The Washington herald., 1909-04-28
POLICE CLEAR Up
SHOOTING MYSTERY
Story as First Published the
Correct Version.
SENSATIONAL TALE UNFoUEDED
Bank Officials and Detectives Hold
SeetinR at Which circumstances
Are Gone Over Teller shot by
Negro, whose Evident Purpose
Was RObBery-CaIIed in Surgeon.

Much ado about nothing" as one
William Shakespeare named a play. could
also be used appropriately in describing
the shooting OF F. Bernard Stevens while
in the United States Savings Bank on
Saturday night last
Although the affair is OF much i'm
portance TO Stevens. through whose left
arm bullet plcwed a hole. It Is devoid
Of that atmosphere Of mystery, romance.
and sensation which has been added to a
bungiing attempt on the part Of an igno-
rant negro TO rob bank.
Making a bad matter worse. scandal
vas added TO the mystery and romance
and sensationalism TO the story by drag
ginE the name Of Mrs A Martin, former
ly Miss Nan Patterson. who became
known through the death OF Ceassr
Young in New York City and the subse-
quent trial
It has developed that the first version
OF the shooting is correct: That T.
Bernard Stevens was shot by a negro who
was riding in the bank for the apparent
purpose OF robbery. and who later escaped
without being seen by any one except
Stevens.
story Is SubstantIated.
The police are confident this theory is
correct and are in possession OF facts
which substantiate the story beyond
doubt. Detectives say they ar. positive
Mrs. Martin is in no way connected with
the shooting. and believe her friendship
with Stevens merely platonic. They de-
scribe IL as unfortunate that Mrs. Mar
tins name should appear in connection
with Stsyens simply because she occu-
pied an apartment with her mother and
father in the building where he lives, and
only knew Stevens through her brother.
a close friend Of the paying teller
As a result Of this unfortunate coin
cidence. Mrs Martin IS prostrated AZ her
home. and under the care Of physicians.
Her illness. physicians say. IS due TO the
shock caused by being again cast into
the limelight OF publicity through an in
cident with which she IS IN no way con
nected
The startling information that Mrs.
Martins name had been mentioned with
his. caused Stevens TO relapse A nurse
At Emergency Hospital says the news
was broker 10 the patient by Charles
Patterson, Jrother Of Mrs. Martin.
Patterson and Stevens have been chums
for nearly three years. Patterson has
been visiting Stevens at the hospital every
day and night since the latter was
wounded. and physicians say Mrs Mar
tin never appeared AZ the hospital except
--h@a accompanied by her brother
When stevens heard news had reached
the public ,ha, Mrs Martin was visiting
him with ,he intimation that the visits
were ciandestine, he became excited. His
fever arose. and the condition Of the pa
1ient, who is OF a nervous temperament.
grew worse He recovered slightly from
the shock before last midnight. and was
reported as resting quietly.
officials of the bank have been aeitated
by rumors concerning the woundlng OF
the paying teller. and with a view OF
eliminating the air Of mystery surround
ing the affair last night held special
meeting Of the board of directors. al
which Capt. Robert Boardman. chief OF
detectives. and Detectives Burlingame
Weldon. and O'Brien we're present. A
statement was issued 10 the press by the
board OF directors