Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-10
Council Bluffs.
SERIOUSLY WOUNDS FRIEND
William McGill is Probably Fatally
Shot by A. c. Hewitt.
QUARREL ABOUT BOARD BILL
Wounded Man, who was Taking His
Meals at Hewitt Home, Had Paid
Money 60 Mrs. Hewitt In
stead of Husband.

After quarreling with the man who had
oefriended him. A. G. Hewitt Monday
shot and perhaps mortslly wounded VIII
liam McGill, for ten years foreman in the
kirkendall Shoe companys factory in
Omaha. The tragedy occurred at 6:b
o'clock yesterday morning at Thirty-fourth
street and Avenue A, in the presence Of a
number Of people waiting to take the
early car for Omaha. Five shots were
fired at close range, only one Of which
struck McGill, penetrating the lower alb
domen. Hewitt escaped after the shooting
and up TO late hour yesterday afternoon
had not been located.
Mr. McGill had lived for a number OF
years with his wife and family in the Vi
entity OF the home Of Hewitt, which is
located at S4lO Avenue E. The neiEhbors
say Hewitt had long neglected his wife
and had left her entirely during the spring.
Mr. and Mrs. McGill took a practical inter
est in their affairs and befrlended them
IN every way. During the early part of
March Mrs McGill was attacked by a
severe type Of the grip, witch later de-
veioped into pneumonia, from which she
died about two weeks ago. After the death
OF ms wife, which broke up his home, Mr..
McGin gave the Hewitts all Of the fur
81.
McGilfs clothing. Mrs Hewitt and her
daughter desired to make some return and
urged Mr.. McGill to take his meals at
their house. He consented TO do So but
insisted upon paying for them. 1t was over
the payment OF this money that the shoot
ing occurred. McGil's custom had been TO
pay the small amount on Monday morn
ing before starting to his work in Omaha
Hewitt left the home of his sister at $50
o'clock yesterday morning and intercepted
McGill as he was returning from break
tast He told McGill that the money should
be paid to him as head OF the house. Nc
GIL talked kindly to the man as they
walked the half block back to the car
line.
AFTER talking a few minutes while wait
ing for the car Hewitt suddenly pulled
revolver and began firing. McGill. who is
a larger and more powerful man, grappled
with him. Five shots we're fired during the
brief struggle, only one of which took
effect. George e. Kerr, $3.50 Avenue z.
was among those waiting at the crossing
Tor the Omaha car He ran to the aid of
McGill as he sank to the earth Hewitt
snapped his revolver again, pointed Mt
Kerr, but 1t contained only five shots. He
then put It in his pocket and ran north on
Thirty-fourth. disappearing in the direo-
ton Of the river. Before leaving he NUT
tered something about MeGill breaking up
his family.
The shooting was Immediately reported
to the police station and the city ambu-
lance and a squad of officers were on their
way in five minutes. McGill, however. was
put aboard an eastbound car which met
the ambulance at Twentieth street He
was placed in the ambulance and taken
to the Jennie Edmundson hospital.
The first examination indicated that the
bullet had taken a course that would
cause perforation or the intestines. Be
fore an operation was attempted Drs. Mac
rae and Bellinger put their patient In an
ambulance and took him to the office of
DR.. Mason. where an X-ray PHOTOGRAPH
was made locating the bullet in the thigh.
He was returned to the hospital and an
operation was performed last night.
Hewitt is about IS years old, weighs
about 100 pounds is five feet six inches
tall, stockily built and has a spot In one
eye. He looks like an Italian, has black
and wore a gray suit, with soft
black hat. Hewitt's former home was at
Ind.