The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-11-14
F. ]. HENEYSHOT IN
SAN FRANCISCO
court ROOM
Exposed TaIeSman Seriously
Wounds Prosecutor.
ATTORNEY LIKELY 10 LIVE
Abe Ruef Exclaims that Shooting Is
Worse Thing That Could Have
Happened to Him.

San Francisco, Cal, Nov 14.-The
San Francisco bribery graft cases had
a dramatic climax late YESTERDAY |
when Assistant District Attorney |
Francis j. Heney, who has been IN
charge Of the prosecution during It's
tourtuous course or two years, was
shot and seriously wounded In Judge
Iawlor's crowded courtroom by Nor
ris Haas, an ex-conyict. The shoot
ing occurred during a brief recess IN
the third trial of Abraham Ruef on
charge of bribery, now in It's eleventh
week.
Mr.. Heney is now resting easy IN
the Lane Hospital, and the physicians
saw his wound is not fatal. Haas Is III
the City Prison. The assassin is
saloon keeper who was drawn on the
Jury panel in the second trial OF RneI
and who. after having been temper
arily passed by both sides, was eN-
nosed in a dramatic manner By MT.
Heney as an ex-conyict and dis
charged 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. .,,.,.
The district attorney was standing
al his desk during recess "heh a
small man. neatly attired, approached
from behind with quick step, but WIN
deliberation. Suddenly his right hahu
shnt out and before John Foley
Heney's special body guard, sitting
about eight feet away, could make a
move there was flash and a LOUD
report rang through the courtroom
FOR a moment everybody seemed
summed The assassin whose revolver
was within a foot and a half OF
Heney's head when he pulled the tris
ger. stepped back his arms oy n''
sides. one hand still clutchlhs IA,
smoking pistol, as II ne heslla,eu
what to do next. For a second an III
nressive silence followed the repoTl
while the smoke of the shot tioatec
away. Then followed a drama'l'
some one shouted. My God, he
has shot Heney!" A chorus OF eA
CARNATIONS escaped the spectators
Ualf the people evidently fearing iuT
Their shooting made a frantic rush 10
Inc doors. Before Haas could rals
the plstol again, Foley and h. j. WIS
kotchil. a special policeman, thre'
rim 10 the floor and wrested the Wea
non from his grasp.
Mr.. Heney. as the shot rang ou'
rose out OF his chair, put his handS y
his head. the blood streaming throue
his fingers and reddenlug the tabl
In front OF him. leaned over "a momen
and was about 90 fan, when thos
near caught hin mi laid him on IN
floor Charles OiVOr and John Folel
Two special detectives connected VII
,he District Attoy, office, holdlh
bIe head out OF OBJ, blood, who
flowed from "a hole which appeared
he lust below the right temple. II
was conscious and when a he"sP"p'
representative stopped down a'
spoke to him. his first words were
send for my wife ,
DIR. II. A. Fincks, who was III !,
courtroom at the time. rushed 10 VI
Ucnev's side. made hasty eNainln
lion. ana pronounced him ialal
wounded.
Mir Heney was perfectly compose
aud the peculiar smile for which
h. known was still lowering aroul
his Inns He also believed that ne W
fatally hurt Turning his eyes
John O'Gara, his assistant In the Ut
ne said
II want TO make dylug statem'
believe ann going TO die.
II was sitting at my table Wheu
f,lt what / thought was o. blow ]
not know who shot me. ! was uo'
nothing to amy one. ,......
Although under the influence
liquor Haas seemed To realize lu''l
nature of his crime. lie showed
rnmorsc at amy time. When tol1I
victim would die he said he ala
care. ...,.,5
,,nee excitement TIA all parts oil
civ Extras sent out by the al'
80, rnpers sprcad the story thro'
nnt Inc entire city. and soon
crowds gathered va the downtown
lions The people are stunned
hitter and talk OF vigil0nt law
heard In many quarters.
Immediately after the shooting
purf threw up his hands and then
most collapsed. .,,-
M "Iy Cod'" ne shouted, this vs.
worst thing that could poss'o'! "
happened to me.