Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-01
2DEAD, MANY INJURED:
WOMAN TRIES TO DIE
AS CELEBRATION ENDS
Robert Wells, of Wilmington.
Killed by Bullet Fired by
His Friend at New
Years Party
GAS FATAL TO OLD MAN

One youth was shot and killed, gas
poisoning claimed an aged man. woman
attempted suicide, two persons received
eun-shot wounds, many persons received
minor injuries, three automobiles were
stolen and fire was reported, following
the ushering in Of the New Year at mid
night.
The youth who lost his llfe when a
| bullet from a revolver In the hands OF
| n friend glanced off the pavement, was
| Robert Wells 20 years old, of Whining
| ton, Del The accident occurred at 51st
| and Ogden streets, two minutes after
1915 was given an official place In the
| city's history.
wells, according to the police. was
accidently shot by Charles Dougherty,
| "a years old of 1911 Haverford avenue,
| with a revolver owned by Edward Stack
house, of 563S Hazel avenue. Philip
| Staokhouse, a brother of the man who
owned the revolver and Wells. all OF
whom were attending a party at the home
| of Mrs. Annie Kulp, of 5lO2 Ogden street,
were standing i'm front of 5i0i talking to
a young woman, and Dougherty and Ed
| ward Stackhouse were standing on the
| pavement in front of the Kulp home
| when the shooting occurred. According
| to the police, Stackhouse drew the re-
| shots into the air ana then handed the
gun TO Dougherty. telling him to fire the
| third cartridge.
BULLET P1ERCEs LUNG.
Dougherty told the police that he fired
toward the ground and IT Is believed that
the bullet was DETECTED. II entered
Wells shoulder piercing the lung. Wells,
according to the police, walked across
the street and said
n I,aa,
shot" He collapsed at the feet of his
friends.
An automobile, belonging to George
Lockwood, OF 7lO South 5Sth street, was
pressed into service, but Wells died i'm
his friends arms as they carried him
into the Presbyterian Hospital.
The three men returned to the Kulp
home. after telling the hospital author
tiles of the accident. where they were
arrested by Special Policemen Wooten
and Seal, OF the 61st and Thompson
streets station. who had arrived on the
scene and found the revolver lying on
the porch.
Dougherty, 1t is said. told the police
of the accident and quietly submitted
to arrest. He was held without bail tor
court by Magistrate Boyle in the Cen
tral Police Station today.
GAS TAKES FIRST VICTIM.
The victim of gas poisoning was Thomas
McClain, 6s years old, of 40 South Broad
street. According to the police, he at
tended the celebration around the City
Hall and returned in a happy spirit, tell
ing several persons in the house that he
was going to retire so as to be up in
time to see the mummers' parade.
Shortly before breakfast Patrick A,
Joyce, who occupied the room across the
hail. smelled gas and traced 1t to Nc
Claims room. He broke open the door
and found the room filled with gas fumes,
despite the fact that window was raised
several inches. McClain was taken to the
Howard Hospital across the street, where
physicians used the pulmotor for more
than an hour without avail.
1t is believed that in turning out the
gas McClain's hand brushed loose key
on the chandelier, turning 1t open. Only
two or three inches separated the cocks.
BOY SHOOTS HIMSELF.
Frederick Bush. 13 years old. of 2Ol5
Snyder avenue, shot himself in the left
band while Shooting" In the new year
a stray bullet fired from a window
struck Samuel ]. McCracken, 30 years old,
of l24 Mcclellan street, while he was
passing 9TH and Dickinson streets, and
he ended his New Years celebration in
the Mount Sinai Hospital. He is suffer
ing from a painful but not serious wound
in his head.
WOMAN TRIES TO DIE.
The first attempt at suicide in 1916 was
made by Mrs. Katharine Lures, 20 years
old, of 1l9 North 10th street, bride of
four months. According to the police
she waited until the bells rang i'm the
new year and then swallowed poison. She
is in a serious condition at the Jefferson
Hospital Ill health is given as the rea-
son for her act.
A tin horn was poked into the face of
Miss Helen Pride, of 81 South 18th street,
when the din was at its height in the
neighborhood of City Hall, and, as a re-
suit, several stitches were sewed In her
face by physicians in the Jefferson Hos
pital. Miss Pride was trying TO work her
way out of the Jam In front of the Hotel
Walton when the accident occurred,
A huge crowd of gaily-dressed
paraders swarmed around the first fire
of the new year, when a taxicab was
badly damaged at Goth and Market
streets. The blaze was stopped with the
aid Of an extinguisher from another auto
mobile.
Nearly enough revolvers were contis-
Gated by the police just after midnight
TO arm regiment.
The ordinance prohibiting the discharg-
ing of firearms was forgotten on the
stroke of 12, and the revolveFs sounded
welcome TO the New Year. The police
were active, however, and the station
houses In the central section resemble |
arsenals today. 1t is estimated that more |
than 20 conhscated pistols are stored in
the 4th and Race I'd and Christian, 1lth |
and Winter, 10th and ButtonwoOd. 18th I
and Locust, 18th and Vine and 18th and |
Pine streets stations.
BEWARE! MERE MAN, OF