Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-29
RIDDLED WITH SHOT.
An Express Messenger Takes No
Chances on Possible Train Robbers

A man who gives his name as Thomas
Devery, and his residence as Troy, N. Y,
received eight shot in the leg last night,
and now he is under treatment in the
Emergency Hospital. The affair happened
about IL 20 o'clock at the Baltimore and
Ohio depot, the shots having been fired by
E. Mills, train guard in the employ of
the United States Express Company. Mills
was on duty at the time and was on train
No. 526, which was an express. On this
train the company ships many valuables.
including currency, and for this reason ex-
ira precautions are taken to guard it
against train robbers, who have operated
so extensively during the past year. The
train was about ready to start. and Qua ID
Mills was making his rounds to see that
no one was secreted in about the car
There were three men endeavoring to boa ID
the car just as the engineer was about to
start his engine, and the guard used his
Winchester rife.
The report Of the weapon attracted sew
eral persons, among them being Yardmas-
ter Carr, who inquired what was the mat
ter. The guard answered that three men
had attempted to board his car, and he had
fired at them. He thought, however, that
he had missed them, tor he had not seen
one of them fall.
Then the order was given and the train
was soon on Its way to Philadelnhia The
train had hardly left che yard More the
yardmaster saw what looked like The form
or man stretched between the tracks and
going to the place he discovered Devery
who had been weakened by loss of blood
from wounds Of the leg. made by the shot
from the guards rife. Sergeant Falvey
and Policeman Gordon, who mad been at
tracted to the scene by the report of the
rifle took charge of the wounded man and
had him conveyed to the Emergency Hos
pital.
The Mnn Rallied.
There it was found that the loss of blood
had caused a condition which would have
proved almost hopeless in the case of
weaker man, but owing to the strong con-
stitution and heavy build of the man he
soon rallied and the blood-soaked gar
ments were removed. Then an examinati ton
Of the right leg was made and it was found
that the eight shot had resulted in a dozen
wounds. four of the shot passed en-
urely through the leg. Two of the shot
took effect above the knee, while the 9th
er8 entered between the knee and the foot.
Inc patient rested wei last night and this
morning he was doing well.
Devery IS thirty-three years old and ac-
cording to his statement he is one of the
many unemployed mechanics. He is bridge
builder by occupation. ami his mother and
sister reside at 373 sth street. Troy, " Y.
so he says. When ne got out Of employ
ment last fall, h says h. went to PhiladeI-
phia, where he remained until a few days
ago. when he lost his fob there and his
money gave out. Then he came here look
ing for employment. He reached here four
days ago and has lodged and eaten at the
Central Union Mission and the Municipal
Lodging House He denies that he was
near the ear or thai he was one OF the men
who attempted to board the train, although
he says, he four or five men running
alongside the car, when suddenly the car
door opened. A man with a rifle in his hand
appeared: he saw the flash and felt the
sting, end then fell to tic ground where he
remained until the officers found him.
The guard. of course, went on to Phila-
de!Dhia and his side of the affair will be
told when he returns. 1t Is evident that he
thought the men were bent on robbery and
he fred low to disable and not to kill them
Yardmas-er Carr saw the men run off when
the guard fired. dispatch from Baltimore
says that the guard ordered a man off the
car and he obeyed, but when the train had
started the man was again found on the car
and the guard shot him.