. and but little reliance
could be placed ou anything he said AZ present. Captain
Gratis, OF the Second precinct. also had a talk
| MI Hefi
ho naa not been fairly dealt wth that had wife
aud large iamy, and he did not get far show from
the Captain; that mis- family would DO ruined. Hcncr
nan, who Is thirty seven years OF age, has wife aud
liz, young children. lie was appointed on the Brook.
Ign police force IN 1871 through ponlical influence
has been several times before the Board OF Com
missioners for violation Of the rules and minor
offences. The prisoner Will DO arraigncd before Judge
| Walsh to-day, when Scrg can't Wash will prefer a
charge OF assault. VITA attempt to xl against him.
THE WOUNDED CAPTAIN
Captain Joel smith. born Brook lyn, iS
about sixLytwo years oil lie Is the oldest
The police force oi that city, having been appointed
position the month OF November. 1850. under
| the old nnunlcipal system Ho the Office
January 1, 1851. In 1866 ne was retained under
the Metropolitan Commission, ana when the
Metropolitan law was abolished far as
tilucd under tho new Municipal Board OF Police
COMMISSIONERS Change in the political complexion
OF the Board OF Commissioners never effected IN any
way The position OF the victorian Capiau JOEL" us he
generally spoken OF BY tho ord residents OF Central
Brooklyn ho has always been known US a repub!l-
can partisan, out wnB mover known 10 nave permitted
his party preferences TO enter into the sphere
OF his official duties and his relationship
toward his subordinatcs For many years his
CITY Hall, from which place no moved ou tho erection
Oi the house on Washington street, between
Myrle avenue and Johnson street. The station house
adoins the III faicd Brooklyn theatre, aud Captain
ana his officers gained considerable notoriety
during the excitement attendant upon that event Tor
the efforts they made 10 rescue the audience