Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-27
Dryer Holds the Fort
With Magazine Gun.
Finally Calls Lawyer and After
a Conference SuIrenderS.


Hartford. Ct, July 2G.-His house
surrounded by several men, including
q large squad Of policemen. none OF
whom dared to try and capture him by
force. John w. Dwyer. who last night
shot and perhaps fatally wounded Po-
licernan Edward w. Beecher, who had
attempted to serve a commitment paper
from the probate court on him. meek
ly surrendered on the advice of his
lawyer, after he had held the big crowd
at bay for many hours.
Dwyer was stationed at a window
with his magazine shotgun in his arms
and practically defied the police and the
crowd which began to gather around
his house at an early hour in the morn
ing. Early in the day Dwyer called out
TO the police that he would like to con-
suit with his lawyer. s. Z. Clark. At
tornev Clark went to the house and
had a long talk with Dwyer, during
which Dwycr agreed to surrender. Soon
Attorney Clark and his charge come
ont Of the house and entering an au-
tomoble were driven to police head
quarters half of the crowd following.
Dwyer was locked up pending the out
DIVER became unbalanced two years
ago. A CONSERVATION was appointed for
him and he was sent to the hospital for
treatment When apparently cured of
his mental trouble, Dwyer was re-
turned to Hartford, where he resumed
work at a building trade. Recently it
is said DWyer showed renewed signs of
mental excitement and his friends made
application to the charity board to
have him brought under the care of the
probate court. The judge Wednesday
gave to a law firm an order for Dwyer
to appear for a hearing on his mental
responsibility to manage his own at
fairs.
Drputy Sheriff Foote was sent to
DIVERS home on Park street to serve
the paper. Mr.. Foote says that Dryer
pulled q revolver and fired at him three
times. The shots all went wild. Later
in the evening the police were notified
Of the incident and five officers were
sent to Dryers home where he had
gone into the house and armed himself
with a rifle. He had permitted his son
William, who is Il student at Trinity
College to come into the house to talk
with him, but all other members OF the
family had to keep away.
The police officials tried to enter the
house. but were warned by the family
that Dwyer would shoot them without
any warning 50 they went to a nearby
fire department house and changed
their clothing for old apparel with the
intention of skirmishing about the
house to try to find an entrance. The
house stands alone and windows on
thre, sides command all approaches. On
the fourth side is the barn and here the
officers took up their shelter.
Toward evening Officer Beecher sue
ceeded in getting into the house and
walked into the room in which Dwyer
was sitting with a magazine shot gun
across his knee. Beecher tried to argue
him into submitting quietly to an ar
rest. but Dwyer ordered him out and
raised his gun. The officer left.
Shirtly after midnight Officer Beech
er got into the house again and Dwyer
fired the shot entering Officer Beecher's
side. The wounded man staggered out
side. where he was picked up by the
other officers and carried out Of range
of Dryers gun. He was taken to the
hospital where surgeons worked over
him for some hours trying to locate the
lead. Thursday morning the hospital
reported that Beecher's condition was
comfortable.