The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-29
D. C. POTTER'S BIBLE SHOT.
1T STOPPED BULLETS WHICH WERE
MEANT FOR HIM, He SAYS.

N-
Tabernacle Tells n Strange story to
the Long Island City Policc-His Son
Finds Clues and Takes Photograph.
The Rev. d @. Potter. who. as pastor OF the
Tabernacle Baptist Church on Second avenue
was besieGed there for weeks by Plnkerton de-
tectives two years ago. reports that his troubled
life has been complicated by more adventures.
Recently he has lived at 155 Ninth street, Long
Island City. His report was TO the police there.
He visited them at 2 80 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing and said that an attempt had Just been
made to assassinate him In his home.
The minister's house is near East avenue.
about O block from the Police Headquarters OF
the borough OF Queens. At East avenue and
Ninth street is the old clubhouse OF the Jeffer-
son Democratic Club. facing toward East
avenue. The clubhouse is surrounded by va
cant ground. The entrance to the Potter home
is on the side toward the clubhouse. The door
il reached by a narrow walk that runs along
the side OF the house from tho street. The
Rev. Mr.. Potter occupies a room on that side Of
the house. It's window, therefore, overlooks
the club grounds. A large folding bed stands
against the rear wall Of the room.
The Rev. Mr.. Potter says that he was lying
crosswise on the bed reading his Bible at 2:30
O'Clock yesterday morning when some one fired
four shots through the windowin rapid success
sion. The first and second bullets struck the
Hioio lnatt ho mlulhLbT uelu dlu WblU nhlI way
through the book; One OF the other bullets
lodged In the wall at the back of the room. but
where the fourth bullet struck was not ascer-
se DP; Potter sseE st stated .efIt to the police that after the
floor and crept TO a place where he kept a load
ca ssn rssy o1N t. wv WIZ dot the weapon IN his hand he
t tSa q he saw 70 a et Cali fG @p5 ap Scala Gpe me fa 1t; He s1o snyds
tide ESIo q 4SRSr5 FIT fsg Avenue si to Tsnt T. si Sss$ saS
neither Of the bullets took eject. SO Tar as he
Night Operator william Dunn was on duty at
Police Headquarters He heard shots and went
but saw 10 one; IL eould, not leave head.
returned to the telephone, room. In a few
o %smstes heard fes dP tRo Rev. arrived KY, fott Mhen ron the
precinct H. Police ole station on Fourth street. to re-
tRS S5' m 1hs Gass' 6 anf t sSiidfp5h im' p SheSd the 1s stoes
McGill and Roundsman Henry Sheppard were
sem 2. out to investigate the case. They exam-
screen; There were n9 holes in the window
tain, had been rolled UP when the shots were
fired; The Bible. with the bullets still in It.
Alter aSaestionni ming Paul Sii0 P 5SRei; the minister's
eldest son and his most enthusiastic aide at the
the, clubhouse grounds wifi, young, Potter to
make a further search. The minister's son
Young Potter made the first 'd disc COVE sFuHaE lie
came upon a piece of board shaped like the
ss}Io osk OF an 2 gH IH od II was was an an inch thick, stained
as II to be fitted around q revolver butt. Not
far away 2 revolver that fitted into the board was
looking weapon. 1t contained one loaded
cartridge; The police found that the revolver
around SO that the loaded cartridge was oppo-
site the hammer. There were empty shells in
While searching the grounds, the police saw.
they discovered that the window in the minis
to have fired the shots from the ground near
the clubhouse; The bed in the room could be
separating the ministers house from the CLUB
property. This, fence was only the width of
f Sons earF Hs th wa enrt 9af0f oi R pha %lnSdw 1F %ns the the
the police assert that, no assassin could have
G fIg tSs f to the S TOP po Of the fence Without attract
Rev: Mt: Potter and his son. The latter told
father Of the time Of the Shooting, The sqn
bors. None of the neighbors. however. saw a
t tsre man 6 or R : man Il. q any defscription, in the
when the, first shot struck the Bible the book
knocked toward him.
the same spot as the first. Both lodged in the
Dnnsar s69 10 h af bsd Tay yt thbp11Gh. BOTH H. bullets
ister was Very careful to caution those whom
1lsturb the bullets. The Bible is a large one.
bound in leather, with a slip cover made OF q
The minister said that this par
ticular Bible was a favorite of his during his
days.
The minister was very positive, that the
shooting was nothing else than a bold attempt
On his, life. He said. with much emotion, he
Knew that there were those who would like
% see him out of the way"
Young Potter had taken photographs Of the
Interior, Of the room, the exterior OF the house
md clubhouse grounds. and of the Bible with
he two bullets sticking out from the leaves. A
,pt of the pictures WAS printed and DSn1 nv
,he Rev. DR.. Potter in describing the details Of
he shooting.
At the borough Of Queens Police Headquart-
RS last night 1t was stated that there were no
lew developments in the case. The police said
hat they did not expect to make any arrests
nd had nothing to add to the statements given
nut by the. minister, which. they said. soemed
o be sufficiently complete.