Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-23
BULLET, FIRED AT
NEW YORK MAYOR,
STRIKES ANOTHER

New York, April 1S.-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 instantly overpow-
cred. His name is David Rose, his age
nearly 20, and he V evidences of
being mentally unbalanced.
The bullet crashed through Mr..
Folks jaw, knocking out nearly all
his front teeth and inflicting a serious
though not necessarily fatal wound.
He was assisted into the city hall, then
removed to u hospital.
Mr.. Polk was hit by the bullet, but
the bullet was undoubtedly intended
for me- was Mayor Mitchel's COM
ment.
Attaches at the city hall said that
Rose had called to see the mayor sew
eral times lately. but because of his
queer actions had not been permitted
to see him.
While an ambulance surgeon was
dressing Mr.. Folks wound, Rose was
questioned by the mayor and a score
of detectives. He refused to answer
any questions about himself. Two
letters addressed to Mayor Mitchell
Were found on his clothing.
The shooting occurred at the Park
Row entrance to the city hail plaza,
shortly after / o'clock. At that time
of day Park Row is congested with
hundreds of men and women on their
way to and from luncheon.
Sleuth Captures Rose.
Mayor Mitchell, Police Commissioner
Arthur Woods and Mr.. Polk had just
left the mayors office in the city hall
to go to a downtown restaurant for
luncheon. The three crossed the plaza
toward Park Row, where stood the
mayors automobile, driven by Detec-
tive George Neun.
The mayor got in first. Mr.. 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 d point
opposite the chauffeur, took quick aim
at Mr.. Mitchell and fired.
At the crack of the revolver, Neun
leaped from the car onto the shoulders
of the man and bore him to the side
walk. This prevented him from pull
ing the trigger of his revolver a sec
ond time.
While the detective and Rose We're
struggling on the sidewalk, the former
trying to get possession of the re-
vo!ver, Mr.. Polk staggered and was
saved from sinking to the sidewalk by
the mayor.
Blood vas squirting from the mouth
of the corporation counsel and he was
half carried to the police station il
| llIC VI III III li1ll In Z
policemen attended him as best they
could with first aid material, pending
the arrival of surgeons.
A policeman standing a few fee
from he automobile. blew his whistle
as soo as he saw Mr.. Polk stagger
With other policemen he assisted the
struggling detective in holding Rose
They took the would-be assassin into
the city hall basement, where he was
questioned in a room adjoining tina
where Mr.. Polk was being treated.
Mayor Mitchell came in and stood
by the prisoner. Rose was trembling
with fright n his hands shook.
Refuses to Explain.
"Why did you shoot at me?" thu
mayor asked him.
Rose only mumbled. Il won't sa,
anything" he finally shouted.
After detectives had put question af
ter question to him, he said, his nam
was S~oloschen. When his clothing wa.
removed, however. it was found tina
name David Rose" The man wa
poorly dressed. When asked where h
lived he said he had no home.
h questioning was still in prog
ress when Mr.. Polk was removed t.
the New York hospital. His face, Chi
n neck We're baldaged and blood wa
still pouring from his mouth when h
entered the ambulance. A surgeon sal,
that nearly all his lower teeth ha
been knocked out and that the jay
bone had been pierced in two places.
In the prisoners pockets We're two o
three letters and a newspaper clipping
relating to the Goethals police bills
One of the letters was a brief one i
an envelope stamped INC addressed t
Mayor Armstrong, Pittsburgh, Pa"
was dated April IA, and read:
Armstrong: You have done you
part and you will soon pay. We wi
do our part and you will see what PAL
it will be-"
The letter was unsigned.
Wrote Threatening Letter.
A long rambling letter on the genera
subject Of Mayor Mitchel's record o
the police question began:
Mitchell: You never lost some {