The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-04
SHOOT LINEMAN
THEY THOUGHT
+. A WIRE Thief
Chief TOTel and Detective Oliver,
OF Kearny, Attack Man
Working on Repairs.
DECLARES HE BELIEVED
THEY WERE CROOKS
Benjamin Lewis, OF Jersey City,
Badly Wounded in Thigh
Through misunderstanding.

The fact that Benjamin Lewis, of Is
Wayne street, Jersey City; is alive to-
day, is due to considerable good luck,
as he is confined to his home in Jersey
City with a bullet wound in his left
thigh, the result of being shot by either
Chief of\Police William Tolen or De-
tective Sergeant Walter Oliver, of the
Kearny police department. late last
night, when the above-named officers
were in quest of wire thieves.
About 9 o'clock last night word was
received from the office of the New
York and New Jersey Telephone Com
pany, in this city, to the effect that
wire cutters were at work on Kearny
meadows and that the telephone COM
munication between Newark points and
Jersey City and New York. had been
cut off as a result.
Chief Tolen got in communication
with Sergeant John Smith and told him
to get all the men available and scat
Ter them around the entrance to the
meadows. Smith took six men and did
as directed. Two were sent down along
the Harrison branch Of the Erie, two
along the Arlington branch and two
to the Belleville turnpike. Tolen and
Oliver wen by way of Harrison Inc
along the Kearny turnpike.
With the aid OF the turnpike trolley
Lcars Tolen and Oliver reached the point
where the wire had been cut, first. 1t
was on Belleville turnpike a short dis
tanee from Kearny turnpike. The OFF,
GERS found some wire rolled UP ready
to be carted away, ana some more
dangling from the poles.
saw Man at work.
When they reached pole known as
q, they spied a man on the top and
noticed that he was at work at the
wires. Believing him to be one of the
thieves, Oliver shouted. Come down
here we are officers" The man, who
afterward proved to be Lewis, evil
IDENTIFY did not hear the command. for
he kept on working.
Afte" a wait of a few minutes, Tolen
heard the fellow say: Can you get me
now? Can YOU get me now?" The
police were sure that he was a thief
and was guying them when they heard
him ask that question. Drawing his
revolver, the chief fred in the air. This
attracted the iinenan's attention.
Come down here said Oliver, and
down came Lewis.
Tolen and Oliver say that when he
reached the ground he ran away. but
the question has been asked all through
West Hudson today as to why the pc
lice,nan didn't grab him before he
reached the ground. Lewis ran about
sixty feet. it is said, when both Of
ficers fired.
lie showed Fight.
In a moment the chief and detective
we're upon Lewis, who showed fight.
He was quickly o~verpowered and taken
TO the kearny police station.
When the police station was reached
efforts were made to secure a pl1ysi-
clan, but there was none to be found
until DR.. Walter r. Eeick. of kear-
ny avenue and Berlin street. Airing
ton, could he communicated with, and
he hurried TO headquarters. He found
that Lewis had been shot through the
left thigh. the bullet entering on the
left side and coming out through the
right side, Just grazing the right leg
The police secured q carriage and took
Lewis TO his rome in Jersey City.
To an EVENING STAR reporter
who interviewed him shortly after the
affair Lewis said: II saw the two down
st the bottom of the pole but thought
they we're crooks, and | was badly
frightened. In fact, don't know how
/ got down the pole without falling. /
did not hear them tell me to halt.
I might have shown my badge had |
thought of 1t, but | never dreamed that
the two men were policemen.