Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-09

warning, while in the discharge of his duty, Supernumerary Officer Paul Mendelssohn lies to-day at his home, 50 Beacon street, the victim of the bull let of some assassin not yet apprehend- ed.N Tn that bereayed home young widow and three little orphans are being comforted by relatives, kind friends and neighbors. The husband and father had started out for duty early in the evening, as he had done ever. since the trolley strike was inaugurated. He or his little family had no premonition of the blow that was soon to fall. The young officer had no enemies that he knew of. lie was ambitious to rise higher, being only % years of age, and he performed his duty without any show of aggres- siveness, but rather adopted the per suasive method for preventing crime and dispersing crowds. His one ambi- don, that he had been fostering and nursing for three years, was to be as signed to the regular force. He was liked by all his brother omcers and was a favorite in the neighborhood where he lived. He has fallen a victim to the hand of some assassin. Officer Mendelssohn was the victim Of the foulest and most dastardly crime that was ever committed in this or any other community.
 Paul Mendelssohn was born March F, 1876, in Nuremburg, Germany, and came to this country with his parents tWenty-one years ago. He was elect ed to the supernumerary force in l9ol, and being a faithful officer he was called out quite frequently since. When not employed by the city he worked at the wood turning business for the Waterbury Clock Go. He was son of Mannheim Mendelssohn of Round Hill street, and leaves a brother, a widow and three children. He was a member of Speedwell lodge, K. of F., and of Durand company, U. R. K. F., and other fraternal bodies. N
 It was a wet, disagreeable night, just the kind of night an assassin could perform his horrible work. Car No 66, in charge of Conductor George Webern- dorfer and Motorman w. J. Chambers, left the center about $40 and proceed ed up North Main street. After it reached a point Up North Main street where the houses were widely sep arated, Officer Mendelssohn boarded the ear, as was his wont, to see it safely to the end of the trolley line. The car reached the terminus, which is directly opposite the entrance to Forest Pork, at 9:52, and here the stories of the EF,.r,x 4x,1 ,Ia fer somewhat
 The first report as given out by the conductor and told by the officers last night was as follows: Conductor Weberndorfer has just taken the pole from the trolley wire to reverse it when there was rush of feet and in stantly firing began from both ends of the car. Officer Mendelssohn, who was sitting in the car, started for one end to find out the cause of the shooting, when, as he reached the door of the car, a bullet struck him just over the heart and he staggered back into the car and fell on the seat The conduc. tor in the meantime had been knocked down and beaten, while the motormau made off through the swamp, pursued by some of the crowd of assailants Three shots were fired at him, but he kept on through the swamp and then doubling back he got to the highway where his pursuers gave up the chase The conductor, in the meantime, haC been deserted, and getting to his fec he adjusted the trolley pole and raI the car to the switch near the Water bury Manufacturing lCo. where he was met by the up car and both returned to the center. Officer 4Mendelssohn was lying dead in the car. Search was the1 made for the motorman. and eight ol ten officers were detailed to the north ern part of the city to look for him. Al hour after the tragedy word came iron the car barns that the motorman hat turned up there, having come in on on, of the West Main street cars. The re port also stated that there were eigh men in the mattacking party, that eacl wore handkerchief over his face, ant that they attacked the car from bot ends.
 Superintendent Wales stated las night that the car was Illuminated when the attack was made, that tn conductor had adjusted the pole ant was ready to start back to the cente when the attack came. It was als reported that the motorman had beel shot, but had escaped into the swamps but this report proved untrue after hi safe arrival at the car barns. Tn conductor was taken to the police sta ton, where he made his report, and cut, scalp wound which he had on hi head was dressed by Boss" Farley There was no talk at this time of tn conductor doing any shooting or an intimation that he carried gun at al Later in the night, however, the cor ductor gave out this story:
 .'I had just adjusted the trolley pol when gun was showed under my nose and shouted for help. was immed ately knocked down by some instrr rnent in the other hand of the man wit the gun. I was partially stunned an the next I knew I was on my knees and I saw the officer fall into the sea with the blood pouring from his moutl Shots were breaking the glass and tea ing into the wood work of the car
 got up and going to the rear of the ca pulled the trolley pole off, knowin