The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-11


tell him Just how the score between
himself and death stood Mayor Gay
nor heard their report and seemed
satisfied. He knows that he must
match his strength against that OF
death. and the issue grows tenser with
the passing of the hours.
x-Ray Locates Bullet.
The bullet entered Mayor Gaynors
neck from behind. little to the right
of the vertebrae and below the line
Of the ear. ranged downward and for
ward and lodged in position near the
base of the tongue. which couldn't be
definitely determined until an X-ray
photograph revealed the Judgment Of
the bullet.
As for Gallagher, the faded little
man with the shoulders of bull and
all the insolence of past years OF ex-
perience on the fringe OF political
swamps in his eyes. he humps his
shoulders and sneers when told that
the mayor of New York isn't dead as
the result of his deed. He puffs on his
pipe in his cell at the Hudson county
jail in Jersey City. where he Is i'm
INJURED without bail TO await the action
of the grand jury. and he says: well,
I'm sorry | didn't kill him right of. |
hope he croaks | had to get him. and
II | didn't really get him. that's not
my fault"
The shooting of Mayor Gaynor came
with terrible suddenness. He was
standing on the deck of ship which
was to take him to Europe on a
months rest and vacation. About him
were many members of his Official
family. there to bid him godspeed.
President Pedro Mont. Of Chile. who
was to be a fellow passenger. had not
q half minute before gripped the may
or's hand in friendly salutation, and
the distinguished South American ex-
ecutive was where the smoke cloud
from Gallaghers revolver swept across
his face.
Mayor Gaynor was just In the mid
die of a passage at repartee with DR..
Ernst G. Lederle. his head OF the de-
partment of health. He reached play |
full hand out and poked DR.. Lederle
gingerly In the ribs.
Placed Pistol Against His Neck.
Just at that instant hand reached |
up from behind Mayor Gaynor's back |
and the muzzle of a short bulldog re- |
volver was placed against his neck.
There was a click. the sound made by |
the dropping of a hammer upon dead |
percussion cap. then a report.
You've stolen my bread and butter
damn you"
Those we're the words that were
bawled over the mayors shoulder in
the. instant between the clicking Of
the revolver hammer on the dead cap |
and the explosion of the shell.
For just a hairs breadth of time
there was a silence. One of the pho
who had leveled his cam
era before the shot to catch the may
or's farewell smile, clicked his shutter
by the very involuntary reaction that
tugged his ginger.
Then a cry from Secretary Adam
son: "Oh, God, he's shot the mayor"
Each of the men about the mayor
and saw Gallagher standing
there, with his arm just lifting with
the movement Of cooking his revolver
again. Adamson jumped squarely al
him and threw up the revolver hand
Just as he did so the weapon explod.
ed and the bullet went wbistllng over
the roof of the steamer shed
Commissioner Edwards landed his
bulk at the stunted figure
who was wrestling with Adamson. He
caught Gallagher about the waist and
bore him crashing to the deck boards
There the two men rolled, Gallagher
making furious efforts to turn his pis-
toll hand, which Adamson still held
around into the face Of his antagonist
who was gradually bending
the assassin's left arm down where he
could put one knee on H. and with his
free hand tanning swift blows down
upon the upturned face beneath him.
Ralph Bloomer jumped forward.
Want any help. Blll?" he cried.
Bullet Strikes Edwards.
"Sure; sit on his head" painted the
big commissioner. Hes strong as an
OK" Just then another shot sounded.
Gallaghed had twitched his pistol
hand around the grip Adamson had
put on II, and he fiicked the trigger in
blind chance.
The bullet tore through the left coat
sleeve Of Commissioner Edwards. scar.
ed the biceps Of that arm In a long
welt and buried itself in the boards OF
the deck twenty feet away. Gallagher
cursed him In broken breaths. II was
then that Corporation Counsel Watson
took hand. Gallagher had wriggled
part way free of Edwards grip, and
when Edwards caught him In this act
he heaved with his shoulders and half
threw, half pushed the raving man on
the deck beneath him against the low.
H., - t...T..