The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-11-07
The New Manager Of the
Comique Near Death.
It Results From Trouble With
an Italian
Who is Said to Have Stood Out
side and Coolly Fired

Into the Lighted Room Where Three
Persons Are sitting, Engaged i'm
Conversation-The Chase by the Of
ficers.
A bold attempt was made at an early
hour Tuesday morning to murder Will |
liam Malcolm, the proprietor of the new
Peoples theatre. Five shots were fired
through the window of his room, none
of them striking the mark. An Italian
named John Marcen is under arrest
charged with doing the shooting.
1t seems that Joe Petcco is frequent
visitor at the theatre, and was there last
night in company with Marcen.
About :45 O'Clock Malcolm told the
employees to..close the place, and get every
one out before midnight. The Italians
objected to going, and wanted something
more to drink. 1t was explained that 1t
was election day, and Joe appeared to un-
derstand the situation, and urged his
companion to leave. John wanted to go
uOWh VINO phOh way anu nioiOOlh oa
planned to him that he must leave by the
front door. Malcolm says there was not
even loud word spoken, and the men
left without any trouble.
Malcolm remained at the theatre unit
about 1890 o'clock, when he went the
boarding house, 103 East Seventh street.
Malcolm took off his coat, and was stand
ing near the window In the front room
down stairs. Mrs. Sullivan was standing
near him, while Mrs. Malcolm was sit
ting up in bed talking to her husband.
Suddenly one pistol shot followed
another in quick succession, and Malcolm
thinking some one was throwing against
the house, raised the curtain and looked
out. He saw a man standing near the
window, revolver ih hand and saw the
to the floor, and escaped unlnjured. None
of the five shots fired struck any of the
occupants of the room.
Malcolm says the man who did the
shooting was John Marcen, who Is now
under arrest The other man, Joe Petcco
was not with him at the time, and conse-
quently was not arrested
1t was a very narrow escape for NAL
colin and the other PARTIES in the room,
and seems almost miracle that they
escaped uninjured. 1he five shots all
went through the window, three piercing
the glass; and two the sash
After emptying his revolver the man
took to his heels and the police were noti-
fed. Patrolmen Wielandt, Battin, Hard
ing and Bruce started In search of the
Italian, accompanied by Malcolm. Joe
Petcco was finally located, and het old
where Marcen could be found. When ar
rested, Marcen had a revolver in his pos
session, which had evidently just been re-
loaded. Burned powder could be plainly
smelled
Marcen would give no account OF him
self, simply say ing "Me no shoot. He
is held to answer to charge of shooting
with intent to kill
There is something of mystery con-
nected with the attempted murder, aud
Malcolm thinks possibly it may have been
deep laid plot. Some years ago he pro-
duoed and played in scene called "The
Malta, " which dealt with the New Or
leans tragedy in manner that didn't
please certain class of Italians. In San
Francisco some Italians tried to entice
Malcolm into an out of the way place, as
he thinks, 10 kill him. Malcolm says 1t
may be possible Marcen heard of this, and
attempted to avenge an imagined insult.
This morning one of the bullets was
found In Mrs Sullivan's hair where IL
had lodged. 1t was certainly a narrow
escape for her.
PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
Marcen was arraigned before Mayor
Rice, and entered a plea of not guilty. |
His bond was fixed at 5000, aud the hear
ing set for Thursday afternoon at 2
O'Clock.
When seen by News Democrat repor
ter he denied doing the shooting and said |
be lad not been near the boarding house |
He admitted being at the theatre and
drinking beer with the girls. He said he
had no trouble with Malcolm and didn't |
belong TO the Mafia. He has been In |
Canton Ave years and boards at 479 East
South street.
ss,5OO DAMAGE SUIT.
Mrs. Kate Bour has brought actions
against John Rolf and George Mist