The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-31
SHOOTS A NEGRO.
Congressman Heflin of Alabama
in a Serious Affray.
WAS ON A STREET CAR

III washington Will SOuSrcSSuaA
Ellcrbee, on his Way to Deliver
Temperance Talk-RemonStrateG
With Negro for Drinking on Carr
Threw Him Off and Then Shop
Him in the Head.
In a desperate affray on a Penn
sylvania Avenue car in Washington
Friday negro was shot by Congress-
man Thomas J. Heflin of Alabama.
Thomas Lumby, the negro, was
shot in the head and is in a critical
condition. and Thomas McCreary,
New York horse trainer is suffering
from a wound in the leg. The shoot
ing of McCreary was accidental.
Mr.. Hehin was arrested and takec
to the 9Th police precinct station.
where the charge of assault will in
tent to kill was placed against him.
Later he was released on $4,000 BAIL
The shooting occurred shortly after
7o'clock as the car reached the corner
Pennsylvania avenue and 9TH street
bound for Capitol Hill.
Congressman Heflin, accompanied
by Congressman Edwin j. Ellerbee,
of South Carolina, had boarded the
car at 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue, Mr.. Hehin being on his way
to deliver a temperance lecture at the
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal
Church, 1-2 street. and ohm Marshall
Place. Upon boarding the. car, he
observed two negro passengers, one
Of whom was Thomas Lumby, and
who was in the act of taking drink
from bottle of whiskey. There were
a number of passengers, including
several ladies. Mr.. Heain says he re-
monstrated with Lumby and asked
him to stop drinking saying: Don't
take that drink there are ladies here
and i is not right. 1t is against the
law for you to do such a thing in
street car and hope you will put that
bottle away"
The other negro, who was sober,
attempted to take the bottle away
from his friend, but failed. 1t is
said that Lumby became offended at
Mr.. Hefin's remonstrances and ap-
piled vile epithets. AS the car reach
ed 9Th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. Heflin and I4umby were engaged
in desperate struggle. Mr.. Helm
who is large powerful man, succeed
ed in throwing Lumby off the car as
it came to stop.
Most of the occupants Of the car
hastily allighted, including Mr.. and
Mrs. McCreary. The negro fell to the
ground on bing pushed off the car.
He rose, and, it is said, began cursing
Mr.. Heflin again and made motion
for his hip pocket as If to dray Wea-
pom, whereupon Mr.. Hefin fired at
him through the car window, missing
the negro and hitting Thomas Nc
Creary, who WIS about 20 feet from
the carx*L Mr.. Hetlin fired once or
twice more, one of the shots striking
I,umby in the head above the ear.
Lumby ran a short distance and fell.
An ambulance was called and he was
taken to the Emergency Hospital. The
conductor of the car disappeared and
Officer George n. Scriven took charge
of the car and ran it to Sd street ana
Pennsylvania avenue.
There Representative Heflin was
escorted by Officer Scriven to the Cap
itol Hotel, and later was taken to the
police station in a cab. He ) not
locked up. Mr.. McCreary's wound
IS not serious, and after treatment at
a hospital he returned to his apart
ments. At the Emergency Hospital,
it was said Lumby though badly
wounded and unconscious, has
chance to recover His skull was
fractured, but the surgeons were un-
BILE to ascertain at that time, whether
the bullet had entered the head.
Mr. Heflin explained at the station
his reason for going armed.
He Is the author or jim crow
car law in the District Of Columbia,
and said nat since he introduced the
measure he has received many letters
of a threatening character and secur-
ed permission from the authorities to
90 armed. Mr.. Heflin represents the
5th Alabama district, in which the
Tuskegee Institute, Of which Broker
T. Washington, is the head, Is To-
Gated.