The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-01
BOLD HOLD-UP.
Tugboat Captain Assaulted
in Broad Day
light.
SHOOTS HIS AssAILANT
Then Runs Wildly Through
the Street Brandishing
His Revolver.


Woods. twenty-nine years old, of No. 50
Sussex street. infiicting a painful and
ugly. though not serious. scalp wound
The shooting was the result of a bold day
light holdup at the corner of Hudson and
Morris streets in front of the saloon os
former Alderman Thomas Kelly, Rooney
says, while Woods, his victim. says it was
the outcome of a long feud between the
two.
Rooney used an American bulldog re-
volver with five chambers. He fired one
shot and that at close range. That he did
not kill Woods is unaceountable. The IN
-jured man was backed up by number of
his companions.
His blood flowing from the cash SO in
censed them that they tried to get at
Rooney. Had they succeeded, he would
have Jared badly. He ran for it, pur-
sued by an ever-growing crowd that he
held at bay with the revolver, threaten
Ing . shoot nromiscnously.
The chase led from the scene of the
shouting along Hudson street to Mont
gomery street, and thence to Washing
ton, where it was ended by the arrest of
the principals after four officers had one
of the hardest fights of their careers. A
Ilol was ndFfOWly dNeTteu.
Detective Larkins of Police Headquar-
ters intercepted Rooney, who was running
wild with the revolver fiourishing about
hisc head. The prisoner and his captor
went down when they crashed, and the
revolver was swung about in g rather
alarming manner. That it did not explode
while the two struggled was a most for
tunas circumstance, because they were
hoI
the revolver been discharged someone
must have been hit.
Rooney and Woods were locked up at
Police Heaquarters. Rooney was bailed
by Former Commissioner James Kelly
and Woods will remain in cell until to-
morrow morning when a hearing will be
had in the First Criminal Court before
Police Justice Hoos.
Rooney. in his statement to Chief of
Police Murphy, said that he and William
Keys, of No. 247 York street, a tugboat
captain, were going into Kellys saloon to
talk over some business. They were met
at the door by Woods, who gruffly de-
manded that he be given SO. Rooney
laughed at the idea, but seeing that
Woods was in earnest and noticing that
there were gathered only few feet away
the result of Woods's hold-up, he became
indignant and ordered Woods away. The
fellow then threatened to punch Rooney,
who brushed him aside and with Keys
went into the saloon. They sat in a back
room and after finishing their discussion
went into the barroom. They stood at
the bar and ordered drinks. While they
were at the bar Woods went into the
Dat hi oh
looking men who, however, proceeded no
further than the doorway. Woods ad
vanced to Rooney and, with the express
sion:-
you're no damn good anyhow" and
struck him four times. Rooney got rid
of Woods, VINO left the saloon After
half hour had elapsed Rooney and Keys
started up Morris street. Woods follow
ed them and approaching Rooney again
struck him. The crowd that had been
with Woods since he first approached
Rooney were close at hand and Rooney
thought he was in danger of being set
upon by the crowd. He started 20 leave
the vicinity so as to avoid trouble.
Woods was too quick for him, however,
and grabbed him. Rooney broke away
and started to run, but Woods overlook
him and they struggled. Freing himself
from his assailGnt, Rooney drew his re-
volver and threatened to shoot. Woods
did not halt. He rushed forward and
Rooney shot.
The bullet entered Woods's head just
aisove the left eye. The course was up
wards and. it ploughed its way along un-
der the skin and lodged at the top of
Woods's head just under the skin. The
skull was not penetrated, so there is no
danger Woods fell to the street.
Rooney then saw Woods's adherents
rushing for him. He fed from them be-
cause he did not wish to do murder. He
ran along Hudson street, the crowd in
his rear shouting wildly. The shot had
drawn great numbers of people to. the
scene, and the pursuers must have num-
bered two hundred when Montgomery
street was reached. Here Rooney began
to lose speed, and the crowd to
gain on him. He turned and lev
eled the revolver at his pursu-
ers. They fled in all directions seek
ing shelter in doorways, stores, behiEd
trees and wagons. Having broken the
advance of his followers, Rooney re-
su,ned his gait up Montgomery street. He
fjourished the revolver about his head and
shouted wildly. 1t was evident that ne
was very greatly excited.
Just as he turned from Hudson street
the people in that vicinity scattered and
gave him a clear road. His pursuers
had not yet recovered themselves, blt
Woods, who had regained conciousness.
after a minute dashed through them,
bleeding and shouting curses and impre-
cations. He roared like bull for &
ol,oroa Of Rooneu
AS Rooney neared the Second National
Rank at Washington and Montgomery
street some one set up shout oil BaiiA
thieft'' Detective Larkins was standing
at the stoop of the bank ana ne sa"
Rooney advancing toward him, revolver
in hand, wild of eye, yelling for people 20
clear the road and acting like maniac
Iarkins paid no heed to danger bns
Jumped at Rooney Down they went to-
gethcr, Larlins on top, and struggling
with every ounce of strength to get the
loaded revolver from Rooney. The crowd
closed around them, but that revolver
kept them at distance until Larkins had
his man subdued.
Patrolmen Hawkins and DAILY Of the