The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-11-26
SHOT AT BY A MANIAC.
A Sensational Episode at the Catholic
Girls Directory I'm Portland.

Portland, Or, Nov. 20.-A most
sensational attempt at murder occurred
last night in the dining room of the
Girls Directory, charitable insti-
tuition, conducted by the Sisters of
Mercy in the old Reid residence, corner
OF Sixteenth and Couch streets The
would-be-murderer was a man of all
work about the place named Baylor
Childs, who, from the circumstances
surrounding the occurrence, is clearly
insane. Miss Angela McGregor, O.
year old inmate Of the place, was his
intended victim, and only the unsteady
aim of crazy man saved her life. "A
few minutes after the shooting took
place, Childs presented himself at the
central police station, announced thai
he had killed girl on the corner of
Sixteenth and Couch streets and re-
quested that he be locked up. His re.
quest was complied with, and he is at
present in Jail.
At 6 o'clock last night, as seven of
the young girls, who are now staying
at the home, were sitting in the dining
room, eating supper, Chllds, wild-eyed
and flourishing pistol, came rushing
into the room, and, before they realized
what had happened, he began blazing
away into their midst. An indescrlb.
able panic followed. The terrified
girls rushed frantically about the room.
and screaming and shrieking in their
fright. The room was filled with
smoke, and the reports of Childs' pis-
toll made the scene more confusing.
Childs, however, was not disturbed
by the confusion, but followed the Mo-
Oregon girl, remarking cody: you'll
find out you can't talk about me-" Is
the girl shrunk, expecting instant
death, into corner, he leveled his pis.
toll at her and fired last shot; but his
aim was wild, and the bullet buried
itself harmlessly in the wall over her
head. Several Sisters, who were at
their prayers in the chapel upstairs.
when the shooting began. heard the
commotion and rushed down stairs, ar
irving on the scene as the maniac was
firing the last shot, and, with remark
able courage, they surrounded him and
endeavored to wrest the pistol from his
grasp. One of them seized his arm,
and shouted into his ear:
"Childs, for Gods sake, what are
you doing this shooting for?''
''Never you mind! You can't fool
me any. ] know what l am about. I"
he howled. ''Let me go" and with a
powerful wrench. he tore himself loose
from the grasp Of the women, flung
open the door, and, with smoking pistol
still in hand, rushed from the room,
leaving the frightened Sisters and their
still more frightened charges huddled
in one corner, limp with terror.
Childs' appearance at the police sta
ton was hardly less sensational than
the shooting scrape itself. Captain
Gritzmacher was sitting at his desk,
answering reports, when the fellow
suddenly burst in through the door,
and pulled his still smoking pistol
from his pocket. Thinking he was
about to shoot, the captain sprang from
his seat to seize him, but Cbilds laid
down his pistol and said quietly:
81 just shot girl out at Sixteenth
and G. She hypnotized me. You
better lock me up"
Jailer Watson accordingly relieved
the fellow of his weapon, and he was
locked in cell by himself, while Off,
Ger Sandstrom was sent out to Sixteenth
and Couch streets to Investigate the
case