The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-04-18
POLK MUCH BETTER;
LIKELY TO RECOVER
Michael P. Mahoney Imag-
ined That He Had a
Grievance

4
with intent to kill, of Michael p.
Mahoney to whose erring aim Mayor
John Puuoy Mitchell owes his life
marked the first move in the program
outlined by District Attorney Whitman
for quick trial OF the would-be as
sassin. On Monday District Attorney
Whitman will present the case to the
grand jury and an immediate indict-
ment is expected to be returned, making
| it possible to bring Mahoney before a
supreme court justice at an early date
Mahoney faces possible prison sem
tence of twenty years or commitment
to an asylum if he is adjudged insane.
Frank Lyon Polk, corporation counsel,
who was struck by the bullet intended
/ for Mayor Mitchell, spent restless
| night and the physicians announced to-
day that the patient would be able to
leave the hospital within few days
land. after resting two weeks, probably
would be able to resume his official
duties.
From the many incoherent letters
written by Mahoney, in which he at
tackled the official acts of Mayor Mitchell,
Mayor Armstrong of Pittsbnrg and Col
onel Goethals and after two hours
study of the the aged man, District At
torney Whitman expressed the opinion
that Mahoney was an embittered and
sodden type OF hobo. This statement I'M
dicted that Whitman would not oppose
81 IN hor ha odt.,dtrad
insane.
A secret service squad of eight men
day guarded Mitchell as he went
about his official duties.
Tells Why He Shot.
In the course of dsjointed state
ment, AIahoney declared he shot at
Mayor Mitchell because he felt aggfieyed
at the city executives "extravagant ex-
penditures" and because be was incensed
at being turned back from the door of
the mayors room in the city hall on
two occasions this week when he came
to apply for a municipal Job.
Mahoney only fired one shot. Before
he could fire a second time, he was
overcome by Detective George Neun,
who, in the capacity of the chauffeur,
was adjusting robes about the men in
the automobile. and the. revolver was
wrenehed out of Mahoney's hand. The
mayor sat in the middle Of the back seat
with Mr.. Polk on his right and George
V. Mullen, the mayors former law part
ner, on his left
The bullet passed so close to Mayor
Mitchell that the left side Of his face
was scorched Standing within a few
feet of Alahoney was Police Commits
sioner Arthur H. Woods, who was wait
ing for the chauffeur to get into the car,
intending to sit beside the driver after
the latter was seated.
Shooter Soon 0verpowered.
TO bystanders, the sound of the re-
yolver shot and the sight of the aged
man who did the shooting, sprawled
upon the pavement as he was borne
down by the onslaught of Detective
Neun, seemed almost simultaneous. The
form of Mayor Mitchell, steadying the
staggering figure of Mr.. Polk, then out
lined itself in the picture. Within thir-
ty seconds the city hall plaza and Park !
Row was filled with curious crowd
and the police reserves were called out
As soon as he had seen that Mr..
Polk received medical attention Mayor
Mitchell went to the police station in
the basement of city hall, where
Mahoney had been taken through an
avenue in the crowd opened by the
police. and questioned him.
"Why did you shoot at mei" he
asked Mahoney
The mayor seemed as calm as if moth |
ing had happened
The prisoners answer was incoherent |
and to the effect that he had nothing to |
say. Covering and trembling before |
his questioners, he seemed hardly to |
know what he had done.
He was slim and gaunt, wore a ragged |
fringe of white beard and was clad in
an ill-fitting suit OF dark gray and
derby hat. As he was questioned his
expression, shifted from a haunted look |
to a bewldered stare.
Lynch the Assassin"
While the police were trying to learn |
his name which he persistently refused |
TO give, Mr. Polk. with his face band |
aged. was able to walk with the assist |
ance of one of the ambulance surgeons, |
and he was removed to the New York |
hospital. BY this time the plaza was
packed with jostling throng Shouts |
were heard of "Where's the assassin? |
Lynch hint"
1t was thought at the time that the
corporation counsel had lost most of his |
lower teeth, and that the jawbone had
been pierced in two places by tie bullet,
but later report from the hospital |
stated that only one tooth had been
knocked out. and that unless blood pois-
oning set in the wound would not prove |
serious.
Sorry for His Act.
After being questioned for two hours
by the district attorney, Police Commits !
sioner Wood and score of detectives, |
the man said that his name was Michael |
+. Mahoney of No. 3 Fiftieth street, |
Manhattan.
Mahoney said he was blacksmith
and had been. ont of work about year.
He said he had tried to secure an inter
view with Mayor Mitchell on Monday !
last. bit had been unsuccessful.
On Wednesday, he said he made up