New Britain herald., 1914-04-17
SHOT FIRED AT MAYOR MITCHELL
 STRIKES POLK
David Rose Attempts to AssSssilatt New Yerk'S Executive, but IljuIeS
 Corporation Counsel.
DETECTIVE NEUN PREVENTS
 FIRING OF SECOND SHOT


 FIRING OF SECOND SHOT Officials Were on Their Way to Lunch When Tragedy Occurred.- Victim Loses Nearly All His Front Teeth.-Prisoner on Being Ques- tioned Refused to Talk.-Letters to Executive Found in His Pocket.
 New York, April 17.-An assassin's bullet aimed at Mayor Mitchell, as he was leaving the city hall in an auto mobile today for luncheon, missed it's mark but badly wounded Frank Polk, corporation counsel. The man who fired the shot was almost instantly overpowered. His name is David Rose: his age is nearly seventy and he gave evidences of being mentally unbalanced.
 The bullet crashed through MT. Folks jaw, Knocking out nearly all his front teeth and inf1ioting a serious though not necessarily fatal wound. He was assisted into the City hall, then removed to g. hospital.
 'Mr. Polk was hit by a bullet, but the bullet was undoubtedly intended for me- was the mayors comment.
 Was Frequent Visitor.
 Attaches at the City hall said that r I several times lately but because of his queer actions, had not been per- mitted to do so.
 Rose, questioned while an ambu- lance surgeon was dressing MT. Folks wound, by the mayor and detectives, refused to answer any questions about himself. Two letters addressed to Mayor Mitchell were found in his clothing. Y}s1i The shooting occurred at the Park Row entrance to the City hall Plaza, shortly after o'clock. At that time Of the day Park Row Is congested with hundreds of men and women on their way to and from luncheon.
 After detectives had put question after question to him he said his name was soloschen. When his clothing was removed, howeyer, it was found that his collar and trous- CTS both bore the name David Rose" The man was poorly dressed. When asked where he lived he said he- had no home.
 Last Attempt in 1910.
 The last previous attempt to as- sassinate a mayor of New York was made by James J. Gallagher, who
 
 1910. The bullet nearly found it's throat. Many believed that the wound hastened Gaynor's death.
 Gallagher was declared insane and sent to an asylum at Trenton, N. J., where he died February 3, 1913.
 On Way to Lunch.
 Mayor Mitchell, Police Commission CT Arthur Woods and MT. Polk had just left the mayors office in the City hall to go to downtown restaurant for luncheon. The three crossed the Plaza toward Park Row, where stood the mayors automobile, driven by Detective George Neun.
 The mayor got in first MT. Polk and Commissioner Woods. following in the order named. As the mayor sat down, Rose lodged through the crowd on Park Row, and walking up to point opposite the chauffeur, took quick aim at MT. Mitchell and fired. At the crack of the revolver Neun leaped from the car upon the shoul- ders of the man and bore him to the sidewalk. This prevented him from firing his revolver a second time. Neun overpowered him and took from him six shot thirty eight calibre re- volver.
 Mayor Assists Polk.
 While the detective and Rose were struggling for possession of the re- yvolver MT. Polk staggered and was saved from sinking to the sidewalk by the mayor. Blood was squirting from the mouth of the corporation counsel and he was half carried to the police station in the basement of the city hall, where policemen at tended to him as best they could with first aid material, pending the arrival of surgeons.
 A policeman standing a few feet away from the automobi blew his ! whistle as soon as he saw Mr. Polk stagger and with other policemen. assisted the struggling detective in holding Rose. Then they took the would-be assassin in a room in the police station in the city hall base ment. where he was questioned.
 Mayor Questions Rose.
 Mayor Mitchell came in and stood by the prisoner. Rose was trembling with fright and his hands shook. Why did you shoot at me?'' the mayor asked him.
 Rose only mumbled.
 1T won't say anything" he then rsoutsd.