The Washington herald., 1908-03-28

James Thomas Helm, Representative in
Congress from the Fifth Alabama district,
an ardent temperance advocate, a negro
hater. and a gun-toter. champion Of the
idea that Washington should have lin
crow ears. last night shot and danger
cusly wounded negro. Louis Lundy,
and in attempting to shoot the black man
a second time. wounded q white man,
Thomas McCreery. in the right leg.
The shooting followed an alteration be-
tween Hehin and the negro on d street car,
resulting from the black mans refusal
TO stop drinking from a bottle Of whisky.
There were women on the car. Helms
Southern blood was aroused by the insult
which he conceived the negro was offer
ing women Of the white race.
Hehin. in a statement made 10 a rep
resentative Of The shington Herald.
declared he did not his pistol until
motion made by the negro. who had
grabbed the Congressman by the lapel
Of his coat. indicated the black was about
TO produce a weapon
Lundy's Condition Serious.
IcCreery and Lundy were taken 10 the
Emergency Hospital in the ambulance.
The bullet was extracted from Nc
Creery-s leg and he took a cab for 81
Sixth street where he Is stopping while
attending the Benning races.
Lundy was uEmanageabie ar the hos
pitaL Six men had to hold him while
the physicians administered chloroform
in order 10 enable them 10 dress the
wound. He was intoxicated and showed
supernatural strength and other symp-
toms Of cocaine habit
The condition Of Lundy is regarded as
serious. The result cannot well be pre-
dicted until the influence OF his drink
wears away.
George Driver. former saloon keeper,
furnished bond Of 500 for the release OF
Hefin shortly after 10 o'clock last night.
There was some difficulty in procuring a
bondsman. owing 10 the stringent require
ments Of the laws governing the District
Of Columbia
The case will come up in the local Police
Court this morning for hearing, should
the negro regain consciousness. It VIII
be continued if Lundy is unable 70 appear
Trouble Getting BAH.
Representative Hefiin and James Edwin
Euerbe. Of the Sixth South Carolina dis
trict. had been riding on the car together
when the shooting occurred at 7-05 O'Clock
latter was just alighting TO so 10 his
rooms Al the Metropolitan Hotel when be
hurried back 10 Helms aid.
\ crowd Of over a thousand whites and
blacks. including many OF the racing con-
ungent living Al neighboring hotels. were
on the scene in a moment
While McCreary and Lundy were re
moved in the hospital ambulance. Police
man Scrivener escorted Hefin and Ellerbe
to a carriage The trio drove 10 the sta
tion-house. where Hefin was formally ar
raigned and then allowed TO use the Jele-
phore to summon friends
Among the first TO arrive was Henry
Neal. Speaker Cannon's messenger. who
bore word that the Speaker was deeply
concerned and asking If Mr. Cannon could
aij in the situation in any way.
Congressmen Rush TO Aid.
Within half an hour the station was
surrounded by several hundred people and
overrun with newspaper men and South
ern members OF Congress. These in
cluded Representatives Booher. Of Mis-
souri,: Clayton. Craig. Wiley. and Bur
nett. Of Alabama: Sims and Gaines. OF
Tennessee: Randen. OF Texas; Webb, OF
North Carolina; McHenry, OF Pennsyl-
vania. Finley. OF South Carolina; Fav-
rot. Of Louisiana. and Bowers. Of Miss
issippi
All offered 20 go on Helms bond. but
local laws require only District OF Co
lumbia real estate holders in shooting
cases. Il was 10 O'Clock before bond
could be furnished George W Driver.
the weII-known restaurateur. furnished
bond
on Way 10 Lecture Hall.
At the time OF the shooting HELM was
on his way 70 the metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal Church. al FOur-and-a-half and
c streets northwest. to deliver a lecture
there on the subject OF Temperance
Five hundred or more men and women
had gathered and were awaiting for his
arrival and lecture
When they heard he had been arrested
and was held by the police on a charge
Of shooting negro with intent 10 kin
they beat a preci2itate and rather dis0r-
ganized retreat from the church None
Of them, IS far as could be learned.
called al the station house TO see If they
could do'anything TO help him.
News OF the shooting spread like Wild
FIRE Al first there was many conflicting
rumOrs.
one Of the earliest stories in the hotel
lobbies was that Ellerbe had done the