The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-10

Boston, Mass, December 5.-An In
sane man walked into the ante-roOm
OF the executive chamber OF the state
house this afternoon and, nnding Gov
ernor Guilds door closed, turned on
) prominent labor leaders and fired }
shots at them, probably fatally wound
ing Edward Cohen, Of Lyon, president
Of the state branch OF the American
Federation OF Labor; seriously wound
ing Dennis d. DriscOll, of Boston, sec
retary of the same board, and injur-
ing with the muzzle OF his revolver
Arthur M Huddel, of Boston, former
president of the central labor union
of this city.
The insane man who was John A.
Steele, of Everett, and who was re-
leased on parole last month from the
Danvers insane asylum, was over
powered by Private Secretary Charles
S. Grove, and General J. H. Whitney,
chief of the state police.
Governor Guild was in his Office only
a few feet away and rushing out, as
sisted in subduing Steele, then knelt
by Cohen's side, and subsequently di-
rected the removal Of the wounded
men to the hospital.
Cohen was shot twice through the
head and was in a critical condition
at the Massachusetts, General Hospi-
tai tonight. The third bullet struck
Driscoll a glancing blow on the side
of the forehead and making a long
wound over the head, rendering him
unconscious. He recovered conscious
nese half an hour later. Huddelc
wound was quickly dressed and will
cause him little inconvenience.
The three labor leaders came to the
state house today to meet the govern
or by appointmtn in regard to par
don for A M. Kennedy, of Salem, who
is serving a sentence in the Essex
house Of correction. They reached the
state house shortly after 3 o'clock and
found that the governor was receiving
delegation from Rhode Island The
three labor men were asked to wait
in one of the ante-rOOms until the
Rhode Island men should leave. All
three were standing beside long ta
BILE conversing pleasantly while at the
father end of the room Private sec
reary Groves was debating a letter
to the executive stenographer.
William Reed, the colored messenger
Of the department, was seated at his
desk within a few feet of the labor
men. Suddenly Steele appeared at the
door Of the room from the hallway
l.;
walked by the door keeper and mes
senger and then glanced toward Gov
ernOr Guilds room, which was about
twenty feet away The door was clos
ed. Steele turned around and, draw
ing a revolver, fired at Cohen, who
was about six feet away Cohen's
back was turned and the bullet struck
the back of the head, passed directly
through, and came out at the fore
head driving a great splash of blood
to the wall opposite and beside the
picture of Abraham Lincoln. The
wounded man turned, only to receive
another bullet in the head which also
passed completely through. Cohen
sank unconscious to the floor. Steele
then swung around and fired at Dris-
coll, the bullet infiicting a severe scalp
wound. Driscol1 also fell unconscious
to the floor. Huddel. in attempting to
close on the man was struck on the
cheek by the muzzle of the revolver
and knocked down. But Steele made
no attempt to fire again.
By this time Secretary Groves had
headed over a table and grappled with
Steele, and almost at the same mo-
ment General Whitney, who had been
summoned to the Kennedy hearing.
came through the door and rushed to
his assistance.
Huddel also jumped up and wrench
ed the revolver away while one of the
messengers dashed to the governors
Office and said:
They are numbering people in the
lobby"
The governor instantly vert to the
lobby and helped General Whitney,
Mr.. Groves and Nh. Huddel push the
man onto one Of the sofas. Word was
sent to the Office of the state police
in the basement and a force of officials
quickly reached the scene and hand
cuffed Steele.
In the meantime Governor Guild had
knelt by Cohen's side and was wiping
his face with handkerchief and tow
els DR.. Owen Copp, chairman of the
state board of insanity, was summoned
and he Immediately recognized Steele,
having had him under observation for
more than five years in various state