The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-06-24
II G Q N TIN u f D
r o
i P A G E O n E
PRESS EXPOSED TRUTH

hostile policeman can create no end
of grief.
TEN IN SALOON.
There were eight or 10 men In
the Orpheum bar when the first
words that led to the shooting were
uttered. Joe Curry, the wounded
man, invited the bartender to drink
and the bartender refused. Curry
then asked Downey to drink and
Downey likewise refused, with an
insolent remark directed to the boy.
Curry resented the remark and
asked Downey. who are you?"
Downey then responded with an
other insulting remark, which an
gered the boy and he asked Downey
side, a few more words followed.
and Downey then slapped the boy
across the face and kicked him. He
then ordered the boy to go to his
room, to which Curry objected, the
officer never. in all the controversy.
showing his star or saying that he
was an officer, as Downey and the
lad had never met before.
"NOW, I'LL GET YOU"
After Curry refused to go Downey
seized him and said that he would
take him to the police station. They
started across Riverside avenue,
and when near the barber shop next
to the drug store at the northwest
corner of Riverside avenue and Ber
nard street Downey released his
hold on the bay. The boy responded
by calling Downey name and
Downey then replied with the re.
mark, Now, I'll get you"
Then started a zigzag chase east
on Riverside to the corner Of Ber-
nard and north on Bernard toward
Main avenue. Downey dashed on a
little farther and when the the mid
die Of the Langham hotel he fell
close to the curb on the west side
of the street. This gave the boy a
chance to gain on the pursuing Off
Ger, which seemed to anger Downey
and on regainng his feet he drew
his gun and yelled, Stop or I'll
shoot" Downey then dashed on
half or two-thirds of the way across
eBrnard street, after wrich he
stopped and fired one shot, which
struck Curry in the back and
brought him to the ground, in front
of the FL Dorado bar, at the south
east corner of Main and Bernard.
After Downey came up to the
PROSTATE man he made the remark,
We'll, I've got you" An officer of
the Merchants police then ap-
preached and to him Downey said,
''He isn't hurt; he was only shot in
the little finger"
The wounded man was trying
to get up on his hands and
knees, calling out all the while:
"Oh, what will my poor
mother do. Oh, mother. mother,
won't someone please tell
mother"
DOwney again made a remark as
to the boy not being hurt much,
and with the aid of the Waterman
the lad was dragged around to the
/ Bernard street side of the FL Do
RADIO bar, where he was permitted
/ n 1in hn u.o1ly n
throw up large quantities Of blood
until the police patrol called. The
wounded man was then thrown into
the wagon like a common drunk
and driven to the emergency hos
pital.
In the crowd that quickly gath
cred was one man who made no
effort to suppress his feelings He
made some remark as to his opinion
of the affair, and was called to task
by Downey. The man responded
that if the shooting occurred back
east where he lived there might be
a lynching bee, and murmurings in
the crowd seemed to agree with the
mans remark.
PRESS REPORTER SEES CURRY
When a reporter for The Press
called at the Sacred Heart hospital
yesterday afternoon to see Curry,
no member of the police depart
ment or representative of the prose
cutting attorneys office had been to
see him, in spite of the fact that the
man at the time was in imminent
danger of death His neck was
badly swollen and he was hardly
able to talk. His recollection Of the
words that led up to the shooting
were confused. owing to his weak
ened condition and the excitement
he had gone through, but by slow
questioning The Press managed to
secure an ante-morten statement, to
be used in case OF the mans death.
A CHANCE TO RECOVER.
Today Curry is resting easier and
has chances of pulling through. He
was shot in the back. near the right
shoulder blade. and the ball pierced
the lung and coursing upward.
l. IL. L.. 80