The Washington herald., 1910-09-05

William c. Drury. a\clerk in the
city post-office. who shot his eight
year-old son, William Bernard. while half
crazed with drink at his home. in Brent
wood. was held without bail. pending the
outcome OF the boys wound, 10 await
the action Of the grand jury after a
hearing this morning at 1870 o'clock, be
fore Justice o. H. suckles' court, at Up
per Marlboro.
His son is confined In the basement
OF the Firemens Hall at Brentwood, and.
although suffering greatly from his
wound. the ball entering the left shoulder
and grazing the twelfth rib. his condi-
ton IS not regarded as serious.
Mrs. Drury declares that her husband
was not responsible for his action. She
says that he kissed the boy before leav-
ing him Saturday and always displayed
evidence Of affection.
Take Different View.
Some OF the neighbors are inclined 20
believe that Drury knows more OF the
affair than he is willing 10 admit. and
that he could not have fired the bullet
through the partition wall in the direc-
ton it came unless his act was given
some consideration.
They say that Drury Is an exceedingly
disagreeable man when drinking. and
that he has frequently made threats TO
harm people,
The bullet was fred through the parti-
ton separating the fathers room from
that occupied by the wife and boy.
Drury had come home from work on the
late car Saturday night. met some
friends, and began drinking. According
to the story told by Mrs. Drury. her
husband was intoxicated when he came
in about O'Clock yesterday morning.
he secured pistol and began handling
IL close to the boy The latter got the
weapon and put it away. and the father
went into the next room.
PIowS Through Pillow.
Two minutes later a loud report was
heard. and Mrs. Drury saw that the
child had been struck, the bullet plow-
ing through the feather-stuffed pillow
and into the boys back. She ran 20 the
home Of Constable Edward II Mark
ward. and the latter was compelled TO
break down the door TO get where Drury
was.
The officer claims that Drury was at
tempting 10 reach a rife when he knock
ed down the door. and was told il he
moved an inch he would kill him on the
spot He placed handouts on Drury. and
accompanied by Messrs. Busher. VIII
liams, and II. Markward, took the pris-
oner 10 HyattsviHe
Turnkey Rushe refused 10 allow the
prisoner to be placed in the lookup. and
the prisoner was taken back TO Brent
wood and placed in Firemen's Hall
Last night the prisoner was a nervous
wreck, and suffering from overindul-
gence in alcoholic stimulants. He de-
clared that he knew nothing OF the shoot
ing, and appeared rather Indifferent 10
the whole situation. DR.. J. c. Ohlendorf
dressed the boys wounds.
ErrRtic at Times.
Drury was considered a most excellent
employe at the city post-ofice, where
he has worked for the last twenty years.
HoweveNs it is asserted by certain Of
ficlals tRht he was often erratic IN his
actions az times.
1t is stated by one Of the officials that
Drury at certain times made threats
agains- those in authority, and in one IN
stance. after an alteration with one OF
the clerks. in which the latter chased
him of the floor Of the mailing division.
he armed himself and declared that he
had bullets marked with the name Of the
man who was 20 receive them.
The clerk for whom these bullets were
intended treated the matter lightly, when
apprised of what Drury had said. and
later forced Drury to give up his gun.
Drury made an abiect apology. and said
that at the time Of this affair "he was
not himself
Drury's father Is an inmate OF the Gov
ernment Hospital for the Insane.