South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-17
ASSaiIant Arrested Immediately
is Believed to be Unbalanced
Wrote Meaningless Letter
Calling GOethaIS Murderer.

NEW YORK, April 17.-An attempt
was made this afternoon to assassinate
Mayor John PurrOy Mitchell as he was
entering an automobile in front OF the
city hall One shot was fired at the
mayor by man who had apparently
been waiting upon the sidewalk.
The bullet missed the city executive
and struck Corporation Counsel Frank
Lyon Polk in the jaw, inhicting a bad
The assailant was Immediately ar
rested.
Accompanied by tNIr. Polk and Ar
thur II. Woods. the newly appointed
police commissioner. Mr. Mitchell was
Just entering the automobile TO go 10
his lunch when the shot was fired.
Mr.. Polk was carried to the traffic
police station in the basement OF the
citv hall and doctor summoned.
Mayor Mitchell and Police Commits
sioner Woods helped carry Mr.. Polk
into the basement, where he was made
as comfortable as possible.
The bullet struck the jaw bone and
was detected upward. The shooting
caused tremendous excitement, as
Park Row, Broadway and City Hall
park are always thrOnged with persons
going to or from lunch at the hour
of the shooting.
So enormous was the crowd that
gathered in a few minutes that police
reserves had 10 be called out.
Il am not certain whether or not
tha man shot at me-" said Mayor
Mitchell Immediately after the shoot
ing. At that time the assassin had not
been identified.
ASsaiIant Refuses 10 Talk.
The assailant refused TO talk when
taken before the police authorities.
He appeared to be about 20 years
of age and was poorly dressed. Upon
his coat and clothing was the name
David Rose.
II am not David Rose" the old man
sullenly declared. Then after a great
deal of persuasion. he said: My name
is Joseph SalOschein."
"Did you intend to murder Mayor
Mitchell" asked the interrOgating pO-
lice officer.
The old man shrugged his shoulders.
Later TO friends who called TO con-
graduate him upon his escape, Mayor
Mitchell said:
al have come to believe since the
shooting that the man really meant to
kill me-
Pale and agBated. Mayor Mitchell
entered the room where Saloschein
y, as being questioned. Inspector Dill
lon searched the man and found nu-
merOus clippings relating to Mayor
Mitchell and his efforts TO secure Col
Onel George ". GOethalS for police
commissioner
The mayor did not recognize the
man, but attaches of city hall-said that
he had been hanging around the en-
trance TO the mayors Office yesterday
in an effort to get in To see the city
executive.
where do you Hve?" asked Mayor
Mitchell. turning to the prisoner.
81 have no home the old man re-
Piled
In the meantime a doctor was wor =
ing over Polk. After an examination
the physician said that the wound was
not so serious as it first appeared TO be.
Claim His Name is Rose.
After an hours vigorous inVeStiga-
ton detectives claimed that the old
mans real name is David Rose, de-
spite his denials.
The name Rose was found signed
TO the following letter found in the
prisoners pocket
Mayor Mitchell: We want to inform
YOU a little bit in regard to the law
yers for magistrates clerks. You
have stated this on Feb. goth last. and
row you say that you were ignorant
the short time you have been in Of
hce?'
The rambling meaningless character |
OF this and other letters and the mans
queer behavior and wandering talk led
TO the conclusion that his mind is un-
balanced.
In another letter Rose" had writ |
ten.
Colonel Goethals knows less about |
engineering than a four-year-old boy. |
Why. if / had a boy that didn't know |
more than GOethals I would kill him. |
What a few of YOU make a fuss over
q brute and murderer such as he is"