Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-25
STRIKE BREAKER USES Gun
Shoots and Seriously Wounds j @. MoUsnD,
astriker
TROUBLE OCCURS ON STREET At NOON
Fred Root, the Man who Fired the
shot, and several witnesses Are
locked Up at Police
headquarters.

John C. Mccain, one Of the Union Pa
ciho strikers, was shot in the left breast
by Fred Root, a strike breaker, during a
fight at the corner Of Ninth street and
avenue. at noon yesterday. The
man was removed to his home,
1414 North Sixteenth street. His condi-
ton is said to be precsrious.
The trouble started Monday evening, when
are said to have caused the strike
breakers annoyance as they we're leaving
the Union Pacific yards. This grew until
yesterday noon. when a party of the rail-
roads employees we're returning to their
side the stockade.
When near the corner OF Ninth and Cap.
itol the strike breakers we're met by tho
strikers and a fight ensued. During the
fracas Root was knocked to the side
walk, II is said. He then drew his revolver.
it is said. and fired two shots. One of the
shots went wild, but the second struck
Mccain in the breast.
Mccain fell to the walk and a call was
sent to police headquarters. A squad OF
officers arrived on the scene and took into
custody z. A. Thorp. John Clair, S. p. Sor-
ensen, Andrew B. White and William
Richelieu, who were taken to police head
quarters, where they will be held as wit
uesses.
a at Hospital.
At s o'clock yesterday evening the
wounded man was taken to st. Joseph's
hospital. where he could have better at
tention than at his own home. While his
wound is Of an extremely painful nature.
II is not as serious as at first supposed.
Dr.. Riley, who made the final examination
and dressing Of the injury. says the bullet
was DETECTED by a rib and followed it
around the left side, lodging in the flesh,
without entering the chest. The rib is
somewhat splintered and Mccain cannot
lie down, but has to sit propped up with
pillows.
Root will make only the statement that
he was knocked down and kicked and fred
In self-defense. He says that he shot once
for a warning, but that his assailants did
not desist, and he then fired to hit one Of
them.
1t is stated by bystanders who saw the
ARRAY that after Root was knocked down
Mccain was standing over him, kicking
him when the shot was fred. The witnesses
who were taken into custody by the police
refuse TO tell anything regarding the affair.
Mccain says that he was shot while he
was standing in the crowd surrounding the
strike breakers, but denied that he was as
s~aulting Root at the time the shooting hap
pened.
Bail for Prisoners.
Police headquarters was kept in a state
OF ferment all the afternoon Monday. by
friends Of the strikers who had been locked
up in connection with the shooting Of
]. w. Mccain by Fred Root, endeavoring
to secure their release on bail bonds. Con-
t~erences were held by representatives Of
the strikers with Captain Haze and not
until late In The afternoon did that officer
consent to the releasing of any Of the
men. Six men were permitted to enjoy
liberty under a bail bond until this morn
ing, when they will appear in the police
court, at which time Joseph Rannie, E. A.
Thorp, John Clair, S. p. Sorenson and
Andrew B. White will be arraigned on a
charge of assault with intent to do great
bodily harm. Bert DeGroat, who was an
eye witness to the shooting. will be held
as a states witness.
During the afternoon the Union Pacific
company's attorneys appeared at police
headquarters and secured the release Of
the men in the company's employ who had
been taken into custody or detained as q
result OF the shooting.
After being released on bonds Andrew B
W nlNcs WHO Is charged Win OelnR one oil
the attacking party, expressed a wish to b,
in low and threatened 20 take the first
car for the Bluffs. His bondsmen stood
within hearing distance of his remarks
and quickly returned him to the station
where they surrendered him into the Gus.
tody of the officers.
Haze Decides the Question.
Captain Haze stated during the afternoon
that the men who are alleged to have com.
mitted or participated in the assault woult
be arraigned this morning. as Assistanl
County Attorney Magney. with whom h,
had been in consultation, had SO agreed
The captain also stated that the attorney
and police have decided that a complain
shall not be made against Root, who dht
the shooting. until after the hearing o
the other prisoners has occurred.
IF 1t develops clearly that he was bese
upon by the strikers and was being kicke,
at the time he shot McCann.' said tn
captain, land that he did It in self
defense his case may be allowed to rest
In the meantime he will be kept In jail
or II his release is secured 1t will be upoi
bonds sufficient to cover the charge o
shooting with intent to kill"
None Of the witnesses who were locke
up, nor those who are charged with hav
ing participated in the ARRAY would spea'
concerning the shooting after they wer
released.
Root Badly Bruised.
Roots injuries show that he was kicke
severely in the back Of the head, while
causes him incessant pain. His neck ais
shows many bruises we're inflicted upo
him, his arms and shoulders being a mas
Of black aud blue spots.