New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-04
MAN SHOT In WALDORF
PEN DEFLECTS BULLET
And SAVES HIS LIFE.
Urs. Neville Castle, WhO Fired Re
roller at ". b. Craig, Says
L01Cyer Tilted Her.

There was much confusion and excitement in
the Waldorf-Astoria late yesterday afternoon
when a woman drew revolver and fred at
man who entered the building and had lust
stepped into an elevator, fountain pen in the
mans pocket checked the bullet and undoubtedly
saved his life. The woman apparently dazed.
was caught by the elevator boy and half a dozen
other hotel employees while the man also was
kept from leaving the place The woman hys-
terical and weeping. told the house detective
that she was Mrs4 Neville Castle and that she
lived at No. 80 West 67th street The man de-
scribed himself as William b. Craig. a lawyer
with offices at No. Rector street. and gave as
his home address No 321 West 9th street
The man and woman had attracted some at
tention as they walked along S4th street from
Sixth avenue toward the hotel Mrs Castle was
evidently endeavoring TO engage Craig in con-
Versation, while he seemed eager TO get away
from her At the entrance 10 the hotel at the
florists stand. the turned in. with the
woman a few steps behind him. He walked
briskly To- the elevator while she cried oh VIII,
wait a minute"
Craig, however. paid no heed and stepped into
the elevator. Apparently he did not believe that
Mrs Castle stiI following him. but as he
turned to face the door she came in. and with a
quick movement took a .22-calibre revolver from
Craig. The revolver was within an inch Of the
mans coat. and the powder burned the cloth
but the fountain pen stopped the bullet which
after passing through "A handkerchief in the
coat. dropped into the inner pocket The only
injury was slight abrasion on the skin just
above the heart 1t vas not necessary to call a
doctor
Although the shot was fired in the elevator
the report was heard distinctly throughout the
lower floor. and employees and guests rushed to
the scene.
SAYS CRAIG THREW HER OVER"
Mrs Castle did not attempt 10 fire a second
shot. for she fell unresisting into the arms Of
the elevator man. she was taken 70 the West
;i"th street police station by Detective Gozs who
responded TO the cal Of the hotel people TO Po-
lice Headquarters
Mrs castle was hystercal when she was
placed IN q taxicab and driven 10 the station
house. craig followed in another machine The
charge entered against her was felonious as
sault She said she had a brother in the United
States army. Captain Harry Scott. stationed at
Fort Morgan, Ala She gave her age as thirty
four years The only information that Crais
gave about himself. except his name and al
dress. was that he was thirty-two years old
! have nothing TO say-nothing whatever to
say he repeated when pressed further
When Mrs. Castle being led away to
cell she tried 20 speak TO Craig but he turned
his head and would not look az her She burs.
out crying anew and said
He's the cause of all my trouble He's the
man who caused me 20 give up my husband and
he's thrown me over"
Immediately after the shooting Craig tele-
phoned TO his wife. and she came 10 the hotel
Just after ne had gone 10 the station house
After being assured that her husband was not
injured she started after him. Her automobi2
reached the police station Just craig was
coming out. and he jumped into the car and vas
driven rapidly away.
Little was known at the Waldorf Astoria OF
craig other than that he frequent caller
on members OF the Rocky Mountain Club. which
has rooms in the hotel Mrs Castle was un-
known 10 the hotel management
DENIES SHE WAS ON STAGE.
Mrs Castle was visited at the station house
by Frederick Deane. a retired LAWYER. with
offices at No - Wall street. Mrs. Castle leases
her apartment from Mr.. Deane. and they are
close personal friends He remained with her
for about an hour. and then went away without
making d statement. He returned later and
again saw Mrs. Castle. He said she came from
san Francisco. and denied that she was sepa-
rated from her husband. who at present is at
Cape Nome Alaska. II had been said that
Mrs. Castle formerly on the stage. under
the name OF Geraldine Fontane. but this Mr..
Doane also denied.
When Mr.. Deane was about 10 leave Mrs
Castle sent for him. and he returned with a
statement from her. She said il was not true
that she had followed Craig. but that he had
been following her for several months She
added that she had known him from childhood.
Mrs Castle is a pretty woman OF medium size
She was dressed stylishiy in black ana white
checked gown with a large round hat OF black
straw Craig was also fashionaby dressed. He
is big man, more than six feet tall. and weigh
ing more than two hundred pounds.
According to otis Ball. man-of- a-work in
Mrs Castles apartment on the seventh floor of
the Colonial studios. at No. 81 West 61th street.
she and Mrs. Craig are cousins. Mrs. Castle
lived in the building several years ago. and
about six weeks ago returned. subletting an
apartment from Mr. Deane The studio en-
pIoyes said that Mrs Castle mad many callers
most OF them men. and that Craig's visits were
very frequent
The Craigs did not return to their home last
evening and little information could be OBJ
tanned from the superintendent. IL was learned
however that Mrs Craig had held telephone
conversation after the shooting, in which she
said that all this came from helping a poor girl
and was her way Of showing her gratitude
Until last October Craig lived at the Colonial
Hotel. Columbus avenue and s1st street
San Francisco. Aug. 3-Mrs. Neville Castle.
who shot William u. Craig in New York. Is
the daughter OF II. II. Scott, San Francisco
merchant Her marriage 10 Neville Castle in
1897 was brilliant society event. Her brother
Henry Scott is the husband Of a daughter os
the late Rear Admiral Sampson.
Mrs Castle studied for the stage after her
husband who had practised law. went to the
Alaskan gold fields TO seek new fortune. she
appeared first on January 16. 1900. playing with