The Washington herald., 1912-08-30
WASHINGTON man
Goes TO AID SON
HELD. As BANDIT
Wife Of Col. G. A. Lounsberry, Of
This City, Believes Prisoner
Is Mentally Deranged.
SHOT IN RESISTING ARREST

Wells Lounsberry. who was shot by a
revolver In his own hand while resisting
arrest near Kansas City, NO.. a week
ago. after rifiins a mail car. It developed
last night. is the son Of Col. C. A.
Lounsberry, Of 7s New York Avenue
Northeast, clerk in the General Land
Office.
Reports say that young Lounsberry,
who is twenty-five years old. boarded q
Missouri Pacific train near Kansas City
and held up the postal railway clerks and
obtained registered mail matter. When
the train drew into Topeka young Louns-
berry jumped from the car and ran
through the yard to the rear OF the train.
He was seen entering q sleeping car by
a porter. who told the conductor. The
train was held while officers searched
the car. Lounsberry was found in an
upper berth. When the officers opened
the curtains Lounsberry pointed gun
in their faces. During a scuffie which
followed the revolver was accidentally
discharged. the bullet striking Louns-
berry in the breast above the heart. He
was taken to a Topeka hospital.
1t was learned yesterday In Washing
ton that Col. Lounsberry IS the father
of the wounded man. Mrs. Lounsberry.
the step-mother of the boy. attributed
the action Of her step-son to the fact
that he sustained a dangerous injury
on the head from a blow about eight
years ago.
A statement to this effect was made
last night by Mrs. Lounsberry. step
mother of the alleged bandit. at the
apartments at 76 New York
Avenue Northeast. Col. Lounsberry is
now at the bedside Of his son In a hos
pital in Topeka. Kans.. where the young
man was taken following the exciting
scuffie with the officers OF the law.
Was Promising Boy.
Wells Lounsberry. my husbands SON.
who is now In Topeka. charged with
rifiing the mail car OF a train on the
Union Pacific Railroad" said Mrs.
last night. was always con-
sidered the most promising of the chill
dren. The colonel had five children by
his first wife. and Wells is the Oldest.
He is about twenty-five years old. He
was always a model young man. and II
Is impossible for us to believe the re-
ports which come TO US. -.
Upon receiving a telegram from
concerning the escapade. my
husband hurried to the side OF Wells
I received a telegram from him tonight
to the effect that the young man is ex-
peCttu 10 TtCONtE Inc WIG N"O
children OF the son have arrived at the
hospital. Col Lounsberry lays much
stress in a letter to me upon the fall
which Wells received about eight years
ago."
Mrs. Lounsberry expressed the opinion
that her stepson was innocent. She said
that he was formerly a postal agent.
and that from letters received from her
husband she learns that the young man
entered the mail car In question for the
purpose OF sleeping. She says that he
was found there by one OF the postal
clerks, who thought that his design was
to rob the mails.
Topeka. Kans.. Aug. s.-Mrs. Wells
wife OF Wells Lounsberry.
the mail car on a Union Pacific train
Gently. arrived here to-day from Med
ford. Greg, with her two sons. aged
nine and seven years.
He is the best man on EARTH" said
Mrs. Lounsberry tonight. speaking Of her
husband. Il believe in him. He will
overcome this for his boys and for me.
He has many friends who believe in him.
will do everything I can for him."
Col. c. A. Lounsberry. of Washington,
D. C. father Of the alleged bandit. is
now here.
My son was formerly a railway mail
,lerk," said Col. Lounsberry. and was
injured a number of years ago in a train
wreck near Watab, MINI. He received
very severe blow on the head. and his
scalp was cut open in that wreck. l am
certain that my son was temporarily de-
-snged at the time he committed the act
tor which he is under arrest"