New-York tribune., 1901-09-29
MARINE SHOOTS PRISONER.
BULLET PASSES THROUGH BODY OF
YONKERS MAN WHO WAS TRY
ING TO ESCAPE ON PIER

There was a scene Of wild excitement at Pier
No. 26, North River. yesterday, when. in at
tempting to escape from guard of marines. a
prisoner shot. probably fatally. Lieutenant
G. Bishop. jr.. and guard Of six marines were
escorting a batch of sixteen prisoners on board
the Old Dominion Line steamship Hamilton, by
which they were to be conveyed to Norfolk. Va
The party of prisoners. preceded by one or
the marines flanked on each side by another
and with the rear brought up by the remain
ing three had got as far the main deck of
the steamship. when cry went up that one
of the prisoners was trying TO escape. Instantly
the marines drew their revolvers, and, while
four of them stood guard on those remaining on
deck. the other two men started in pursuit OF
the fleeing prisoner. The man who was at
tempting to escape was Charles p. Meiner
twenty-five years old. whose father lives at
Arlington and Logwood aves Yonkers, y. Y
Meiner the only one of the sixteen pris-
oners dressed in civilian clothes. the others be-
ing in uniform, that when he started down
the pier at top speed he did not attract so much
attention as If he had been in uniform Down
the dock he went, lodging in and out between
wagons trucks and merchandise, thrusting men
aside in his run. Closer and closer behind came
the pursuing marines.
The pier is long and covered. and Meiner had
reached a point about two hundred feet from
the opening into the street when Private Ed
ward Harley of the pursuers. came within
a few feet of the flying man and ordered him
to stop. Unheeding his call, Meiner continued
on, and. aiming his revolver. Harley fired one
shot the bullet striking Meiner just above the
left hip and passing entirely through his body
making its exit through the abdomen. Stag
gering few feet. the wounded man fell to the
ground, crying feebly, I'm shot"
In an instant there a scene of wild eX-
element The pier crowded with truck
men, expressmen, drivers and passengers, and
one of the pier hands named John McClean
was actually in the act of stopping Meiner. it Is
said. when Harley fired. The soldier was quick
ly surrounded by a threatening crowd, VINO
cried Coward to him. For a moment 1t
looked though some of them would do him
bodily harm, but cooler heads interposed.
The wounded man conveyed to one side
OF the pier, and Superintendent Leyland sent
for an ambulance from the Hudson Street Hos
pital. to which institution Meiner was conveyed
by DR.. Judson. When the wounded man
reached the hospital it said that he was still
conscious, though in a dangerous condition.
Superintendent Leyland telephoned to the
Brooklyn Navy Yard and the authorities there
to assist in the operation which is to be per-
formed Mener
Lieutenant Bishop and Harley went to the
Leonard-st police station. where they reported
what had occurred. They were not detained
and went board the Hamilton, and sailed
with the rest of the prisoners for Norfolk
Mener Is a son of Charles Mener. ma
chnst. He entered the Marine Corps last Jan
nary, and has been home several times on fur
loughs. His family has gone to the hospital IN
response to telegram informing them or the
shooting.