New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-29
BIBLE STOPPED BULLETS.
THE REV. d. C. POTTER SAYS AN AT
TEMPT WAS MADE ON HIS LIFE.
FOUR SHOTS. HE DECLARES. WERE FIRED AT
HIM TWO OF WHICH LODGED IN THE BOOK

REVOLVER FOUND IN THE YARD.
The Rev Daniel C. Potter the Baptist minister
whose name became familiar In Manhattan some
time ago through his refusal to vacate the build
ing No lG2 Second-ave when ordered to DO so 10y
the Baptist Mission Society, and thereafter stood
exciting siege. reported to the police OF the
Seventy-hfth Precinct. Long Island city. yester-
day morning that attempt had been made 10
assassnate him According to his story. four SHOTS
were fred at him. and he would probably have been
killed had not "A thick Bible saved his life
Since leaving Manhattan the Rev Mr.. Potter has
been living in the house No. l55 Ninth-st, IN "hat
was Long Island city. This house is a two-story
and basement French-roofed brick house. Adjoin-
ing 1t is the old clubhouse of the Jefersonian club
There ~ a space between the two buildings. ana
midway between them il a fence nearly SIX lee'
high. The windows of the first floor OF the mouse
are just about level with the top OF the renee
There are not many houses in the I.elghhorhoo1.
Mr. Potter sleeps In his study. on the ground moor
having a folding bed r. the room. The room - III
the Of the house. and II IS lighted by WINDOWS
which look out the space between the minister
house and the old clubhouse.
According Mr. Potter. he has been In the
habit OF sitting up late nights studying. Then,
when he grows sleepy he says he has been in the
habit of throwing himself the bed, after un-
dressing and reading until he falls asleep he
SAYS he was doing this Yesterday morning when the
four shots fred at him Tn" windows open
along side of the bed. but some distance on
Yesterday morning Mr.. Potter was lying with the
willows nled I'm one corner Of the bed and his legs
pointinc diagonally from the head corner furthest
from the windows out toward the windows. hs
legs were drawn up he says. so that no couii rest
his heavy Bible In front of him on them the
Bible Is one he used at college. and Is old-iAsh-
loned with large print. and is his favore book Tor
use because. In the course o. years. ne Had u''ue
many annotationa along the margins
As the minister lay tho top OF the book projected
above his knees. Mr.. Potter says the nrs' alarm
he had was a report though Of a gun discharged
inside the room. and At the same moment the Bible
was dashed forward and struck his breast. Then.
rs he started 10 Use. with the Bible still against
his breast there was second explosion ana he
felt the impact Of the bullet against the book
Two more shots fred In quick succession hnt
ne iid not feel them or know where they went. AT
that time
MIR Potter saws he rolled out 81 the bed and
crawIed past the windows to his desk to get his
revolver Obtaining possession Of this ne ran 10
the doorway and was just IN time TO see man
lump over n fence into East-aV'.. ana mount
bicycle which had been leaning against an electric
Light tol. in that street The turned into
Tenth-st and wheeled ~ rapid pace toward
Jackson-avc While he was watching the man.
his son Paul ioincd him. and also saw the man go
Ing ur Teufh-.t
on returning to ..s study Mr. Potter FOUND that
tn. third shot had close 10 him rs had The
FIRST two. /, had cut slit In thu sleeve OF his
paiaras and must have passed close to his shou-
der a. be- moved Of the bed II buried ITSELF tn
the wal Just above the chair guard which runs
around tue room.
Mr. Potter dressed. and he ana MS son went TO
boIoush police headquarters short distance away.
and Informed the police They referred 10 the
police station. whittier they went and reported the
cs-. R,und-man shepard and Patrolman James
VI GU won't 10 inv"stirat" They found ihIt" 1 1n-
foq ~ me fence il aho,t line with The sill II
- "ni9" The huai"ts nad pa|s'a throrsh ,lt
.ow. close 20 the Screen 'fame TIE sec'ni va :
lltle above and the third vas near m" middle "f
Mr rortcrs assertion that four shots were fred
th. bri, kwork clos, 10 he window rac Two bu-
i,,s Which uttered the Bible passed prett, we'll
through II MIR Potter had ben reslins toward
"a. ft.k ~ ~. book AMI 10" nrsf bullet WfIt hI-
m. = fnrough ~. book o. me beginning of go N,w
Testament tn" other entered a. Al "nslr oit iIi
m. BIBLE covered with = newspaper and Nj
Potter say be- think- th' men IS n" 'f"i G" "i nam
newspaper and that there would be nothing ?" stop
nred from inc ,op ~ The ience They searched the
yard ~ the abandoned clubhouse and IN the grass
rr-t appeared 20 Doe the homemade stock OF Il gun
ON closer examination by the poHee u ""s found
IN where the wooden guard under gun would be-
\ H,tlo more search brought - ngh' revolver |
gun stock IN such manner that tho stock when !
placed Go the shoulder gave firm resi-. and left |
In. 'rigs,r and sight In position. both could be-
used with more precision than II the pistol wer" |
held aud sighted lH the ordinary way. tn" stock |
va ioiutcd IN such way that hy pulling ont a
nall it Iuublcd over and could b" carried wlth cas-"
lnshl, mans coat The pistol vas one of the |
long heavy rincd ones such A. Were u-"d iu the |
Navy n wa 81 nickel finish bat had t'cn paint |
"a ~ .uau.il,l black The r"sult of th- Ms That
th,rc Would De reelection u lehi from ne bar
rel Tier, were nv" chambers four ot which wrrc !
,uruty m. ntfh contained charged eh'll
Mr. Potter says that usually his three sons are IN
the houSc hui on saturday ~" Of them. stirling /
end Dean. went to PaterSD y j. for q visit. ani
his oldest Paul went ont for IL" day but re- |
turned about midnight lie thinks that whoever |
tried 10 KIN him had watched -" house and sup |
posed the three Young men were absent
when questioned as 10 who might want 20 take |
his M, and what the motN" could have been. MI. |
Potter said that when he had thc trouble In Man |
haitian some questionable characters had been con
c.rrrd 49, guards. and that some Of thcm might !
have had u hand In the affair but b" would not IN |
dcntc what men he referred 90.
The police have nothing to work on In the case as
- L.. .rrn..l Il M