The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-12
Discharged Street Laborer
Shoots the Commissioner.
FOUR SHOTS AT SHORT RANGE,
Patrick Lavan Fails I'm an Attempt to
XIII Lawrence Cummings-OnIy
Slight Wounds.

q miracle that Mr.. Cummings was not
killed, for four shots were fired al him
with 3s-caiiber bulldog revolver 81 4 dis
fance of not over five feet. Lavan, who
has resided in the city four years and a
half and has heretofore borne q good repu-
tation. was under the influence OF liquor
at the time OF the shooting.
For the past three years Lavan has been
employed by the city of and on IS a COM
mon laborer, and for several months past
has worked in the street commissioner 5
gang as dump-cart driver. week ago
Street Commissioner Cummings suspended
him from the force and put another man
IN his place. Immediately Lsvan began
drinking. and, brooding over his loss Of
JOB. grew quarrelsome. Several times he
called at the Office OF the secretary of the
board OF public works and threatened the
street commissioner unless given place
20 work
Last evening AZ ten minutes after 5
o'clock Lavan entered the street commits
sioaer's Office There were several men in
the place, and for a moment he waited
without speaking 4 word. Five feet away,
inside the railing, was Mr.. Cummings.
seated 81 his desk signing time checks.
Finally Lavan leaned over the railing and
demanded Of the commissioner:
What did you lay me of for"
why did / lay any one off for" re-
turned Mr.. Cummings. "You are not q
better dump-cart driver than any other
man.
Maybe am and maybe I'm not" re-
piled Layan. and drawing . revolver from
his pocket he fired tao shots in quick sue
cession.
Cummings tambiei out of his chair and
fell on the floor, while the men in the
room began 10 yell and jump over each
other IL an eITor. 10 get out. Then two
more shots were heard, and this only
made the crowd all the more anxious 10
get ont of range.
In an ins;an. there vas the widest ex-
element throughout the city hall.
From the various offices men came pour
Ing out into the Railways. Officer John
Corbest. who 81 the time vas in the water
Office paving his water rent, rushed into
the street commissioner Office just as
LAWN fred the last two shots, and Selling
him by the arm shouIei:
Don't shoot any more, Layan: don't
shoot any more
The officer wrenched the revolver away.
and during the excitement Lavan got away
from him. Corbetf rushed into the hall
way with the smoking revolver in his hand
looking wildly aooa. for Lavaa. As ne
was not in uniform the crowd thought he
was the man who Gid the shooting. and
Immediately two big men seized him by
the collar, threw hin 10 the door and sal
on him. While another took the revolver
from his hand
/ fss.ra N- 2 fsa. I = -
Corheti, as soon as he could catch his
breath.
Another man asked
"Aad who is Lavan7"
''Here am; | did the shooting" said
Layan, and he walked toward the ques-
toner from the crowd He submitted TO
arrest without resistance. and was taken
Just around the corner 10 the city iail.
where he sas locked up.
As soon IS Layan was landed in Jail
several men attended To Mr. Cummings.
who lay perfectly still under the table.
He was aS white as a ghost, and every
one thought he was dead. He wEs lifted
M, and after a moment opened his ewes.
lie was then seated in a chair. and j; vas
found THAI there was blood 81 the small Of
h. back.
Hes shot clean through. " suggested
man IN the big crowd outside the railing.
and Instantly half 8 dozen hands
began searching Tor the place where
the ballet must have entered. In
the meantime one eoo,-headed man had
the presence Of mind II telephone for q
physician, and ten minutes later DR.. T. :
Palmer pGt in an appearance. Upon an
examination il wSz found thar Mr.. Cum
nalngs vas struck by two Of the bullets,
One o. them gr&ze3 tile back OF his right
arm. making . smarting wound. and an
other bullet went skimming along his
hack su1 plowed far.ow about two
inches long, just beneath the skin, al the
saaSa Of bis back. There were no other
S9un6s, snd Mr.. Cummings Wiz not be
Had up more than day Or two.
INo h0lsets were found n Cummings
Clothing and one in the edge Of the seat of
chair about two sect awav from the desk
81 wAich the commissioner WAS writing
The fourth bullet could nos lie foand. All
i've chambers Nrre empty when It WAS
taken away from aim. Some insist tha;
bur three Shots We're fred, bu; the four
easn standing nearest 81 the time and Mr.
Cummings himself are sure there were
fo1r.
81 the time 81 The shooting there were
present in the room. among several others.
jobs pavr. b. e. Bake. +. v. Martin an i
iea.S Parr, The PARIS are neighbors os
Lavaa. living on Greea street
Several hours AFTER the shooting Lavan
scae-s4 ~ sufficiently - realize the crime
Re had committed ana vas ve-y much de-
jecte3 lie refused "a make any STATE
meai. bsi sAid he hoTe Mr. Camnl5ags no
malice. Heretofore be has borne a GOOD
reputation and has many friends. Aboa,
tau~ years aDj ha.f ago he came 10 -
attse from Cincinnati via his wife and
seven chN37ea ana took up his residence
on Green street, last October Mrs. Lsvaa
less he- reason and was sent IL the insane
49, oua where she t;cG. Siace taat tine
IavaU's oldest dar shtcr. Katie. has been
Keeping house scr her father sna takinc
csre ~ Jue children, the Youngest Of whom
Is s toy of IL years. The next 20 the Oldest
IN the faaU.y Is Patrick Lavan. a manly
NoGus tet.0W of Is years. who Is learninc
iae plumbing tvade and receives s a week,
e ", L, OscNs3, ass ,Ssaot s2perintena,
ent 81 gAe Associated Baari ~ Charities
called on she lsvan cAi.3-ea last evenln-
and fouad shenl - >traiteat>3 c;-e,.,,,.
stances. They nave enough aa land -
anay the psnes Of hunger for about ten
DAYS. bas afle- that sac bay ana MS sister
Wi sud il difficult 90 feed seven month,
ana hay clothes on s. a y eeS
Lac last nlshG Il wSs talked on the
street thar il WAS not Con- missioner C,s.,,,.
naiugs thai lsavan meant MS pistol Tor. Il
J. sal& that Huaekeeper Rooney WAS the
s. as .f...- H.F