Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-14
BY AN OFFICER.
ARTHUR NNICHOLS WHILE UNDER AR
REST ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE
And is Probably Fatally Wounded by Ohcsr JACOB
Watson, Of the Police FOrce-Fhs
Circumstances.

An unfortunate OCcuIIehCe IOVN P
last evening about 8 O'Clock, at the corner
of Chapline and Eleventh streets, which
resulted in the serious shooting Of Arthur
MeNiehols by Officer Jacob Watson, OF the
nol;ce force. The circumstances OF the
affair are rs follows. Last evening MIS-
McNichols, wife of the wounded man, tele
phoned for a policeman, stating tina
her husband was creating n DIS
turbance. Officer Hazlett the
summons, and when he arrived Mt Nc
Nichols residence, which is on the north
side of Fifth street, just below the North
End rink, he found that MCNichOls was
under the influence OF liquor and had been
abusing his wife and mother-in-law. he
put him under arrest and started with him
for the lookup.
When the market house was reached
Hazlett met Officer Watson and asked MIN
To take the prisoner on down to the lock
ND. which Watson consented to DO. Inc
officer. with his prisoner, started
ND Eleventh street, ON the
south side, and when they had almost
reached Chapline McNichols suddenly
broke away from the officer, who shouted
for him to halt. As McNichOls paid no
attention to the summons, the OfnceI
pulled his revolver and fired a shot, ana
McNichOls, with a scream, fell 10 the
ground.
Officer Watson stated that when they had
reached the corner McNichOlS suddenly
broke loose from him, saying at the same
time: "'You can't take me, you s.
b" and ran away. Watson shouted
several times for him tO stop, when
command he did not heed, and when
some rods away he pulled his revolver, not
intending to shoot ut all, but merely 10
scare the man into returning. The reyOl-
yer was discharged, however, and Nc
Nichols fell. Watson says also that he
is sure he had the revolver pointed to the
ground at the time il was discharged.
When the man fell, the officer says he
had no idea he was shot and ran out ana
picked him up. Other persons IN the
n~eighborhoOd then gathered about when II
MAS found that McNichOls was really
wounded. He was carried to Bookings
drug store where DIR. Dlckey was
summoned and made an examination oil
the wound. But rs the wounded maj
begged to be taken home, a carriage was
secured and he was transferred to his resi-
dence i'm care of Drs. Dickey and McMas-
ters, Here a thorough examination was
made by the physicians, who found thai
the ball had entered an inch and Il hall "a
the left of the middle line Ofthe spine and
i'm the region of the last lumbar vertebra.
Judging from the wound the ball, which
WAS a 3S-calibre, entered horizontally and
is likely imbedded in the deep muscles OF
the pelvic cavity. The wound was proDed
six inches, but no resistance was met with.
Ii WIS nj first feared that the bullet had
entered the abdominal cavity rs the
wounded man complained Of pain IN the
region of his left groin, but as there ap'
Deared 10 be no shock it is probable that
none of the inteStines or larger blood YES
sells have been injured, which is a point III
favor of his recovery. The wound Is IN
ugly and dangerous one, however, ana II
McNichOls should be dead 10y this morn
ING il would not be unexpected. When
McNichOls WIS taken home his wife wePt
bitterly and blamed herself for the dread
ful calamity. She is in u delicate con-
dition, and the excitement may prove too
much for her.
After the officer had assisted the
wounded man to the drug store he re-
uuested Mr.. John Crawford to accompany
him to the City Building, where he in
formed Captain Smith of what had occur,
red. The Captain suspended him, anC
went To Justice Davis office, where
} he swore out Il warrant for his M
rest OH q charge Of shooting will
intent to kill. Officer Watson then gave
himself up and was held in the sum o
=, 900 for his appearance and examination
at > O'Clock this afternoon. Capt.Smith ano
Officer JunkinS went on his bend and th'
officer was released. lie naturally feel
very bad over the unfortunate affair, anC
is amazed ut the result of m unlnten
tional action. Col. Arnett has been re
tanned aS his counsel.