Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-20
WAS shot At THREE TINES
Attempt Of Lee Dugan to Muir
der Margaret Ruffer.
HE ATTACKED HER IN A BAKERY
jealousy Prompted Him to do
the Shooting.
One Bullet Lodged In the Right Arm, and
Another Inflicted n Scalp wound--Tbe
Assaiiant was Followed TO the Police Sta
ton by "a Threatening Crowd.

Assaiiant was Followed the Police Sta
tiou by "a Threatening Crowd.
Lee Dugan, colored, aged 30 years,
of No. 1881 Orange street. made des-
perate effort to murder Margaret Ruiler,
colored, in the bakery of Albert Ii.
Apperstein, Eleventh and Tatnall streets |
about 7.30 O'Clock Monday night,
and as a result he is locked up at the
police station, being held without bail
TO await the result of the injuries in
flioted upon the woman, who is at the
Homeopathic Hospital. Dugan shot at
her three times with 3S-calibre re-
yolver, but only one of the bullets took
effect, lodging in the right arm near
the shoulder. Another bullet grazed
the woman's head, but did nothing
worse than mako scalp wound, while
the third did not strike her at oil,
wrecking the show case in the store in
stead.
Dugan and the woman lived together
for about 10 years, but recently sep
arated. This evidently made Dugan
jealous, judging from his actions which
led up to the shooting Dugan had
prepared himself, presumably, to kill
the woman Monday and accepted the
first opportunity. While he was stand
ing on the corner of Eleventh and Tat
nall streets, apparently lying in wait,
the Ruffer woman and Maggie Norris
passed him. He followed them and
Margaret Ruirer, seeing she was pursued
took refuge in the store of Angerstein's
bakery. She had scarcely entered when
Dugan opened the door and began
shooting at her. Mr.. Angerstein was
in the rear room and hearing the shots
ran to the store to see what was the
matter.
just as Mr.. Angerstein reached the
store room the woman fell at his feet,
as if she had been mortally wounded.
Dugan shot again, but the bullet struck
the show case instead of the woman.
Dugan evidently thought he had ac-
complished his purpose and as a crowd
of people had gathered, hastily took his
departure, running on Tatnall street
toward the Brandywine. Police Ser
geant WEIGH, who was at the corner of
Eleventh and Washington streets, heard
the shooting and ran toward the bakery,
two squares away. When the feet
footed officer reached Eleventh and Tat
nall streets he saw the negro running
down Tatnall street. He followed rapidly
and was gaining on the would be muir
derer all the time. In order to attempt
to escape, knowing the sergeant was
after him, he ran toward Washington
street, and Officer John F. Ward, who
was at Fourteenth and Washington,
captured him.
When Dugan found he was prisoner
he placed the revolver at his own head
and attempted to discharge it, but was
prevented from doing SO by the officer.
Dugan resisted arrest and in the off
GERS struggle to overpower him the
officer cut his wrist and his coat was
torn. Dugan's clothing was also badl,
torn. Sergeant WEIGH arrived soor
after Officer Ward had placed Dugar
under arrest and the patrol wagon wa
summoned.
In the meantime the woman hat
been sent to the Homeopathic Hos
pital, and as it was not known HOY
badly she was injured, Dugan wa
taken there in the patrol wagon to Sc
if she could identify him. She rocog
nized him as her assaiant and h
made an effort to embrace her, but wa
prevented from doing so by the officers
Dugan was then taken to the Eolic
station and locked up.
While Dugan was making an effor
to escape from the police, before hi
capture, hundreds of people were o
the streets, but they did not care [
lay hands on him. fearing the result
After he was under arrest, however
some of the people of his own cole
were SO indignant that they threatene
violence. The officers protected hin
however, and he was placed behind tn
bars without incident.
The woman is not seriously injured
and, unless complications result frol
the wound in the arm, she may
able to leave the hospital in few day
Sergeant WEIGH and Officer War
we're commended by Chief Dolan (,
their bravery in capturing the ma
and preventing the angry crowd fro
doing him bodily harm. Officer Wal
is entitled to the lions share of u
credit, however When Dugan place
the revolver to his head, after he W
under arrest, Officer Ward, with gre
presence of mind, placed his finger
the trigger guard and thus prevents
the negro from discharging the weapo
at the risk Of his own life. Dugan
good. sized man and the officer hi
his hands full in subduing him.
The Ruffer woman and Maggie Norr
who was with her just prior to t
shooting, live at Twelfth and Oran
streets. The Ruffer woman has be
employed as a domestic in the fam
of Frank p. Turner, No. 1924 W,
street, and bears good reputatic
She is,about % years of age Recent
after the trouble with Dugan, she h
him arrested on the charge of threat,
ing her life He was arraigned Def,
Magistrate Kelley, who placed
under bond to keep the peace.