The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-03-29
MANIAC WOUNDS FIGHT
Funera stampedsd Insane Uncle
of Dead Child,
Walter .POtee, # Brook1yr, Md. Turned
Pistol on Mourners. Fired Houser
Then Killed himself.

Baltimore, Md maniac with a
shotgun and three pistols broke into a
funeral party, causing a panic among
the mourners, shot two persons fatally,
wounded six others, set fire TO the
house, and terroriZed the neighborhood.
When his work of destruction was
complete. and it was safe to approach
the house, the charred body of the
fTmdfstniac Was found iii the ruins with
a,large bullet hole in his breast. NJ
Walter Potee, twenty-five years of
age, the maniac, killed himself or was
killed by some one else. James H.
Potee, his brother, was shot in the
Kidneys: William H. Miller, a brother
in-law, was shot in the eye; Chief of
Police Irwin was shot in the hand,
bud" Mcpherson, a brother-in-law,
was shot in the lungs; Alexander john
sons face was %peppered, Policeman
Frank Schlezki was shot in the breast
and face, and Mrs. Charles Donnel and
William NJ. Smith were slightly in
jured. ;
While friends were gathering at the
home of John II. Potee, in Brooklyn.
Anne@Arundef County, just across the
river from Baltimore. to attend the
funeral of his siX-months-old child.
Walter .Potee, az.bIother of John, ran
into the house and F<gan shooting right
and left with his revolver. His
brother was the first victim, being shot
in the kidneys, and his brother7in-
law, William H. Miller, was shot in the
eye. The funeral party Immediately
dispersed and then Potee ran to the
second floor and shouted defiance to
all. He brought a shotgun into play
and shot at all persons who APP
preached. he then set fire to the
house. and his mother and sister-in-
law. who had locked themselves in
the kitchen, escaped with difficulty.
The Baltimore Fire Department was
called upon, but Chief. Shipley refused
to allow his mel to approach the build
ing. as the maniac and his gun were
4 menace. Otis CLARK and other resi-
dents of the neighborhood got their
cue and whenever POtee showed him
self fired at him. While the house
was burning Chief of Police Irwin,
though shot i'll the hand. rushed into
the parlor and saved the casket. After
the house was burned POtee vas found
dead with a bullet in his breast.
Whether he killed himself Oh vas shot
by one of the residents cannot be told.
Potee had been demented for some
time and membersAf his family were
considering placing him in an asylum.
From the moment POtee broke into
the room until the house was in ruins.
Potee had the whole nefghborhood in
Il state of terror. The county police
were summoned, while great crowds
from the county and city were drawn
by. the fusilade that was Eaging about
the place.
None dared to venture from behind
cover. for even while the flames We're
all about Walter Potee. the
firing of his gun was being constantly
sounded. He was we'll supplied with
ammunition. and seemed able to COM
mand the approaches 10 the house from
all directions. -.
1t was found that Potee had COM
pletely saturated the rear of the house
with kerosene.
Potee was a son Of the late George
Potee, formerly County Commissioner
and n prominent politician.