Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-24

=. McCOMAS HAWkEN.
Ray NJ. Stewart, eighteen years old
whose sensational attempt to "shoot
up" Criminal Court No. 1 yesterday
afternoon was told exclusively in The
Star, spent last night in the Distr:
Jail. His attorney, Matthew f. O'Brien
visited him at the Jail this morning
and declared the boys mind is a blank
as to the occurrence in the court
ROOM
MIR. O'Brien probably will ask Justice
Stafford to defer sentence until next
fall. promising to make no attempt to
procure the release of Stewart on bail
and agreeing to accept the report of
government physicians as to the men
tai condition of the prisoner.
Speaking of the probable insanity OF
the boy, Attorney OBrien said mem
Der of the immediate family is con-
fined in an asylum, as is also an uncle
1t is reported that a brother of Stew
art committed suicide about two wears
ago.
United States Attorney Wilson has
not decided definitely on his course
of procedure. AS the maximum pen
atty for the crime of attempted rob-
berry for which Stewart is to be SEN
fenced is only three years. and the ill
ness of the wife of Policeman Mofett
into whose house the boy is alleged to
have broken last month, prevents her
appearing against him, it is regarded
as most likely that the facts of the
shooting yesterday will be laid before
the grand jury and an indictment for
assault to kill presented against Stew
art.
Attorney O'Brien's Statement.
Attorney O'Brien issued a statemen,
this morning. He said:
What my future course will be as the
attorney for Ray Stewart depends solely
upon reports of physicians employed by
the government as to his sanity. l dc
not believe that | could, consistent with
my oath as an attorney. do anything tC
obstruct or defeat punishment of mar
guilty of the act committed by this boy
yesterday in the courtroom, If sane.
Il have, therefore, come to the con
clusion that it is my duty to reques,
Justice Stafford to defer any action in
the case until fall and to order the gov
eminent physicians to observe and ex-
anime the boy, who will be kept in Gus
tOdy in the meantime, and report to the
court at the October term his mental
condition.
Il am satisfied from his history and
the insanity already existing in his fam
lily that the report will be that he is
insane and not accountable for his acts
In view of the fact that l will assure the
court that no attempt will be made to
secure the release of Stewart on bail
and that the report of the government
physicians as to his sanity will be un-
questioned, l can see no reason why the
district attorney should oppose the course
l have suggested
Narrow Escape of officials:
Justice Wendell p Stafford, who was
presiding in the court at the time Of
the shooting, was the recipient today of
many congra tulations at his escape
from injury. Immediately after the
first shot rang out in the courtroom
Justice Stafford was seen to lean for
ward and the cry, was raised that he
had been shot. When the fuSillade had
ceased. it was discovered that the jus
tice had merely 'ducked" out of the
line of firing and was unframed.
Assistant United States District At
torney Hawken was so close to Stewart
when the firing began that the first bull
let singed his hair. Before the second
shot was heard Mr.. Hawken had step
around the corner of the clerks desk
Other officials who were i'm close prOx-
unity to the flying pellets were Assistant
United States Attorney Harvey Given, AS
sistant United States Attorney William
Gilchrist, Sergt. c. ]. p. Webber and
Policeman Arthur d. Moffett of the 1eev-
enth precinct, Detectives Grant and Helan
of the district attorneys office and Louis
Carmody. private secretary 10 Justice
Wright, who was just mounting the steps
to the bench to consult Justice Stafford
when the shooting occurred.
The first two shots appeared to be aim
ed at Assistant United States Attorney
Hawken and the two police officers. Haw-
ken was only six feet away from the
prisoner and Sergt. Weber and Officer
behind Hawken. In the jury box, within
range, were the other officials.
The first ball passed just over the top
of Prosecutor Gilchrists head and be-
tween the heads of Assistant Prosecutor
Given and Sergt. Weber. 1t smashed into
the plastering of the wall and was i'm
bedded deeply. The second ball apparent
ly was fired in direct attempt to Stay
Prosecutor Hawken as he was going
around the end of the table, because it
passed over his body and struck glancing-
ly on the frame of window about in the
center of the wall behind the jury box
and was detected Later it was found
near the water cooler that sits at the end
of the Justices bench and between it and
the jury box. The last ball went wild, and
jury box. The last ball went wild, and
imbedded in the wall between the top of
the window and the ceilins.
Edward Blaine's Quick Work.
A shocking tragedy perhaps was pre-
vented by the quick action of Edward
Blaine of 1872 4th street. Congress
Heights, an employee of the Department
of Agriculture. who was sitting on the
front row of benches about ten feet from
the prisoner. Mr.. Blaine had been wit
ness against the boy. as had been his
wife and two little girls. Blaine grabbed
Stewart just as the second shot was fired
throttled him and threw him to the floor.
As the boy was falling the third shot