New-York tribune., 1908-03-28
HEFL[N SHOOTS TWO.
ONE NEW YORK TRAINER.
Negro, zcith Uhom Congressman
QuarreLIed, May Die.

Washington. March 27.-In desperate affray
q Pennsylvania avenue this evening
negro and white man were shot by Congress-
man Thomas ]. Hefin of Alabama Thomas
Lumby the negro was shot in the head and is
in a critical condition, and Thomas McCreary'
q New York horse trainer. is suffering from
wound in the leg The shooting of McCreary
accidental Mr.. Hefin was arrested and
taken to the 9th police precinct station. where
the charge of assault TO kill was placed against
him. Later he released on $4,000 bail
The shooting occurred shortly after o'clock
a. the car reached the corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and 9Th street, bound for Capitol Hill
Congressman Hefn accompanied by Congress
Edwin J. Ellerbe, of South Carolina had
boarded the traction at 18th street ana
Pennsylvania avenue. Mr. Hehin was on his
way to deliver temperance lecture at the Met
ropoitan Methodist Episcopal Church
Upon boarding the car he observed two negro
passengers, one of whom Thomas Lumby'
who in the act of taking drink from
bottle of whiskey There were many other pas
sengers including several women Mr.. Hefiin
demonstrated with Lumby and asked him to
stop drinking. saying: Don't take that drink;
there are ladies here, and it is not right. It is
against the law for you to do this thing in
streetcar. and 1 hope you will put that bottle
away"
The other negro, who was sober attempted
to take the bottle away from his friend, but
failed It is said that Lumby became offended
at Mr.. Hefin's rernonstrances. and applied vile
epthets. AS the reached 6th street and
Pennsylvania avenue Hefin and Lumby were
engaged in a desperate struggle. Mr.. Heiin,
who is d large, powerful succeeded in
throwing Lumby off the it came 10 a
stop. Most Of the occupants Of the hastily
alightef including Mr.. and Mrs Thomas Nc
Creary.
The negro fell to the ground on being pushed
off the car. He rose and, il is said. began
cursing Mr. He1in again and made a motion
for his hip pocket as if to draw weapon.
vhereupon Mr.. Hef1in fired at him through the
window, missing the negro and hitting
Thomas McCreary. who was about twenty feet
from the car MI Hefin fired once or twice
again, one OF the shots striking Lumby in the
head above the Lumby short dis
tance and fell An ambuI-- called and
he was taken to Emergency Hospital. The con-
ductOr of the car disappeared and PatrolTnan
George y. Scriven took charge of the car and
ran IL TO Sd street and Pennsylvania avenue
From there Representative Hefin was taken by
Scriven to the Capitol Hotel and later was
taken to the police ST. ton in a cab. He was
not locked up. Mr.. McCreary's wound is not
serious and after treatment at a hospital he
returned to his apartment
At the Emergency Hospital it was said that
Lumby, though badly wounded and unconscious,
has a chance to recover. His skull was fract-
ured. but the surgeons were unable to ascertain
tonight whether the bullet entered the head
Mr. Hef1in explained at the station his reason
for going armed. He is the author of a Jim
Grow car law in the District Of Columbia, and
says that since he introduced the measure he
had received many letters Of threatening char
acter and obtained permission from the police
authorities go armed.
Mr.. Hefin represents the 9Th Alabama Dis
trict in which the Tuskegee Institute, of which
Booker T. Washington is at the head, is To-
Gated
Thomas McCreary, accidentally shot In Wash
ington yesterday. is a well known trainer on
local racetracks, and has recently looked after
the stables of Fred Johnson and others. Nc
Creary was formerly jockey. and when he be-
came too old 70 ride began the training Of
horses. His home is in EatOntown. N J.,
though he spends much Of his time in this city.
He went to Washington q short time ago for
the opening Of the racing season there. He IS