The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-29
Former Says He Was De- lending Woman When
 Shot In Abdomen
COHEN DENIES HE
 DID THE SHOOTING
Claims He Was Not In House at Time. Identified at Birmingham ln- firmary By Wounded Man.
 Chance For Life Slim

H. I. Robinson. r914 Eighth ave nue was shot and probably morteily wounded yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock, 1t is alleged, by John w. Cohen The shooting occurred at ifS4 Cleveland avenue. Weat End. the resi- dence of c. n. Hurley, where Cohen rooms Cohen was arrested few minutes after the shooting by officers Hancock Walton. Drake and Euhanks and lodged in the city jail charged with assault with intent to murder.
 The bullet. which wounded the man was fired from a2-calibre Win chester rifle and took effect in the abdomen. Robinson was rushed to the Birmingham infirmary in Johns am hulance where he was operated on at once His intestines are perforated in five places and his chances for life are considered slim.
 Cohen is painter by trade and says that he has lived in this city for the past 10 years Robinson Is employed by the Peerless Fireless Cookery eom- l.any as a demonstrator aud salesman.
 When arrested Cohen denied doing the shooting and said that he knew nothing of It. About 9 o'clock last night the prisoner was brought to the Birmingham infirmary by Detectives F,phanks. crenshaw and Lyons to he identified. As soon as the men walked in the room where the wounded man lay EubanSs asked Robinson to pick cut the man who had shot him,
 Identifies Cohen
 Robinson. without hesitation. point ed a shaking finger at Cohen an' said: That's the man that shot me-
 Up until the tlnie he came Into the presence of the wounded man Cohen had repeatedly asked to be brought before him so that the officers could be sure that he was not guilty. After ward he reiterated his claim that ne was not guilty.
 According to a statement made by Robinson at the Birmingham inflrm. ary after he had identified Cohen as the man who shot him. Robinson was acting as a defender of a woman when he was shot.
 q started into the home of Mrs Hurley with a grip In my hand. Just es l was about to mount the steps l heard woman screaming, then soma woman's voice. said: Don't come in now; come back later. l turned to leave the house and had reached the gate when I was called back by an elderly lady who said: 'Fod Gods sake. come in here and keep this man from killing this woman 1 turned and went up on the porch and started to enter the house when the old lady said. Never mind l see you have an arm l.. .sa m hl m. d1e him I replied that l would try tu stop the man from harming the lady
 "As l entered the room 1 saw the man whom l have just identified with knife in his hand slashing at a wom- an. l screamed to him to stop and stepped between them, As l did the ran ran from the room. One of the wcmen screamed to me that the man had gone for a gun, and to run. l then started to leave the place.
 Saw Man About to Fire
 "As I reached the gate I glanced over my shoulder and saw man with rifle in his hands ready to fire. Be- fore could speak the man fired and hit me in the stomach. I ran for few yards and fell. The man who shot was close onto me by this time. Don't shoot any more, stranger; you've got me- said That was the last l knew until l woke up after being operated on.
 According to the police they have in their possession the names of five witnesses who told the officers that they saw Cohen shoot Robinson. Cohen states that he came home in an ir- responsible condition about an hour be- fore he was arrested and says that he had gone to the corner for drink and on his way back was arrested.
 'I was not in the house at all. 1 don't know anything about the af- fsir. I am innocent" he said.
 A warrant will be sworn out for Cohen and he will be transferred to