New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-10
SHOT BYA CRAZY OLD MAN.
GEORGE E. WALDO DANGEROUSLY HURT
HE WAS TRYING TO GET HIS AssAILANT TO GO
To BED WHEN ATTACKED


George f. Waldo, a lawyer, Of No. 80 Nassau-st.'
was shot in the left breast and dangerously
wounded late on Sunday night by George r
Thomas, ST., seventy-fve years old. at the house
where they both lived in Flatbush-ave..
near Linden-st., Flatbush. The deed was
done in fit of insanity. George F. Thomas. 7,
patent expert, lives in the house with his family.
and supports his father. Mr. Waldo and his
mother. who are related to the Thomas family.
occupy part of the same house. Mr. Waldo is
about thirty years old and unmarried. lie is
prominent Republican, an inspector OF election
and member of the Citizens League. The elder
Thomas was the founder of "Appeton's Railway
Guide and its editor until he retired because OF his
old age. lie is said to have had times of mental
alteration. The story of the shooting as told by
cousin of Mr.. Waldo is as follows:
"Tbc old man has not been in good health OF
,ote He is of n nervous disposition and subject
10 fits of temporary alteration. Yesterday he ala
NOT eat ANYTHING and acted queerly. His son
WAS away from home When it came time for
him 70 retire he did not wish to do so. MIR. WALDO
persnaded him to 90 to bed after time, went to
his room, and helped to undress him. When the
old man was in bed Mr.. Waldo turned the light
down and left the room. Then the family went
to bed
Just as they were falling asleep the old man
was heard going around his room. Mr.. waldo
again went to him. He found the lisht as ne
had left it. When he entered Mr.. Thomas stood
in the middle of the rootn lie had been ransacS'
ing things generally, and had pistol in his hand.
lie appeared much excited Mr. Waldo dld not
hesitate to approach the old man. as he had no
fear of being shot, but thought Mr. Thomas would
turn the weapon on himself. He advanced TO
-. Il ,pI ho
Thomas without word. fred Mr. Waldo did
not know that he had been shot. He thought
that the bullet had missed him. and started to
get possession of the pistol The old man struggled
desperately When he finally got the pistol Mr..
Waldo felt faint. and it was as much as he could
do to get to his room with the assistance Of his
mother After Waldo had left the room Mr..
Thomas went downstairs and raised the disturbance
which alarmed every one. lie certainly crazy.
The first that the public knew of the shooting
was when woman rushed out of the house cry
ing Murder At the same time the old man
appeared at the front door, hourishing q chair
The neighbors who tried to hold him had a hard
time of it, and Albert Sweeney hit on the
head with the chair. When Thomas got tired
they overpowered him. When they asked what
| was the trouble he said, Send me Mason
| You are not Masons!' Then he added. They
don't treat NE right l did it in self-dcfencc =
| Tie police then came and arrested the old man
| Dr. Kabriske was called and found that Mr. Waldo
| had been shot in the left breast near the heart
The pistol used was an old-fashioned fOur-cham.
bered weapon of 32-calibre.
| Yesterday morning Mr.. Thomas was taken
before Justice of the Peace Bornekanp. The
family requested that he be not prosecuted, as he
was not responsible The justice concluded that
| he must hold him and let the higher courts de
| eide the question of his sanity. As the family
would not make complaint charge of assault
| In the first degree was made by the police, ant
yesterday Mr.. Thomas was taken to the Raymond
| Street Jail. He is quiet. His son, who wa.
out Of town, has been sent for
| Last evening Mr.. Waldo reported to be
| greatly improved. He conscious and begged
| that no proceedings be taken against Mr. Thomas
| for he said that the old man was not responsible
| The bullet has not yet been extracted from his
chest An attempt to do it will be made to-day
The physicians have good hopes of his recovery
The family say there is not the slightest ground
| for Mr.. Thomas's complaint when lie was ar
reste1, that he was not well treated.