New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-04
SHOT DOWN IN A CABLE CAR
REFUSAL TO GIVE a SEAT TO A WOMAN
MAY RESULT FATALLY.
DR.. THOMAS WILDEs. WHO DID THE SHOOT
ING. SAYS IT WAS IN Defence
MANY PASSENGERS WITNESSED


THE AFFAIR.
Dr Thomas Wildes. ifty-nne years DID, of
No. G10 Lexington-ave.. last night shot Hugo
Wolfert. forty-two years old. Of No 1895 Lex
ington-ave.. in the breast inhicting wound
that may prove fatal. The shooting took place
on a northbound Lexington-ave. cable-car. The
was between Fiftieth and Fifty first SITS. at
the time and carried about twenty passengers
Wofart IS a cook and is married. He Is
large man. and weighs 240 pounds. Or. Wildes
IS five feet seven inches tall. weighs about one
hundred and seventy pounds, wears a gray
beard parted in the middle and dresses fash
ionably. lie has retired from active practice.
and with his wife occupies an apartment at thA
address given above.
Both men boarded the car below Fortieth-st.
Wofert carried several packages. which he piled
up on the seat beside him. At Forty-third-st.
woman got on and found no unoccupied seat
Dr. Wildes arose and offered his seat 10 her
At the same time he looked directly at Wolfert
and told him he was not a gentleman. or he
certainly would not hog two seats while ladies
have 10 stand"
Passengers I'm the car whose names the police
have secured as witnesses tell slightly different
stories Of what followed The story that the
police accept IS that Wolfert made an insulting
plain language what he thought Of him, when
Wolfert jumped to his feet and struck at him.
Dr. Wlldes Immediately drew a revolver and,
placing the muzzle almost against Wolfert's
breast. fired
Wofert fell back into his seat with a groan
blood oozing from the wound and saturatng his
clothing. DR.. Wildes calmly pocketed his
weapon. and then buttoning his coat, awaited
the arrival Of the police.
PASSENGERS IN A PANIC.
The shooting threw the passengers into a
panic. Men and women rushed wildly from the
moving car, but fortunately none were injured,
as the conductor. seeing what had happened
had signalled 10 the grlpman to stop and the car
was running slowly.
Acting Captain Lamprey, OF the East Fifty
frst-st. station. and Detective Philips were on
the sidewalk almost opposite the car when the
shot was fred. They Immediately boarded the
car and when the conductor. Leon L. Baker
pointed to Or. Wildes as the man who fired the
shot, Lamprey placed the doctor under arrest
and took him to the East Fffty-frst-st station.
He was charged with felonious assault.
Detective Philips, assisted by Detective Cur
ry who had reached the scene by this time.
cared for the injured man. Wolfert was help
less. but not unconscious. He was sent TO
Flower Hospital
At late hour last night he was still con-
scious. but the physicians in attendance would
not hazard an opinion as TO his chance or re-
cOvery.
DR. Wudes bears an excellent reputation in the
neighborhood where he lives. AT the police sta
tion he said he had shot Wolfert in self-defence,
and he expressed the hope that the man would
not die
The doctors wife called at the station soon
after he was arrested. She was greatly excited
and begged permission 70 see her husband Inc
police would not allow this. nor would they per-
nit any one TO communicate with the doctor
Some II those VINO Will be called upon 70 testi-
~ in the case are the conductor. Leon l.. Baker;
Reuben NJ Fisher. OF No 90 Ealt One hundred
and-twenty- ty-ninth-st.; Wade Gordy Of No. 33Z
East Eighth-st, Brooklyn and Gustave Pohl,
Of No 100 East Seventy-irst-st. all Of whom
witnessed the quarrel from its beginning.
Wolfert said he had never before seen Or.
Wildes and declared that he was shot without
the slightest provocation.
STORY OF WITNESS.
Gustave Pohl, professional athlete. one OF
the witnesses OF the shooting. when seen at his
house gave his version Of the affair as follows:
"Wolfert and DR.. Wildes entered the car on
the way uptown. Wolfert placed his bundles
beside him woman entered the car and
stood looking around for seat The doctor
arose and offered his seat 10 her. Al the same
time he motioned to the bundles Of Wolfert, ana
made some remark. This Wolfert resented in
an insulting manner. which incensed the doctor,
who said What do YOU mean by that?
some words followed. and the doctor began
sentence. If your mother but he did not
finish IT, Wolfert sprang up and struck him
over the eve. At this point Jumped up and
seized Wolfert around the body, telling him
not to fight on the car. DR.. Wildes drew his re-
volyer ard. placing It over my arm, fired at
WOlferts breast.
''Wolfert sank back into his seat. and seized
the doctor demanding the revolver and telling
him that I was going to take him TO the police
station He offered no resistance and placed the
revolver I'm his pocket. AS soon as the car
stoned helped take Wildes 10 the East Fifty
first-st station.
"Wolfert was the only one excited. DR..
Wildes appeared perfectly cool, and there would
have been no trouble IL Wolfert had not struck
him. DR. Wildes said nothing 10 irritate VOL
fert." . -
Wolfert lives with his wife and five small chill
dron on the first floor OF No 1,495 Lexington
ave Mrs Margaret BOyston, who owns the
house. said Wolfert had been tenant for three
wears She declares he was model tenant. and
AS far as she could see. kind husband and
careful father ,., -.
Mrs Wolfert was almost crazed with GRIEF
,rber she heard of the shooting. and said there
must be some terrible mistake. She said she had