Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-28
HEFL|N HEARING
IS POSTPONED
AIabaman Charged With Un-
lawful Shooting.
DECLARES HE DID RIGHT
Acted Only as a Gentleman Should
Under the Circumstances.
CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED
Defendant Elects Negro From Street
Car After Striking Him-By-
stander Shot.
DECLARES HE DID RIGHT
CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED

Representative Thomas J. Hef-
lin of Alabama, who last night
shot two men on Pennsylvania
avenue. as result of an alterca-
ton growing out of his objection
to negroes drinking liquor in a
street car in the presence of a lady
appeared in the Police
Court this morning to answer to
two charges OF assault with
a dangerous weapon" 1t was
agreed between his counsel and
United States Attorney Given
that the hearing of the case should
be postponed to a later date.
neither being ready to proceed at
the time the case was called. Mr..
Hef1in was again released under
a bond of $1,000, and today re-
sumed his seat in the House of
Representatives.
Il am glad to say have not yet reached
the point where viii see a negro, or a
white man either. take a drink in the
presence of lady without saying some.
thing to him. 1 did only what any other
gentleman placed in similar circumstances
would have done.'
With only this comment Representa-
tive Thomas j. Helm OF Alabama today
dismissed discussion Of the shooting at.
fray In which he figured as principal last
night. and which resulted in the wound
ing of one colored and one white man by
bullets from his revolver
In the Police Court this morning It was
agreed between Representative Henry
Clayton, who appeared for Mr.. Helm.
and Assistant United States Attorney
Ralph Given. that the case should not be
called until future date Neither side
was ready to proceed. Mr. Helm was
released under the bond he gave last
night.
Details Of the Shooting.
Although there have been several ver-
sions of the affair. 1t appears that Mr..
Heflin. In company with Representative
Edwin ]. Ellerbe Of South Carolina. board
ed an st-bound 14th street car while in
front of the post Office building shortly
after 1880 o'clock last evening. 1t was
two-car trolley train and when Messrs.
Hef1in and Ellerbe took seats in the trail
er there were four other passengers, two
colored men. lady and another white
man. The colored men appeared to he
intoxicated, and as the car proceeded they
engaged in a discussion apparently con-
corning the division of a quantity Of
whisky or gin which one Of them had In
a bottle. Mr.. Hef1in demonstrated with
them as to drinking on the car and in
the presence of lady. and the men, after
a little loud conversation. were apparent
ly satisfied to let the matter drop.
At 9Th street Representative Ellerbe,
who resides at the Metropolitan Hotel.
left the car. Scarcely had the car started
when the two men. evidently satisfied that
they could overcome any objection, physi-
cal or otherwise. which one white man
might interpose. again produced the bot
tie of liquor and started to drink 1t. They
paid no attention to Mr.. Heflin's re-
monstrance and then the real trouble be-
gan.
Grabbing the man nearest him. Repre-
sentative Heflin, who is large and power
full. elected him from the car and followed
suit with the second individual. The
car was stopped and both men returned
to the attack. Representative Heflin says
one of them. and he thinks II was Lundy.
made a motion as though to draw a
weapon, and to repel the attack he
pointed his revolver out Of the car
window and fired twice. Both bull
let's he says. were directed toward
the ground, but at the second shot
Lundy screamed. turned to run and fell
to the street. The first bullet glanced
from the sidewalk and struck Thomas
McCreery, who was standing in front OF
the St. James Hotel
Policeman Scriven. who was standing at
9Th street and Pennsylvania avenue, ran
to the car and placed Mr.. Heflin in arrest.
At the same moment Representative
Ellerbe. who had not reached the hotel
ran to the car and jumped aboard. and it
was at his order that the car was started
toward the Capitol
Objects to Drinking.
The affray grew out of Mr.. Helms OBJ
lection to two colored men drinking
liauor from a bottle while in street
car on Pennsylvania avenue. At 9Th
street he elected both colored men from
the car drawing his revolver as he did
So and pounding one of them on the
head with it, AS soon as they reached
the street the men returned to the at
tack, and Mr. Heflin. having boarded the
car again, pointed his revolver out OF
the window and shot twice. One Of the
bullets struck Thomas McCreery Of New
York. horse trainer on duty at Ben
rins. stopping at 517 9th street, in the leg.
The other struck Louis Lundy, one OF the
two men referred to. in the head.
Both McCreery and Lundy were taken
to the Emergency Hospital. The former
was discharged as soon the wound
In the calf of his leg was dressed. Lundy
was handled at the hospital with the
greatest difficulty, because he strenuous
ly objected to the administration of the
anesthetic
There were several minor cuts on his
head, evidently caused by blows from
the butt Of Mr.. Helms revolver. and a
bullet wound behind his right ear. It
was not discovered until this morning
that the leaden missile had partially
circled Lundys skull and made an exit
from the scalp about the center of his
head The wound Is not of q serious
nature. and Lundy. it is thought. will
be able to leave the hospital in day
or two.
Mr.. Hefiin was arrested and taken to
the sixth precinct police station. where
he was subsequently released on $4,000
bail, which was furnished by George w.