The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-08-07
Row in the Drill Shed Almost
Ends in Murder.
BAD MARKSMANsHIp SAVES HIM.
Jack Frye Shot In the Chest by
Private Niemann-An Inch Deep
err and the Ball Would Have
Pierced His Heart = Arrests.

What might have been a case of muir
der occurred on Richards street near
Queen at 1925 this morning, when
Fritz Niemann fired shot from a
rife at Jack Fry as the latter was
standing in front'o of his home in the To-
cality mentioned. The wound, how
ever, was merely superficial, entering
the flesh on the left side on direct
line with his heart and ploughing
furrow about eight inches long across
his breast.
DR.. Wayson was called to attend the
wounded man and afterwards accom-
panied him to Queens Hospital with
Captain Hookano on the police wagon.
On arrival at the hospital thorough
examination was made and the wound
was found as stated. Two inches deep
er and the bullet would have gone
through the mans heart
Fry's statement at the hospital was
to the effect that he and Niemann, who
are both members of Company A, had
some difficulty before the drill last
night. Frye told Niemann he would
see him later. During the drill more
trouble occurred, and after the close
Frye handed his gun and belt to COM
panion, and walking up to Niemann,
struck him in the jaw
Then the men adjourned to saloon
and imbibed beer until closing up time.
and few minutes before II started for
home, passing by the police station and
out Merchant street to Fort and down
that street to Queen, then to Richards.
When they reached the latter street
the quarrel was renewed and the men
used the butts of their muskets as weap-
ons. In some way Frye got hold of
Niemann's belt and refused to give it
up. Niemann then fired the shot that
might have ended Frye's life.
Frye ran into the house and was
laid on bed and the doctor summoned
and the police notified. Niemann ran
away and was captured an hour later
by Lieutenant Edwards and a mounted
patrolman at his home in an alley off
Queen street. His gun was found with
the stock broken and an empty shell in
the breech. Lying on the floor was his
uniform and belt containing 80 rounds
of ammunition.
Fryes gun, with the stock split and
the lock broken off, was in the room
where he went after he was shot.
In examining Frye's gun it was found
to be loaded and the stock shattered
by the ball from Niemann's gun. 1t
struck under the stock in front of the
guard and then glanced off and struck
Frye. 1t is believed from the appear
ance of the rifle that that the bullet
split. Frye's gun was loaded
When he arrived at the station he
freely admitted the shooting and cor
roborated the story told by Frye at the
hospital He was not sure he had hit
the man when he ran away, but was
afraid he had. He was considerably I'M
der the influence of liquor when ar
rested, and spoke as though the shoot
ing was in self-defense. When locked
up he began crying for his children and
wishing he was dead. He is known at
the station house and is said to have
wife and eight children.
John Cropley, driver on 290 hack
stand, had just put his horse up in
Manuel REFS stable when the shot was
fired. He did not see the men, as it was
very dark just there, but he heard one
say, g. - you, I'll shoot you" and
the other one remarked, You're a cur;
you're not man enough to shoot" The
report followed instantly. Both men
are employed on the dredger
At o'clock this morning Frye was
resting easy, with no signs of fever.