Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-12
Shot Two Prominent Labor Lead
ers in Ante Room of Execu-
live Chamber.
FIRED WITHOUT WARNING.
Mas Released ON Parole from Danvcrs
Insane Asylum Last Month--Gov.
Guild Assisted in Subduing the
manifestation Men watt
,ng 10 See Governor.

Boston, Dec. 5.--1ohn A. steele. an in
sane man of Everett walked into the
ante-room of the executive chamber Of
the state House this afternoon and. find
| Ing Governor Guilds door closed turned
| on three prominent labor leaders and
I fired three shots at them, probably ia
tally Wounding Edward Cohen of Lynn.
| president of the State branch of the
American Federation of Labor. seriously
wound!ng Dennis d. Driscon Of Boston,
secretary Of the same board. and pain
fully iniurng with the muzzle of his rc-
volyer Arthur NJ IIuddcll of Boston.
former president of the Central Labor
union of this city. Steele was overpow-
ei by Private Secretary Charles $
Groves and Gen. j. II. Whitney, chleE
of the state police. steele was released
insane asylum. He was 81 years old.
Governor Guild was IN his Office only
a few feet away. when the shooting oc-
CURED and rushing ont assisted in sub
DUNG steele and subsequently directed
the removal of tho wounded men to the
Massachusetts General hospital.
Cohen was shot twice through the
head and is in a critical condition. Tn,
I Il
blow on the side OF the forehead and
rendered him unconscious. He recovered
consc. BUSINESS half an hour later Hud-
dolls wound was not serious.
The three labor leaders came to tho
state House to meet tho Governor in
regard 70 a pardon They found that tho
Governor was busy al tho time and
were asked to wait in one Of the ante
long table convorsinG pleasantly while
at the farther end Of the room Private
Secretary Groves wcs debating letter
70 a stcrographcr.
Suddenly steele appeared at the door
OF the room from the hallway and with
ont announcing his mission walked by
the doorkeeper and a messenger and
glanced towad Gov. Guilds room about
% feet away. The door was closed Steele
then drew a revo'ver and 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 coming out at the fore
head, drove great splash of blood on
the opposite wall beside the picture of
Abraham Lincoln. The wounded man
turned. only to receive another bullet
III INC Heau WtllcN : $50 passed complete
~ through Cohen sank uncor scious to
the floor. Steele then swung around and
fired at DIiscoll, who fell unconscious.
Huddell, in attempting to close on the
man, was struck on the check by tho
muzzle Of the revolver and knocked
down. Steele made no attempt to fire
again.
Hy this time, Private Secretary Groves
had leaped over 4 table and grappod
with steele and almost at the same
moment, General Whitney. who had
been summoned - tho Kennedy hearing
came through the door and rushed to
the assistance of Nh Groves
lIuddell also jumped up and wrenched
the revolver away, while one Of the
messengers dashed into the Governors
office and said They are numbering
people IN the lobby" THO Governor in
stautly went out G.. helped to over
power the insane man. Word was sent
for assistance to tho Office OF the State
police in the basement OF the building
and a force Of officers quickly reached
the scene and handcuffed Steele.
In the meantime Governor Guild had
knelt by Cohen's side and was wipiny
his face with a handkerchief. and towels
In response to n call for medical as
sistancc, Dir. Owen Corp, chairman Of
the State board Of insanity, was the first
To reach the otecutivc department He
Immediately recognized Steele having
had him under observation for more
than i've years IN various State insane
institutions. Other doctors soon appeared
and aided IN the removal Of the wounded
men to the hospital.
Several OF tho State officials said after
the shooting that Steele was we'll
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 responsible.