Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-12
Former County En-
gineer Uses Pistol
on Central Avenue
This Afternoon.
JOHN MCDONALD, SECOND
PRECINCT MAN, MAY DIE
Victim Is at City Hospital With
Bullet in Right Side--card
Row May Have Caused the
Attack.

Plainelothesman John T, McDon-
aid, of the Second Precinct, was shot
on the sidewalk outside of Thomas
Craig's saloon at Central avenue and
Second street shortly after noon to-
day and is now in the City Hospital
In dying condition 1t is thought.
with bullet in his left breast.
Former County Engineer George
f. Drum of Al Roseville avenue. who
did the shooting, is locked up in the
Fifth Precinct Police Station await
ing the result of McDonald's injuries.
Card Game as Cause.
In a statement made to Aetna
Chief Ryan and Lieutenant Joseph A.
Pagan at the City Hospital McDon-
aid attributed Drums act to an ar
gument over a card game in Craig's
saloon early this morning. He met
Drum outside the saloon about 1915
O'Clock this afternoon. Drum asked
hin to retract an aspersion he had
made in the game and to apologize
for 1t, he said, and when he would
not Drum pulled a pistol from his
pocket and fred two shots.
The revolver was a .32-calibre. One
of the bullets went wild. the other
took effect. 1t penetrated McDonald's
right breast and took a downward
course and is now lodged in his left
breast.
Police We're Nearby.
After the shooting Drum held the
revolver In his hand, the police say.
Plainclothesmen Luke ,Conlon and
James Fletcher, of the Fifth precinct,
had passed the corner minute be-
fore, and were a half block away
when they heard the shot. They
wheeled and saw Drum and his vic-
tim with his hand clutching his
breast
Here, you fellows, come take this
exclaimed Drum, holding out the re-
vover. butt end first, as the plain
clothesmen closed in on him. He
knew who they were and made no at
tempt to get away. Mcdonald was
reeling around with his hands on his
breast, but Drum paid no attention
TO him. He kept his arm extended
toward the officers. and they. fearing
that he had the gun pointed at them,
were cautious in reaching him.
Mcdonald Drops.
Mcdonald sank on the sidewalk on
Central avenue. Someone went into
the saloon and telephoned to the City
Hospital He was conscious on his
way to and when he reached the
hospital, in fact his senses did not
leave him at all. He felt that he
was dying, however, and sent for
priest.
The Rev. Edward F. Quirk, assist
ant rector of st. Josephs r. Cs
Church, went to the hospital and adj
mnistered the last sacraments to the
bullet victim
Il can't understand why Drum shot
me-" Mcdonald told the priest. HE
and l were friends
A few minutes later Acting Chief
Ryan and Lieutenant Joseph A. Fa-
gan reached the operating room. Me-
Donald greeted them and then made
statement to Acting Chief Ryan
which was taken down and signed by
the victim. 1t was as follows;
This morning about 1870 O'Clock |
was playing cards in Craigs saloon,
Central avenue and Second street.
George Drum was keeping score. |
accused him of looking at my hand
and telling Craig. We had some
words. About o'clock | went home.
Today about 1915, l came to Central
avenue and Second street. He (Drum)
spoke to me about the words we had
this morning in Craig's saloon about
the card game. He asked me to take
back what / had called him. | said
| would not and he took pistol from
his pocket and fired two shots at me-"
Drum Keeps Silent.
Drum was taken to the Fifth pre-
cinct police station and held to await
the outcome of McDonald's injuries.
He would say nothing except that
James r. McDermit whose office is
in the Globe building, represented him
as counsel He will not be admitted
to bail until it is determined that
Mcdonald is not fatally injured.
Thomas Craig, who owns the saloon
where the card game took place early
this morning, could remember no arr
gument. He said that everyone was
kidding" back and forth across the
table and he did not remember any
insult on McDonald's part.
Three eye-witnesses to the shoot
ing, Gustave Smith, Of SO Second
street; Peter f. Logan, of Is Second
street and Thomas Craig jr.. son OF
the saloonkeeper in front of whose
place the shooting occurred, were
taken to the Fifth precinct station
house, where statements were secured
from them. Young Craig notified the
police that whenever he was wanted
he would appear.
What Witness saw.
Smith told the police he was SO close
to Mcdonald when the shot was fired
that he felt the heat of the discharge
and heard the whiz of the bullet. NC
Donald and Drum were standing back
against the fence, talking, he said
! and Drum had to reach across NC
Donald's chest to use the revolver.
He did it so quickly, however, fnat
Mcdonald did not have time TO put
up his hands.
A little Italian lad with boot
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