Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-05
SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
Policeman John J. Smith Shot
by a Cavalryman.
SOLDIERS ADMISSION
THE POLICEMAN WAS ON DUTY
AT AQUEDUCT BRIDGE.
Had Requested Three Men in Uniform,
Who Were Blocking the Way.
to Move On.
SOLDIERS ADMISSION

While performing his duty on the Aque-
duct bridge last night about o'clock Po-
liceman John Jacob Smith was shot in the
stomach by Samuel R. Young. a cavalry
man from Fort Myer, whose relatives live
at Rochester, Pa. The wounded policeman
is under treatment at the Georgetown Uni
yersity Hospital, and his assailant Is con-
fined in a cell at the first precinct station.
While the patient is in critical condition
the surgeons today informed Capt. Board
man that they could not yet give dennlee
idea as to the probable outcome.
Three shots were fired, but only one Dull
let took effect. DR.. Vaughan. assisted oy
other surgeons connected with the hospital
performed an operation last night. ne
found that the patient had lost a great
quantity Of blood, but that none OF the IN
testines had been punctured Inc outlet
was not found. and the search for 1t had TO
be abandoned for the time being. Because
of the difficulty encountered in the matter
of getting witnesses the patient was inter-
viewed last night by Capt. Swindells. ana
was able to give his version of the AFFAIR.
The shooting occurred on the bridge near
the Georgetown end where the ponce OIL
ficer was stationed.
description of the soldier was given by
the wounded man. and the latter theh
went on to explain how the AFFAIR happen
ed. He said great many people were en-
gagged in the Fourth of July celebration
about the approach to the bridge, and the
structure was well filled with pedestrians
People from the city who had spent the
day in Virginia were returning nome, ana
others were coming across to witness the
display of fireworks at different points
Three or four soldiers were standing on the
bridge in such position as to block pas
sage, and a short distance beyond them
al oh n
footway.
Requested to Move On
1t was necessary that they should move
along and Smith went to them and re-
quested them to do so. He first spoke to
the soldiers and then went to the colored
men. The latter moved, said the wounded
man to Captain Swindells, but the soldiers
remained where they were when his at
tention was first attracted to them. Re
turning to them his former request was re-
peated and the largest of the soldiers salo
he would not move until he rolled cigar.
cite and concluded by asking: Won't that
do?"
1t was at this juncture that the real
trouble began. The officer did not have all
night to trifie with the soldiers and quietly
told the big one that he would have to
move along. He said he took the soldier
by the arm to assist him along. Then the
smallest Of the soldiers stepped back ana
I've got you covered" said the armed
soldier. land 1 dare you to pull your gun
Il tried to draw my baton" Smith told
Captain Swindells, but was shot before
could do anything
The interview took place before the oper-
alton was performed and lasted not more
than two or three minutes.
The bridge was crowded with pedestrians
last night when the affair occurred. as
already stated, and the reports of the pistol
shots attracted but little attention because
of the discharges of fireworks that were
going on in the neighborhood. The soldiers
were on the first span Of the bridge which
crossed the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
A canal boatman, Samuel H. Stride,
resident Of Sharpsburg. Md. was seated
on a projection near the head of the steps
leading from the bridge to the canal. He
was in position to see and hear what was
going on, but at the sight of the weapon
he descended the steps and was soon OUT
of the way of the bullets. His statement
of the affair is practically the same as that
made by the wounded policeman. he SAID
the big soldier stumbled over timber on
to move and he heard the armed soldier
dare the officer to draw his gun. He also
heard the soldier tell the officer to drop
his club.
said, and when the shots had been fired the
officer remarked: I'm SHOT In the stom-
ach.'
Officer Assisted to Hospital.
The patrol wagon was out on fire call
at the time, and two friends assisted the
wounded man to the hospital Then the
police were notified, and the officers in all
the precincts were instructed to look out for
a soldier wearing khaki uniform. Police
men and detectives were soon about the
city guarding the railroad stations and
visiting places where soldiers had been i'll
the habit of frequenting
The man who had fired the shot had been
seen to enter the Key mansion. He went
out the back way and disappeared. He was
next heard from In the vicinity of 22d and
C streets, where he had been seen in his
shirt sleeves and bareheaded. About an
hour after the shooting occurred Young
was arrested by Policeman Archibald Mel
len of the first precinct. His capture was
the result of a piece of police work per-
formed by Conductor j. b. Talbert and Mo-
torman Joseph Fought of the Capital Trac-
ton line They had heard of the shooting
before leaving the car barn in Georgetown,
and when the bare-headed and excited cav
alryman boarded the car at I'D street and
Pennsylvania avenue they suspected he was
the man wanted for the shooting. All the
way along the avenue they watched for an
officer. but it was not until 18th street was
reached that they saw Policeman Mellen.
Young was taken to the first precinct sta
ton, where Lieut.. AmiSs and Precinct De-
tective Grant talked to him about his move
ments last night prior to the time he was
arrested. He said he knew he had done
something wrong and that the police were
after him. 1t did not occur to him that he
had shot anybody. 1t was evident that he
had been drinking. but he apparently at
tempted to make it appear that he was in a
worse condition than he really was.
Young slept part of the night, and this
morning his mind was not so badly clouded.
| He recalled that he had shot the policeman
| but said but little more. The prisoner
| could speak with no degree of certainty as
| to the identity Of his companions last night,
| nor could he tell what had become of the
weapon.
II know I didn't throw it away" he
stated.
Young Makes Statement.
Young said he left Fort Myer on a pass
yesterday after he had listened to the
| Fourth Of July exercises. which included
| the reading of the Declaration of hide
pendence. Before leaving. he stated. he
accepted the hospitality of some of the
officers. Later he came down to Rosslyn
and had some drinks in saloon. 1t was
about $50 o'clock, he said, when he came
across the bridge. Although he was unable
| to recall the places he visited he knew he
In 9th I,or and bod l~;,l