The age-herald., 1901-05-17
CitY Under Martial Law Witk Its Citizens In Frenzy
 of Excitement
THREE MEN FATALLY HURT
Disturbance Was Not a Serious ons and Murder" is the Title Applied by lnfIamed Public Senti-
 ment to the Shooting.

Albany, N. r, May 16-Three men wounded, hundreds with broken heads and cut faces, cars running merely as arr senals, with no patrons. the city under martial rule, with its citizens in frenzy of excitement and the city authorities sa and leaders of the strikers trying to get the railway company to an amicable set- clement, was the situation when dark ness has put an end to the strife growing out of the street car strike tonight. Those fatally wounded are William Walsh, a merchant, and Leroy Smith, merchant, both shot by national guardsmen; and William Marshall, a non-union motor- man, skull fractured. Others most sec riously injured are:
 George Booz, citizen. cheek ripped open by bayonet.
 William Rooney, citizen, shot by na- tional guard, and Gilbert Hall, non-union motorman, shot by mob.
 The bloodshed came after a day of peace From early morning the crowds had melted away before bayonets and shot guns; cars had been operated under heavy guards, and there was an impress sion that the spirit of turbulence was waning. There had been some minor demonstrations, particularly in North Albany, but not a shot had been fired, and as the day passed the running of cars attracted but little attention. The volley fired on Broadway by squad of Twenty-third Infantrymen, in which Le- roy Smith and William Walsh. well known citizens, fell mortally wounded, changed all that. It stirred anew the feeling of hatred as the exciting tidings swept through the city, and the guards men were bitterly denounced. Neither of the men had been guilty of an ofrense. but were caught in a crowd, some mem- Der of which had stoned the guardsmen, and by mischance were hit.
 Not Serious Accident.
 The disturbance was not a serious ona and murder is the title applied by in- famed public sentiment to the shooting. The guardsmen seem to have followed their duty as soldiers, for they were un- der orders to shoet if assaulted. The bright prospect of a settlement of the strike has not served to allay the growth of vindictive feeling and if the present situation continues acts of bitter revenge and violence may be expected. It was on the last run of the soldiers on the cars that the tragedy of the day occurred, northward, and constantly swelling crowd was gathered about the Union de- pot. The first of the work day folk had been released by the whistles that sound ed through the manufacturing district, and they were pouring into the crowd. Near Columbia street a truck blocked the way of a car and, urged on by the crowd the driver refused to move on as speedily as desired. Some one in the crowd threw a stone and there was much confusion. The car finally moved for ward into the next block and another stone was hurled at 1t. There was a sharp command as the car slowed down, and four shots were fired from 1t. Leroy Smith lounged on the steps of his store: Wm. Walsh, his business neighbor from across the street, was his immediate companion. and a small crowd hung about near them. It was into this crowd that the guards fired at a range of less than twenty feet. Smith and Walsh were both shot in the abdomen and fell where they stood. A third man. Wm Rooney, was slightly hurt by a giancing bullet. Some of the guards stepped from the car and reloaded their pieces.
 Crowd Fell Back.
 The startled crowd fell back at the first shot and moment later the guards sprang aboard the car and were rapidly wheeling from the scene Smith and Walsh were hurried away to hospitals and an angry crowd swarmed in the street to curse and denounce the guards. Smith is member of the shoe manufacturing firm of Smith & Herrick and a citizen of wealth, responsibility and prominence. He is a member of the Albany Club and a whist expert of national reputation. He is a man of 50 years of age. Walsh was the head of a plumbing house and was we'll known in business circles. Neither man had any part other than as specta- tors in the demonstration that provoked the shooting. The remainder of tlie cars made the run to North Albany and back without trouble, and when they reached the Quail street barn were housed for the night.
 When the cars were all in the guards in the street were recalled.