The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-06
TRAGEDY AT
 STATE HOUSE An Insane Man Runs Amuck. LABOR LEADERS SHOT DOWN Governor Pushes Out to Rescue of
 the Men. The Grassy Man Had Intended Killing Governor Guild, But Could Not Gain Entrance To the Execu-
 tive On1ce.

6oston, Mass., Dec. 5--An insane man walked into the ante-room of the ex- ecutive chamber of the State House to- day ,and finding Governor Guilds door closed, turned on three prominent labor leaders and fired three shots at them, probably fatally wounding Edward Co., hen, of Lynn. president of the State branch of the American Federation of Labor; seriously wounding Dennis b. Driscoll, of Boston, secretary of the same board. and injuring with the muzzle of his revolver. Arthur M. Hud- del, 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 releas- ed on parole last month from the Dan- vers' Insane Asylum, was overpowcred by Private Secretary Charles $. Grove and General J. H. Whitney. Chief of the State Police.
 Governor Guild was in his office only few feet away, and rushing out, as- sisted in subduing Steele, then knelt by Cohen's side and subsequently di- recting 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 Hospital tonight. The third bullet struck Dris- coll a glancing blow on the side of the forehead and making a long wound over the head. rendered him uncon- scious. He recovered consciousness half an hour later. Huddels wound was quickly dressed and will probably cause him little inconvenience
 The three labor leaders came to the State House today to meet the Govern or by appointment in regard .to a par don for A. M. Kennedy, of Salem. who Is serving sentence fin the Essex House of Correction. They reached the State House shortly after o'clock and found that the Governor was receiy- ing delegation from Rhode Island The three labor men were asked to wait in one of the ante-ruoms tlr s,I the Rhode Island men should leave !, All were standing beside a long ia able conversing pleasantly while at the far ther end of the room Private Secretary Grove was dictating a letter to the executive stenographer.
 Walked by DOorkeeper.
 William Reed, the negro 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 roomy hallway and without announcing his mission. walked by the doorkeeper and Messenger Reed and then glanced toward Governor Guilds room which was about twenty feet away. The door was closed Steele turned around and drawing 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 forehead. driving a great splash of blood to the wall opposite and be- side the picture of Abraham Lincoln. The wounded man turned, only to re- ceive another bullet in the head which also passed completely through. Cohen sank unconscious to the floor.
 Steele then swung around and fired at Driscoll. the bullet inhicting a se- 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 Ieaped over a table and grappled with Steele and at the same moment Gen. eral Whitney. who had been summoned to the Kennedy hearing. came through the door and rushed to his assistance.
 Huddell also jumped up and wrench ed the revolver away while one of the messengers dashed into the Governors s office and said:
 They are murdering people in the lobby"
 The Governor instantly weut into the lobby and helped General Whitney. MT. Groves and Mir. Huddell push Steele onto one of the sofas. Word was sent to the police in the basement and n force of officers quickly reached the scene and handcuffed Steele.
 In the meantime Governor Guild had kneIt by Cohen's side and was wiping his face with a handkerchief. Dr. Owen Coop. Chairman of the State poord of Insanity. was summoned and he Immediately recognized Steele. hay ing had him under observation for more than five years in various State insane institutions.
 Sent to TOmbs.
 Steele was then taken to the office of the State Police and subsequently, sent under a strong guard to the Tombs.
 +ion of Cohen and Driscoll. expressed Tho oninion that the formers wounds vro,,ld probably prove fatal. but Dris- coIl's was only a scalp wound. The tUo wounded men were conveyed to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Hud- dau was also taken to the hospital.
 several of the State officials said afs 4or the shooting that Steele was a well known character to the Board of Insanity and that he had an Illusion that he was not getting his rights. for which he held the Governor re-
 Tdward Cohen is one of the best ,.o,,r labor leaders in Massachusetts. He ' is married and has several chill
 Mir Driscoll is almost as prominent in Iabor circles in the State.
 Mir. Huddell is president of the En- gineers' Union of Boston, and has serv- ed for several years as president of tho local central labor union.
 steele. who is 37 years of age, was sed from the Danvers Insane Asy- irn, November 13 last upon solicitation nt his mother. the institution's officials bslieying that he had shown almost nositlve signs of recovery He never lPHsn,ad any signs of violence while in