The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-24

Patrolman James Saul. on night
duty with the West Side detail, had
the little finger of his right hand shot
or yesterday While arresting a drunk
crazed youth, Herbert l.. Knapp, at
his fathers home, 22J North Bromley
avenue.
At . o'clock James W. Knapp, of
killean g Knapp, the North Main
avenue butchers, came to the West
Side station house and complained to
Patrolman Tom Evans, who was on
day duty. that his son was going about
the house armed with a shotgun and
threatening to kill anyone who came
near him. He had driven his father
from the house and swOrc that if he
returned he would shoot him.
Patrolman Saul happened to he
loungng i'm the station house and at
Patrolman Evans request went along
To assist in cOrralling young Knapp.
Arrived at the house they found their
man upstairs i'm the hallway, leaning
over the balustrade, and guarding the
stairway with a single -bawclled shot
gun.
Saul knew the lad, and thought on
this account it was better that he
should so up after him than to have
Evans, who was stranger, attempt
to make the arrest. At first they tried
to reason with Knapp, but he only
pointed the gun at them for an answer.
HAD THE OFFICER COVERED.
Taking PatrOlman Evans revolver.
Saul started up the stairs, warning
Knapp that if there was any shooting
to be done, two could play it. All this
time Knapp was resting his gun on
the head of the balustrade and keep
ing the approaching officer covered.
Saul did not believe ne was doing
anything rash, as Mrs. Knapp assured
the officers she herself had taken the
charge out of the gun only little
While before. There was the possibl-
ity. however, that the son might have
discovered this and reloaded the gun,
and as the consequence showed, this
was the case.
When the father left the house to go
for the police, young Knapp laid the
gun aside. His mother then removed
the charge with the aid Of d gun
ceaner with a screw attachment on the
end. Unknown TO the mother, the son
detected that the gun was not loaded
and proceeded to reload il. He put
i'm a charge of powder and in lieu Of
shot dropped in two 22-calibre cart
ridges, ramming them down with a
wad of paper.
All the while that the officer an
preached young Knapp kept the gun
pointed at his breast. Saul kept his
revolver pointed at the lad but had no
thought of shooting, Halt way up the
stairs the muzzle of the gun was with
in reach and thinking to jump quickly
out If range and at the same time grab
the barrel with his disangaged hand,
he mad u sudden spring mp the stairs.
Just at this moment KNAPP pulled the
trigger. The ugly charge tore away
the little finger on the officers right
hand ana caused him II drop the rc-
Volver. His wound did not malt him
however. With another bound he was
on his would-be slayer and seizing the
gun with his left hand wIonchcd it
from tha youths grasp.
KNAPP OVERCOME.
He threw it behind him and the next
instant young Knapp was ON the llOor
with Sauls hald clutching his throat
and Pdtrolman Evans locking his
wrists with hand-curs. by the mark
on the wall where the charge entered
showed it was apparent that the car
fridge must have passed within a few
inches of PatrClman Evans head. he
being only step or two behind Saul.
Knapp was locked lp and the wound
ed officer went to have his injury at
tended to. Doctors \. y. Lindabury
and T.. c. Hall found it necessarv to
amputate the finger half-an-lnch from
The hand
Knapp is a painter by trade being in
the employ of Moses Morey, but during
the winter helps his father in the
butcher shop. He was late in deliver
ing some orders yesterday ana his
father stopped him he SAYS ANA for
that reason he resolved upon killing
him. He cried all afternoon IN his cell
because he had shot Jim saul" but he
did not relcnt any towards his father
and swore that he would get even with
HIM yet. He is twenty years Old and
slight in build. He drinks heavily at
times and is besides a cigarette fend.
His hearing will take place this morn
inG.