Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-22
BULLET WOUND IN LEG
YOUNG MAN DETECTED IN Eff
FORT TO OPEN DOORS.
Shot and Arrested After Desperate
Assault Upon Special Officer
Humphrey.

A young man named JOHN w. SldAh 40
held in custody at the first precinct police
station On charges Of assault and carrying
away the property Of another without the
owners permission. There is painful bull
let wound through the lower part Of his
left leg which was inflicted by Special Po-
liceman Humphrey this morning about 2:3O
o'clock Clark's arrest was accomplished
only after a hard struggle. The young
mans home is in Baltimore, he stated after
his arrest, and he was here visiting his
aunt, who lives near 14th and . streets
northwest His father, he stated, holds
a good position in the office of Baltimore
newspaper He was seen this morning by
the special officer trying doors and enter
ing vestibules on 14th street northwest pc
tween G and H streets. After watching
him several minutes the officer placed him
under arrest.
The young man, who is an athlete, MADE
an attack upon the officer, knocking him
down and then kicking him in the region OF
his ribs. Clark then made an effort TO get
away Although sore and covered WIN
mud the officer regained his feet ana nse "a
his weapon. His first shot was fired In
the air for the purpose of frightening the
fugitive, and the second shot was sent IN
the direction of the fleeing man, the police
mans intention being to SEND the puilet
near enough to him to give him to under
stand that he meant business. AS this did
not have the desired effect Humphrey aimed
the third shot at the fugitives foot. This
time the bullet inflicted wound.
Captured in Cooper's Alley.
Clark did not stop until he had reached
Coopers alley and then he was again
placed in custody. Shortly before the ar
rest was made the first time the report of
an explosion was heard in the neighborhood
of New York avenue and 14th street, and
Sergeant Hartley and Policeman Bramlett
were in that vicinity making an investiga-
ton. Policeman Downs was also not 1ar
away. The sergeant and two privates were
attracted to the special officer and Clark by
the reports of the pistol shots, and they
assisted in mis- capture.
Clark was taken to the Emergency Hos
pttal where his wound was dressed and
he was afterward conveyed to the station.
It developed that the young man, who gave
his name as Frank Smith when he reach
ed the hospital had been out riding in John
J. Dugan's buggy earlier in the night and
had abandoned the outfit at 18th and D
streets. The animal ran away afterward
and damaged the vehicle. and the horse
was badly injured.
Clark was not stranger at the Emer-
gency Hospital. He was there about four
months ago for treatment, he having, 1t Is
said, taken poison in an attempt to end his
life. Because Of his conduct while he was
upon the operating table, it was alleged,
one Of the surgeons slapped him. The mat
ter was afterward investigated and the
physician severed his connection with the
institution.
Possessed Of Mania.
In conversation with a Star reporter the
prisoner said he had a mania for attempt
ing suicide every time he INDUCED in liquor.
He said he was arrested in Baltimore on
one occasion for attempted suicide, he hav-
ing taken poison and cut his wrist. The
scar on his wrist was exhibited to prove
the truth Of what he had said. He was
born in this city, he stated, and his father
was employed on a paper here before the
family moved to Baltimore.
II had been on the water wagon since
the first of the year." he said. until
came here Tuesday, and then l renewed the
old habit. l had been to see the girls early
in the evening and was waiting for car
when the policeman arrested me-
He said he had no recollection Of having
tried any doors. nor did he recollect that
he had a struggle with the policeman. Sew
eral months ago, he stated, he was arrest
ed and accused of having driven off with
a mans team without his permission but
the charge against him was dismissed. He
was anxious that the police should notify
that the latter would get him out
When Clark started to run from the spe-
cial policeman he took off his coat and vest
and threw them away. In the coat pocket
there was a lady's bathing suit, but the
young man could not tell how it got there.
After he had been in the station several
hours he said he remembered that he en-
tered vestfbule at a saloon and tried to
take a thermometer from the wall, but it
was so tightly fastened that he was unable
to get it. He will be taken to the Police
Court tomorrow and given hearing.