The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-09-20
OFFICER HUGHES SHOOTS AN ITALIAN.
The policeman's Revolver Brought
r Into a Lively TussIe
After Its owner Had Been Stabbed
by his Prisoner.
Three Shots Fired and All Take
Effect, Perhaps Fatally.

The crack of revolver three times re-
peated awoke people living In the vicinity OF
the corner Chapel ana Cumberland streets in
the middle Of the night and ended fight in
which member OF the Portland police force
received ugly knife wounds to bear witness
to his courage. and an italian, who Is as vet
unknown by name to the police, got what
may be his death wound. The story is as
follows:
Just before II o'clock. as the first of the
first night class were coming in for lunch
and taking their long coats off, Officer Philip
b. Hughes walked into the station with his
lett arm hanging at his side, and said "a
man cut me out here and / shot him."
"What, shot himl" exclaimed everybody, and
In an instant all was confusion. The Off
GERS jumped into their coats, some even omit
ting that ceremony, and rushed outside.
A'He's just over there on Cumberland street.
said Officer Hughes. Over on Cumberland
street they found him, lying in the gutter
handcuffed, with blood all over his face, with
three bottles of liquor lying on the sidewalk
and one in his pocket, that broke when he
fell. He was picked up and CARRIED into the
station. bystanders gathering up the bottles
and hats and following. He was laid on the
floor of the mess.r0om and DR.. King was
sent for. Attention was now turned to the
wounded officer, who all this time had stood
pluskily against the wall, although there
were five long rents IN the sleeve of his over
coat. The sleeves of his shirt
were found saturated with blood. These
were stripped up and revealed four bad CUTS
out Of which blood was flowing. One. the
uppermost, was deep cash an inch and
half long that reached to the bone. The
others we're shallower, but we're serious
enough to demand careful attention. DIR.
King soon arrived and at once turned his at
tention to the wounded officer. The three
lower cuts we're soon dressed with plaster
but stitch was needed to keep the other in
place. While his wounds were being
dressed Officer Hughes told his story.
He said: Il was coming in from
my beat on Washington street to supper. At
thecorner of Montgomery and Cumberland
streets saw the man across the street. He
was drunk, and SO concluded to bring him
in. AS was on my way to the station did
not call the wagon. We walked along quiet
ly until Chapel street was reached. when the
prisoner became restless and after twisting
about drew knife and cut me in the arm
several times. drew my club and struck
him over the head twice. and as he did not
desist warned him that If he cut me again
/ would shoot. He had me by the left arm,
30 Preached for my pistol ana when he still
kept on cutting fired three shots. He grap-
pied with me and we both fell to the ground.
! got up and lifting him dragged him across
the street. He fell again in the gutter near
Mr.. Shaw's house, and as a citizen came
along l put the irons on the prisoner and
went To the station for assistance" After
Officer Hughes was treated, bearing the OPP
eratian with heroic fortitude, and
sent home. DR.. King and DIR. G. W. Way,
who had come in turned their attention
to the wounded prisoner who proved to be
an Italian laborer. 1t was found that be
had two cuts on his head inflicted by the Of
fcer's club, a bullet through the feshy part
Of each thigh and a third directly in the
bowels,x, During the examination of his
wounds the Italian writhed and manifested
q good deal Of pain. The doctors probed for
the bullets. They located the one in the left
leg, just beneath the skin on the other side.
The others could not be found. As the man
was, growing weak rapidly, DIR. King. de-
cided not TO search further but to take the
wounded man to the hospital where he could
be better attended. An attempt was made
70 learn his name and residence. John Va
lente. the fruit dealer. was summoned and
by dint Of much questioning, learned that
his first name was Alexander, and that he /
came from Saccarappa where he was at work
on the, water-works. ALI attempts to
learn his last name failed, and he is known
only as Alexander.
2eQnicer Usher recognized lin as one of
party of Italians with whom the police had
tussle last Sunday.
Much credit is due to Officer Hughes for
his bravery first in attacking his ugly cap
tive and afterward in clinging to him through
the cutting period Of the ARRAY. and lastly to
the heroic fOrtitude with which he bore his
wounds. Dr. King stated that the cuts, al
though painful. were not dangerous and that
the officer would soon be on duty again.