Evening star., 1914-04-17


NEW YORK. April II.--An assa ssin 8
bullet aimed at Mayor Mitchell as he was
@aving the city hall in an automobile
today for luncheon missed its mark. but
BADLY wounded Frank Polk, corporation
counsel. The man who fired the shot
vas instantly overpowered. His name is
David Rose. his age nearly seventy years
and he gave evidences of being mentally
unbalanced.
The bullet crashed through Mr.. Polk's
Jaw, knocking out nearly all his front
teeth and indicting a serious though
not necessarily fatal wound. He was
assisted into the city hall, then re-
moved to hospital.
Mr.. Polk was hit by the bullet, but
the bullet was undoubtedly intended
for me-" was the mayors comment.
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.. Polks- wound Rose was
questioned by the mayor and score of
detectives. He refused to answer any
questions about himself. Two letters ad-
dressed to Mayor Mitchell were found in
his clothing.
The shooting occurred at the Park Row
entrance to the city hall 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.
Mayor Mitchell. Police Commissioner
Arthur Woods and Mr.. Polk had just
left the mayors Office in the city hall
to 20. to a downtown restaurant Tor
luncheon The three crossed the plaza
toward Park Row, where. stood the
mayors automobile. driven by Detective
George Neun-
The mayor got in first. Nr. 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 Mr
Mitchell and fired.
AT the crack of the revolver Neun leaped
from the car upon the shoulders OF the
man and bore him to the sidewalk
This prevented him from pulling the
trigger of mis- revolver second time.
While the detective and Rose were
struggling on the sidewalk. the former
trying to get possession of the revolver
Mr.. 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 base
ment of the city hall. where policemen
attended him as best they could with
first-aid material. pending the arrival of
surgeons.
policeman standing a few feet away
from the automobile blew his whistle as
soon as he saw Mr.. Polk stasser. With
other policemen he assisted the strug-
Cling detective in holding Rose. They
took the would assassin into the city
hall basement where he was questioned
in a room adjoining that where Polk
was being treated.
M,rchel Questions Assailant.
Mayor Mitchell came in and stood by
the prisoner.
Rose was trembling with fright and his
hands shook.
s.Why did you shoot at me- the mayor
asked him.
Rose only mumbled.
II won't say anything, he finally
shouted.
After detectives had put question after
question to him he said his name was
Soloschen When his clothing was re-
moved. however it was found that his
collar and trousers both bore the name
David Rose" The man was poorly
dressed When asked where he lived he
said he had no home.
Mr. Polk's Injuries.
when Mr.. Polk was removed to the New
York Hospital His face chin and neck
were bandag aged. and blood was still
pouring from his mouth when he en-
tered the ambulance surgeon said
that nearly all his lower teeth had been
knocked out. and that the jawbone had
been pierced in two places.
Found in Prisoners Pockets.
In the prisoners pockets We're two ol
three letters and newspaper clipping re
lating to the Goethals police bills. One o
the letters was brief one. in an envelope
stamped and addressed to Mayor Arm
strong, Pittsburg. Pa" 1t was datec
April IA and read:
Armstrong: You have done your par
and you soon will pay. We will do ou
part and you will see what part 1t will
be-"
The letter was unsigned.
long. rambling letter on the gen.
eral subject Of Mayor MitchePs recorc
on the police question began:
Mitchell: You never lost some o.
your old tricks and you never will"
A crowd of 1000 persons surrounded
the city hall while Mr.. Polk and Ros.
we're inside. Several morbidly curiou.
= in the crowd picked up teeth that hat
been knocked from Mr.. Folks moutf
Continued on Seventeenth Pagel