The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-11
MAD MAN SHOOTS
Labor Leaders And One of Them
Fatally Hurt.
SHOT IN STATE HOUSE

Was Waiting to See Gov. Guile
When Attacked.-Private Secre
tary Grove Grappled With thu
Maniac and With Others Over
powered Him.-The Madman Re
Gently Released From An Asylum
At Boston, Mass, on Thursday an
insane man walked into the ante.
room of the executive chamber OF
the State House and finding Gov
Guilds door closed, turned on three
prominent labor leaders and fired
three shots at them, probably fatally
wounding Edward Cohen Of Lynn,
president of the State branch of the
American Federation Of Labor; SER
iously wounding Dennis D. Driscoll
of Boston, secretary CT the same
board, and injuring with the muZ-
zle of his evolver Arthur NJ. Huddel
of Boston, former president Of the
Central Labor union Of that city.
The insane man, who was John A.
Steele of Everett, and who was re-
leaced on parole last month from the
Danvers insane asylum, was over
powered by Private Secretary Chas.
8. Grove and Gen. ]. H. Whitney,
chief of the State police
Gov. Guild was in his Office only a
few feet away and rushing out, as
sisted in subduing Steele, then knelt
by Cohens side an subsequently d.
rected the removal of the wounded
men to the hospital.
Cohen was shot twice through the
head and was in critical condition
at the Massachusetts General hospital
that night. The third bullet struck
Driscoll a glancing blow on the side
of the forehead and, making a long
wound over the head, rendered him
unconscious. He recovered conscious
ness half an hour later. Huddels
wound was quickly dressed and will
probably cause him little inconven-
ience.
The three labor leaders came to the
State house to meet the governor
by appointment in regard to pardon
for A. NJ. Kennedy, of Salem, who Is
serving sentence in the Essex house
Of correction. They reached the State
house shortly after three o'clock and
found that the governor was receiv-
ing a 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
table conversing pleasantly when at
the far end of the room Private Sec
retary Grove was debating letter
to the executive stenographer.
Suddenly Steele appeared at the
door of the room from the hallway
and without announcing his mission
walked by the doorkeeper and Mes
senger Reed and then glanced to-
ward Gov. Guilds room, which was
about 20 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 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 inflicting a severe
scalp wound. Driscoll also fell un'
conscious to the floor. Huddell. 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 Grove hao
leaned over a table and grabbed WIFI
Steele and at the same moment, Gen
Whitney, who had been summoned
TO the Kentucky hearing, came
through the door and rushed to nj:
assistance, Huddel also jumped ane
wrenched the revolver away while
one Of the messengers dashed into
the governors office and said: THE!
are numbering people in the lobby
The governor instantly went lnf'
the lobby and helped Gen. Whitney
Mr.. Grove and Mr.. Huddel pusl
Steele onto one of the sofas. Wore
: was sent to the office Of the State po
lice in the basement and a force
officers quickly reached the scene AM
, handcuffed Steele. In the meantime
: Gov. Guild had knelt by Cohen's sid
and was wiping his facs With han
kerchief and towels. DR.. Owen COPE
chairman Of the State board OF IN
sanity, was summoned and he I'm
mediately recognized Steele, havin
had him under observation for NOR
than FIVE years in various State II
sane asylums. Steele was then take
to hte Office of the State police an
subsequently sent under a stron
: guard to the Tombs.
e The doctor, after hasty examine
/, tion of Cohen and Driscoll, eXpresse
: the opioion that the formers wound
t would probably prove fatal, but thu
d Driscoll's wound was only seal
Q wound.
e The two wounded men were col
S veyed to the Massachusetts Gener;
d hospital. Huddel was also taken