Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-12
MADE PASTOR REPENT
GIRL WHO WOUNDED FATHER
OUT ON BAIL.

PHILADELPHIA, December 12.-Even
though there was no attempt to dispute the
fact that Miss May McAtee deliberately
shot her father. the Rev. John @. McAtce.
for abusing her mother, it was apparent
that sympathy in Magistrate Eisenbrown's
court was entirely with the girl yesterday.
The magistrate did not hesitate to admit
her to bail in the sum of 81 600.
Robert Pierce, the young man to whom
Miss McAtee was to have been married In
few days, and who admitted giving her
tho revolver with which she shot her
father, was waiting in the courtroom when
she arrived. accompanied by her brother-in-
law, Harry Swain, her attorney, a girl
friend and her mother. He did not speak
to her. but did not once during the proceed
ings did he take his eyes from the frail,
heavily yelled figure of the prisoner.
Crowd Out to See Girl.
The courtroom was crowded. Rarely has
a shooting affair contained so many ele-
ments of the unusual and the sensational.
Here was an educated, refined and alto
gether charming young girl, who had never
been in the least wfllful or wayward, who,
when she saw her mother threatened by a
furious drunkard, became of sudden SO
desperate that she shot down the assailant.
even though he was her own father.
]. Marcus signed the bail bond for Miss
McAtee, agreeing to produce Miss McAtee
at the City Hall on December "a for a fur
Their hearing, and the girl was allowed
to 60.
Miss McAtee, her mother and the young
woman friend went Immediately to the
McAtee home TIA South 18th street. where
the shooting took place. They afterward
left it, to go to the house of a friend, where
they Will stay for a time.
Wounded Father is Repentant.
With his gray head wrapped in bandages
the venerable preacher is lying on a cot in
St. Agnes Hospital Only for the fact that
he is sixty-nine years old and that the
weather is cold, he would have been per-
mitted to go home yesterday. His condition
is not dangerous, so far as his wounds are
concerned.
II have no intention of appearing against
my daughter" he said. Il love my wife
and child, and I have sinned against them
as we'll as against myself and my God.
am deeply deeply sorry for actions of mine
yesterday, which caused May to shoot me.
There have been times when, crazed by
drink, have done things that / would be
sorry for as soon as the effects of the
liquor wore away. Oh, to think, to think,
that /. minister of the Gospel who have
preached against the curse of strong drink
scores upon scores of times. should now be
so tightly entwined In its rneshes that only
herculean exertion of the will and a
divine outpouring of the Holy Spirit will
liberate me!
Shooting Brings Him to Senses.
This shooting affair has brought me to
my senses at last. 1t has shown me that
L cannot continue to be one man in my own
home and another man in the public's esti-
nation. 1 must be one thing OF the other,
drunKard or a man, and henceforth. God
helping me, 1 shall be a man. 1t is my de-
sire to take solemn pledge never to touch
another drop of liquor again SO long as I
may live although 1 dare say that won't
be long now, for have almost reached my
three score years and ten
Mrs. McAtee. the wife and mother, did
not brighten visibly when she was told of
her husbands promises to reform. 81 have
heard them before" she said with sigh,
'-but I will still hope that he is in earnest
this time