The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-01
SHOOTS NEGRO.
Congressman HefIin of Alabama
in a Serious ARRAY.
WAS ON STREET CAR

In Washington With Congressman
EIlerbce. OH his Way to Deliver
Temperance Talk-Isemonstrated
With Negro for Drinking on Car,
Threw Him or and Then Shop
Him i'm the Head.
In a desperate ARRAY on a Penn
s~ylvania Avenue car in Washington
Friday a negro was shot by Congress-
man Thomas J. Hefin of Alabama.
Thomas Lumby. the negro. was
shot in the head and is in a critical
condition. and Thomas McCreary. a
New York horse trainer. is suffering
from a wound in the leg. The shoot
ing of McCreary was accidental.
Mr.. Hefin was arrested and taken
to the 9th police precinct station
where the charge Of assault with in
tent to kill was placed against him.
Later he was released on $4,000 ball.
The shooting occurred shortly after
7o'clock as the car reached the corner
of Pennsylvania avenue and 9th street
bound for Capitol Hill.
Congressman Helm, accompanied
bv Congressman Edwin j. EllerDee'
of South Carolina, had boarded the
car at 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue, MIR. Hefin being on his way
TO deliver a temperance lecture at the
METROPOLITAN Methodist Episcopal
Church, 4 - street and ohm Marshall
Place. Upon boarding the car, ne
observed two negro passengers, n
of whom was Thomas Lumby, n
who was in the act Of taking a drink
from a bottle of whiskey. There were
a number of passengers, including
several ladies. Mr.. Heflin says he re-
monstrated with Lumby n asked
him to stop drinking saying: Don't
take that drink there are ladies here
and it is not right. 1t is against the
law for you to do such a thing in a
street car and l hope you will put that
bottle away
The other negro, who was sober,
attempted to take the bottle away
from his friend, but failed. 1t IS
said that Lumby became offended at
Mr.. Hefin's remonstrances and ap-
piled vile epithets. AS the a reach
ed 9Th street and Pennsylvania. We
nue. Hefin and Lumby were engaged
in a desperate struggle. Mr.. Helm
who is a large powerful man, succeed
ed in throwing Lumby off the a as
it came to q stop.
Most Of the occupants Of the car
hastily allighted. including Mr.. and
Mrs. McCreary. The negro fell to the
ground on hing pushed off the car.
He rose, and, it is said, began curslng
MIR. Hefin again and made a motion
for his hip pocket as if to dray a Wea-
pom, whcreupon Mr.. Hefin fired at
him through the car window, missing
the negro and hitting Thomas Nc
Crearv, who was about 20 feet from
the car. Mr.. Hefin fired once or
twice more. one Of the shots striking
Lumby in the head above the ear.
Lumby a short distance and fell.
An ambulance was called and he was
taken to the Emergency Hospital. The
conductor of the car disappeared and
Officer George n. Scriven took charge
of the car and ran it to Sd street and
Pennsylvania avenue.
There Representative Hefin was
escorted by Officer Scriven to the Can
itol Hotel, and later was taken to the
police station in d cab. He was not
locked up. Mr.. McCreary's wound
is not serious, and after treatment at
a hospital he returned to his apart
ments. At the Emergency Hosp'fa!.
it was sail Lumhy though badly
wounded and unconscious. has ?
chance to recover. His skull was
fractured, but the surgeons were IN
able to ascertain at that time. whether
the bullet had entered the head.
Mr. Hefin explained at the station
his reason for going armed.
He is the author Of a lin crow
car law in the District of Colum oia
and said that since he introduced inc
measure he has received many letters
of a threatening character and secur'
ed permission from the authorities &c
go armed. Mr.. Helm represents the
5th Alabama district. in which the
Tuskeeee Institute. of which Broker
T. Washington, is the head, IS 10
Gated.