The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-28
When He is Charged With
Shooting Negro
LATTER IS STILL ALIVE
Congressman Hefin Stated To-day That
He Shot Lundy After the Colored
Man Had Reached Toward
His Hip Pocket.

Washington, D. G., March 2S. Self
defense will be the plea Of Representa-
tive J. Thomas Helm when he is put
on trial for shooting Louis Lundy a
negro, with whom he had an alteration
in Pennsylvania avenue street car
last ight. The statements Of those who
witnessed the affair coincide with Hef-
Inns that Lundy had grabbed him by
the coat lapel and made a motion toward
his hip pocket before the congressman
fired.
The negro was resting quiet to-day
with the bullet still in his head. Thorn
as McCreery, the New York horse train
er, who was accidentally shot, was only
slightly wounded. He declares, however
that he will prosecute Heain,
Following the shooting, which took
place at seven o'clock last night, HcfIin
was arrested and taken to police sta
tion, where the charge Of assault with
intent to kill was made against him.
Later he was released on $1,000 bail
The shooting occurred as the car
reached the corner Of Pennsylvania ave.
nue. and Sixth street bound for Capitol
Hill. Congressman Hefiin, accompanied
by Congressman Edwin j. Ellerbe Of
South Carolina had boarded the car at
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Hehin was on his way to deliver tenn
perance lecture at the Metropolitan
Methodist Episcopal church.
Upon boarding the car, he observed
two negro passengers, one Of whom was
Thomas Lundy, and who was in the act
of taking drink from bottle Of whis-
key. There were a number of other pas
sengers, including several ladies. Hehin
demonstrated with Lundy and asked him
to stop drinking, saying, Don't take
that drink. There are ladies here and
it is not right, II is aginst the law for
you to do this thing in a street car and
hope you will put the bottle away
The other negro, who was sober, at
tempted to take the bottle away from
his friend, but failed
1t is said that Lundy became offended
at Heflin's remonstrances and applied
vile epitbets. As the car reached Sixth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, Helm
and Lundy were engaged in desperate
struggle, Heflin, who Is a large, power
ful man. succeeded in throwing Lundy
off the ear as il came to stop.
Most Of the passengers hastily alight
ed, including Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Me-
Creery. The negro fell to the ground
on being pushed OIL the ear. He rose
and, it ii said. began cursing Heflin
again and made motion for his hip
pocket az If to draw 4 weapon, where
upon Hehin fred at him through the ear
window, missing the negro and hitting
Thomas McCreery, who was about 20
feet from the car,
.Heilin fired once or twice again, ono
Of the shots striking Lundy in the head
above the ear Lundy ran short dis
tance and fell An ambulance was call
ed and he was taken to hospital The
conductor Of the ear disappeared and a.
policeman took charge Of the car and
ran it to the Pennsylvania avenue. There
Representative Hetiin was escorted by
the policeman to the Capitol hotel and
later was taken to the police station in
a cab He was not locked up. McCree
RVS wound is not serious, and after
treatment at hospital he returned to
his apartment.
Hefin Had Been Threatened.
Heain explained at the police station
his reason for going armed. He is the
author of d ~Jim Crow car bill in the
District of Columbia and says that since
he introduced the measure he has re
ceived many threatening letters and Sc
cured permission from the police to 90
armed.
Heain represents the Fifth Alabama
district, in which the Tuskegee insti-
tute, Of which Booker I, Washington is
at the head, Is located.