The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-14
Over the Shooting Of Asst.
Dist. Attorney Heney
THREATS OF LYNCHING
The Victim of Morris Haas, an Ex.
Convict, Is Alive and Has
Good Chances for
Recovery.


charges melting into lynching
threats were banded today among the
friends of Assistant District Attorney
Francis j. Heney, who was snot and
seriously wounded late yesterday in
Judge Lawlor's crowded court room by
Morris Haas, an ex.eonvict, the shoot
ing having occurred during brief re-
cess in the third trial of Abraham Ruef
Gu charge OF bribery, now in its
eleventh week. Enormous crowds
awaited awaited about the bulletin
boards all night. A strong Gordon Of
police has been thrown about the jail
where Heney's assailant is confined.
The citizens league today issued call
for big mass meeting tonight, and
prominent bodies have adopted resolu
tions Of sympathy.
Mr.. Heney is now resting easily in
the Lane hospital and the physicians
say his wound is not fatal. Haas is in
the city prison. The assassin is sa-
loon keeper, who was drawn on the
jury panel in the second trial of Ruef
and who, after being temporarily pass
ed by both sides, was exposed in dra-
matte manner by Mr.. Heney as an ex-
convict and discharged from the jury
Haas declared after the shooting that
Heney had ruined his life by exposure
and that he had determined to kill him
for that reason
Mr.. Heney had finished the direct ex.
animation Mt noon of James Gallagher,
the prosecutions most important wit
ness in all the bribery graft cases and
the confessed "go-between" of Ruef
and the former board Of supervisors.
Henry Arch, chief counsel for Ruef,
had subjected Gallagher to severe
eross-examination for two hours in the
afternoon when Judge Lawler declared
a brief recess at 4:05. The jury filed
out and Mr.. Heney and Arch and Doz-
ier at the request Of the Judge, went in
10 his chamber to confer with him on
some proposed instructions to the Jury
At the close of the conference, Arch
Dozier and Judge Lawler went out of
the court room in front of the building
which is in Fulton street near Van Ness
avenue.
Heney instead of going outside to en-
JOY a breath of air, stepped for mo-
ment into an ante-room and then came
back to his counsel table While many
of the people who had crowded the
court room until there was no stand
ing room left. had also gone out on
the sidewalk, there was still large
crowd in the room.
No Warning Of Act.
Mr.. Heney was leaning over on his
table conversing in low tones with Mr..
McCabe, chief clerk in the district attor-
ney's Office. Directly in front of him
was James L. Gallagher, the witness.
A representative of the Associated Press
had just walked to Mr.. Heney's table
and was standing at his left elbow wait
ing to speak to him when a small man,
neatly attired, approached from behind
with quick steps but with deliberation.
Suddenly his right hand shot out and
before the newspaper man, McCabe or
John Foley, Heney's special body guard, !
sitting about eight feet away. could
make a move there was fash and
loud report rang through the court
room.
For moment everybody seemed
stunned. The assassin, whose revolver
was within foot and half of Heney's |
head when he pulled the trigger. step
ped back, his arms by his sides, one
hand still clutching the smoking pistol
as if he hesitated what to do next. For
n second an impressive silence followed
the report while the smoke of the shot
foated away, then followed dramatic
scene. g.
Some one shouted my God, he has
shot Heney" A chorus Of exclama-
tions escaped the spectators. Half the
people evidently fearing further shoot
ing, made frantic rush for the doors.
Before Haas could raise his pistol again |
John Foley and e. j. Wiskotchell,
special policeman, threw him to the
floor and wrested the weapon from his
grasp.
Haas struggled hard but was drag
eed to the jury box, thrown on his
back and held there Just as the Jurors,
attracted by the shot, came bursting
through their private entrance.
Mr.. Heney as the shot rang out rose
out Of his chair, put mis- hands to his
head the blood streaming through his
fingers and reddening the table in front |
OF him, leaned over moment and was
about to fall when those near caught |
him and laid him on the floor. Charles
Oliver and John Foley, two special de-
tectives connected with the districta at-
torney's office. holding his head out of
the blood which flowed from a hole
which appeared to be just below the
ripIt tpn1nln