Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-16
George R. Davis Attempts to Kill
Pinkerton Detective.
THE LIVES OF OTHERS ENDANGERED
Shooting Occurs in Room of
Adams Express Building
ACCUSED MAN ARRESTED

SteetS tHlS morning ABOUT lO..bO o CLOCK Dy
a shooting affray that occurred in the
building used as offices by the Adams Ex-
press Company, part of which is occupied
by the Southern Express Company. George
X. Davis. messenger in the employ of the
latter company, attempted to shoot George
Leonard, a Pinkerton detective, and in
doing so placed in jeopardy the lives of
Arthur Baumgarten of this city and J. B.
Hockaday, the assistant superintendent in
charge of business for this city of the
Southern railway. Leonard received a
slight glancing wound in the left shoulder,
but the other two gentlemen, through good
fortune and presence of mind, escaped in
jury.
The four were in a front room on the
third floor of the building, holding a con-
ference. 1t was during this conference that
Davis drew his revolver, the same which
he carries with him on his express route.
Pointing it at Leonard, he pulled the trig
ger. His aim was bad, however, and the
bullet glanced from the latter's shoulder
and lodged in the woodwork at the right
side of the window. He was Immediately
grabbed by Leonard and other gentlemen
in the room, but continued firing, and
planted two bullets in the ceiling and one
in the floor. The one which went through
the floor lodged on the desk Of Mr.. G. w.
Moss, the manager for Washington of the
pile of envelopes and causing confusion
and rapid movements on that floor.
Police Notified.
Mr. Lawrence Satterfield, Mr. Hockadays
private secretary, in the adjoining
room, and. hearing four shots, rushed in
search of the police. He found Policeman
Gillette at the crossing at 9Th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, and he, in company
with Policeman Sullivan, went to the room
in which the shooting occurred and arrest
ed Davis.
Davis was taken to the first precinct sta
ton house, where a number of cartridges
for his pistol were found in his pocket.
Leonard went at once to obtain the SER
vices of a doctor to dress his wound.
When Davis was seen at the station house
by Star reporter he was very reticent
and at first refused absolutely to have any
thing to say about the affair. He finally
gave the information, however, that the
man at whom he had fired had told lie on
him that affected his character, and that
he proposed to preserve his good name If
possible He volunteered the statement
that he would willingly suffer punishment
for shooting the alleged author of his
troubles. He would give no information
concerning the nature of the alleged lie
which Leonard had told on him. but said 1t
was nothing connected with his business.
He said he lived at 661 South Carolina ave-
nue. and came from Farmville, Buckingham
SouHlS' fHSlllld
Under Surveillance.
1t is stated that Davis has been under
surveillance by Pinkerton men and the
officials of the Southern Express Company
for several weeks He has a run from
Atlanta to this city, and a month or so
ago package containing 1900 was missed.
Nothing said of the matter, but the
various employees of the company were
IriS
several times about the affair. but always
stoutly denied any connection with the
theft. This morning when he got in from
this trip from Atlanta at 6:45 O'Clock he
was handed a note Informing him that the
assistant superintendent in this city. Mr..
Hockaday, wished to see him at $50 in his
office on Pennsylvania avenue. Davis
obeyed the summons, and for a half hour
or so sat at a table and wrote answers to
questions in regard to some correspondence.
The information was ventured by some this
morning that Davis had been drinking but
those who saw him at that time aver that
he was clear and cool headed and gave no
appearance of being under the influence
of liquor. After he had written for some
time, Mr.. Arthur Baumgarten, who has
had some connection with the transaction:
Mr.. Leonard the Pinkerton officer and
Hockaday took Davis into an adjoining
room for a conference. There he was taxed
with taking the money, but instead of de-
rying the allegation he drew his gun and
Davis is tall, rather heavily built and has
a good face. He comes from a southern
family, which may account in some meas
ure for his quIckness in answering with
character. Davis stated further that he
had never before seen the man at whom
he shot this morning and did not know his
name; that he had impugned his character
and that was enough for him.
A Narrow Escape.
Mr.. G. w. Moss. the manager Of the
Adams Express Company for this city,
when seen by Star reporter, stated he
had very narrow escape from the bullet
that passed through the ceiling of his room
and lodged on his desk. Mr.. Moss was en-
gagged in conversation with Mr.. A. B.
Bishop, who had called in on business,
when he heard two shots fired quickly. He
thought the shooting must be on the
street. and. arising from his chair at his
desk, which is situated in q front room on
the second floor of the building almost di
rectly underI cath the small room in which
the affray occurred. he started for the win
dow. He had gone but couple of steps when
two more shots were fired in quick success
sion, one OF the bullets passing between him
and Mr. Bishop at an angle of about thirty
degrees with the ceiling and lodging in
packet of envelopes on mis- desk. Mr. Moss
ard Mr.. Bishop then made a hurried exit
through the door, as they did not know
whether the enc who was doing the shoot
ing had any more lead to waste or not. Mr..
Moss escape is regarded as wonderful, as
the bullet must have passed within a few
inches of his head and within a foot Of
Mr.. Bishop. The dangerous position they
occupied will be appreciated when 1t is
known that q small waste paper basket,
perhaps a foot square, was the only thing
that separated Mr.. Moss from Mr.. Bishop
and that the leaden missile passed between
their heads.
Mr.. Moss states that this is not the only
time he has come into close proximity with
bullet, as, some years ago, when a friend
of his was playing with revolver 1t was
accidently discharged and the bullet hit
him in the lip. Fortunately, however the
bullet instead Of proceeding on its way,
glanced off and left only a small flesh
wound from which Mr.. Moss quickly re-
covered.
Lodge a Complaint.
Mr.. Hockaday and Mr.. Leonard called at
the first precinct some time after the shoot
ing ard made a complaint against Davis.
At the station 1t was discovered that Mr.
Hockaday had received a giancing wound
on one of the fingers Of his right hand. the
bullet, however, only breaking the skin in
it's passage Mr.. Leonard had partly recov-
cred from his wound, his shoulder seeming
ly giving him but little trouble.
The location Of the bullet holes In the