The Topeka state journal., 1898-06-03
NEAR MURDER.
Charles HOlcraft With a Win
chester and Revolver
Corners Policeman Pavey and
Attempts to Kill Him.
A TERRIBLE SIGHT.
BY the MereSt Chance the Police
man Saves Himself.
What the Demon of Drink Will
Dn For q Man
A TERRIBLE HIT.

This morning at 11:30 o'clock Charles
Holcraft, the contractor, while in an
intoxicated condition, walked up and
down Kansas avenue in the vicinity OF
the Royal billiard hall, between Sew
enth and Eighth streets, carrying on
his shoulder a loaded Winchester rifle
and in his hip pocket a large Colt re-
Vo!ver- 1t was only yesterday that
suit for divorce was filed against him
IN the district court by his wife. Yes
terday and today he has been intoxi-
Gated and boisterOus. His actions
alarmed people who him on Kan
sas avenue, and Patrolman Everett Pa
vey was asked to disarm him. He met
him at the foot of the stairway south
of the billiard hall and said: Charlie
let me have those guns you have GOT
Holcraft had the Winchester on his
shoulder and stood with his back toward
the stairway He quickly reached for
his hip pocket and drew his revolver
and pointed it directly at Patrolman
PaVey.s "a, face saying with an oath: I'll
Pavey grabbed the revolver and
showed Holcraft's arm up until the
weapon was out of dangerous range
The latter had backed into the stair
! way and the struggle commenced in
earnest there. Holcraft pulled down his
Winchester rifle and showed the muzzIe
of it against the officers abdomen
where he pinned him against the wall
At the same time he tried to bring the
weapon around so that he could get
hold of the trigger and could make a
more center shot, or injure the officer
with the pressure against his body.
The two men blocked the stairway.
A tall switchman who had been with
Holcraft stood near but did not at
tempt to interfere. PatrOlman Pavey
was in tight quarters. He stood pin
ned to the side wall with the Winches-
ter barrel pressing against his abdo-
men. With his left hand he cIutched
| the revolver which Holcraft held in his
right hand. The drunken man, with
the free hand was trying his best to
reach the trigger of his rifle to perfor-
ate the officer with shot. 1t was time
for action. No one could enter to help
the officer from the street, and the
switchman stood back of Holcraft
BY careful moves Pavey succeeded in
relieving the pressure against his body
while he wrenched from the delirious
| man the revolver. Freeing himself he
volver dropped to the ground. Pavey
led his prisoner into the billiard hall
where he was going to telephone for
the patrol wagon. Once inside the hall
Holcroft tried to escape from the Of
ficer. Here vicious struggle ensued.
The contractor fought madly, striking
the officer several times. He is a large
muscular man, but he is not stronger
than Pavey. The latter in the fight
found it necessary to quiet his prisoner
| or possibly be killed. He landed a we'll
aimed blow at Holcraft's head which
stunned him and made a wound from
which blood flowed freely.
I'll give up Pavey,'' cried Holcraft,
after he recovered from the blow. He
was taken to police station where he
was locked up. '-'
Holcraft last year paraded the streets
carrying Winchester and revolver and
declaring that no officer could arrest
him.
OF late it has been his boast that he
would kill a policeman before he would
let him arrest him. He MADE this boast
openly today on Kansas avenue.
Patrolman Pavey said today: CT
thought 1 would be shot surely. If I
hadn't slipped away from that Win
chester just when 1 did he would have
found the trigger and would have bored
into the billiard hall to telephone for
the patrol wagon he would have killed
me if he could. 1 had to hit him with
my club. 1 would have been justified
in law to have killed him.
Patrolman Pavey is one of the oldest
policemen on the force in length of
service He is as brave as lion and
one of the most trusted men IN Chlef
SteeIes charge.
Holcraft is a we'll known contractor.
having built the legislative buildings
for oklahoma. His latest contract
work was the construction of the
physics building at the state university
a Lawrence. One of the saddeSt his
tories in Topeka has been the going to
destruction of Charles Holcraft, all
through drink He has an admirable
wife and family and if the demon that
is pursuing him could be exercised he
would be an honored and respected
citizen. Charles HOlcraft has had many
and warm friends They ought to see
what they can do for him now.