Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-07

Joseph Saddler, OF Georgetown, WINE
accompanied by Miss Tsssie Bywster,
of Rappahannock county, Va, was
shot in the neck and badly beaten,
in IA picnic grounds just outside Luna
Park, last night.
There was intense excitement at the
park when Saddler, with the blood squirt
ing out Of mis- wounds, rushed through
the park gate, hand 10 hand with Miss
Bywater, whose clothes we're literally
covered with blood.
Saddler as he was conveyed to the
Park hospital, said that negro had at
tackled him.
An examination of Saddler wounds
by DIR Hudson, the park physician, dis
closed that he had been shot in the neck,
the bullet penetrating to the jaw, where
IL lodged. His cheek Was cut, and two
serious scalp wounds we're found. 1t Is
not thought that he is fatally injured. al
though be repeatedly moaned that he
would die
Saddler later gave an account OF his Ter
rible adventure. He said he was taking
a walk with Miss Bywater 10 the picnic
grounds, while they we're awaiting for
an Alexandria car. As he and Miss by
water we're conversing. he says, that a
negro suddenly appeared from behind
him aud after beating him over the head
with stone or some rough weapon,
6red the shot that took effect 10 Saddler
aeck.
Miss Bywater, who is twenty eight
wears old. was detained rs witness by
order of Sheriff Palmer She rflsted
practically the same story as that Toll by
Saddler She said that the shot that took
effect in SsddIer was fred so clcse to her
neck that it burned her, and that the
blood squirting out of Saddler's wound
shattered her clothes She says that i'm
mediateiy after the shot was bred she
and Saddler started to run toward the gate
of the park, but that SsddIer fell, and she
cried out for help.
Miss Bygater is visiting her aunt,
Mrs. Forrest, at 1926 Queen street In
this city, She says that Saddler comes
from near Der home in Rockingham.
Saddlers wss conveyed at late hour to
the Emergency Hospital, Washington.
The physicians there say tina. his con-
ditions is not serious.
Saddler is a carpenter and unmarried
The shooting is shrouded iu mystery.
The young woman says the asssilsnt did
not utter a word and he made no attempt
at robbery,
The assault GA Saddler took place at
ter ten o'clock, and at 1910 Lieutenant
Smith received a message from Manager
Gill at Luna Park requesting him to
send an officer to that place, as man
had been shot. The lieutenant detailed
Officer Lyles, with the consent OF MAYOR
Paff, to proceed TO the park. When Mr.
Lyles reached his destination he wss met
by Sheriff Palmer Of the county, who
requested him to take charge OF Miss
Bywater aud to detain her at the station
house in this city as witness OF Tue
assault, as he was of the opini01 mat
she was 10 possession of additional facts
concerning the shooting Officer Lyl-s
subsequently conducted Miss Bywater to
this city aud upon reaching the station
house Lieutenant Smith made her as
comfortable as possible in Que OF the
upper rooms. Her coat, which she said
Saddler was carrying on his arm at the
lime of the shooting, was discolored
with blood status, and the back of her
neck and shoulders we're burned by
powder. She Was very nervous. Her
statement to the lieutenant was substaD-
tally as given above. She said she did
not know whether Saddier's asaaiI ant
was a white or cOlOred man.
She was still 10 the upper room OF the
station house this morning awaiting the
action of the county authorities Her
nervousness had in no wise subsidized,
and while newspaper representatives
talked with her she flnched and at times
acted like person receiving an electric
shock. She said she was walking with
Saddler in Luna Park last night and
passed out of the enclosure between the
circle swings and the rOllercOaster 10 the
northwestern part of the grounds They
proceeded towards the electric railway
cracks and were not twenty yarjs from
the park when Ssddler was shot, Miss
Bywater said she did not know at the
time that BIER escort mad been struck
with a stone, but when the pistol was
discharged she ran and screamed. she
renes,si the statement that she was un-
able to tell whether the man who did
the shooting WAS white or black. Miss
Bywater is of a settled appearance and
wears spectacles.
There are many speculstions concern
ing the shooting. Some suggest that
the couple were mistaken for other par
ties.
Commonwealth Attorney Mackey,
Sheriff Palmer and two deputies came
here this afternoon aud conducted Miss
Byvater to Luna Park in order to ascer-
tain from her the route she and Ssddler
took when they went outside the park,
a. we'll as the spot on which the shoot
Ing occurred. She will later be taken
TO the county court house where the case
will be examined.