The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-09-30
FATAL WOUND
Probably Received by James Shelter at Hands of
Melvin R. Smitf1--Resu|t of Quarrel in
Canton -MasSi|Ion Car.

James b. Shelter, conductor on the
Canton-Massillon line, was shot and
probably fatally injured Friday MORN
ing at 1888 o'clock while in the dis
charge of his duties as conductor on
the westbound Massillon car. The
shooting was done by Melvin r. Smith
a patternmaker of 1902 Navarro street
who was passenger on the car. Shet-
Ter was removed in an ambulance 10
the Aultman hospital, where an opera
ton was performed for the removal
Of the bullet from his body, the oper-
alton being performed by Drs. Z. ID.
and AsC. Brant, who succeeded in re-
moving the bullet from the place
where 1t had lodged a short distance
below the surface of Shelters back,
after passing through little below tho
middle of the body.
THE QUARREL.
The scene of the shooting was on the
westbound Massillon car which left the
public square at 1880 o'clock 1t was
ih Nhoi vi Sphuutlol EOutlltG anu
Moto"man William Milligan and the
shooting occurred when the car was
between Dueber and Hazlett avenues.
According to the statements of those
who saw the shooting Smith was sit
ting In the rear seat and had partly
raised the window. Conductor Shelter
asked him to either close the window
or raise it to its full heighth, as It
was provided with no halfway catch
and would fall and break. Smith, who
had been drinking, paid no attention
to the conductors courteous request
and the latter reached over him to
raise the window higher. let that
window alone" was Smiths angry
command and an instant later he
whipped 3S calibre revolver from
his pocket and fired. Shelter was stu
leaning over him and the muzzle of
the weapon was only few inches from
his abdomen. .
CREATED A PANIC.
Shelter staggered back, exclaiming
I'm shot, take me out of this" The
scene created a panic in the car and
most of the passengers leaped off as
soon rs the speed slackened. A young
man named Swihart, from Massillon
seized Smiths gun. wrenched it from
his hand and threatened to shoot him
If he did not sit down. Merchant Po-
liceman Charles L. Heminger, who was
on the front end of the car, came in at
this time and placed Smith under ar
rest The patrol wagon responded TO
telephone call and brought the prls-
oner to the police station, where he is
held pending the result OF his victims
wound.
SMITHS VICTIM.
James Shelter, the victim of the
shooting is about As years OF age and
is one Of the oldest and best known
conductors in the employ of the street
railway company. He is married and
with his wife and family of children
resides on Second street just west of
Newton. He has been employed for
a number of years as a conductor on
the city electric lines and last spring
was transferred to the Massillon run
He has the reputation OF being one
Of the most quiet and courteous men
on the lines, one who always sought
to avoid unnecessary trouble and
whose record in that respect is almo.
faultless. The news Of his probable
fatal injury under such circumstances
stirred mp the greatest indignation
among his fellow-employes, while ex-
citing their sorrowful commiseration
for his condition and tenderest sympa-
thy for his family
POLICE COURT CHARACTER.
Melvin r. Smith. who did the snoot-
ing, is a Young man about 22 Years of