El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-07
AMERICAN SHOT
ON JUAREZ CAR
Motorman Phelps is Hailed,
Then Shot By Mexican;
All Cars Stopped.

& A. Phelps. motOrman on a race
track car. at Juarez, was shot through
the right shoulder and the right jaw
Monday night at 8 o'clock by a Mexican,
whom. he stated, was an officer The
snoring occurred in an unexpected
manner and was said to have grown
out OF a rumor circulated in Juarez that
American OFFICERS had burned Mexicans
in the city Jail.
Phelps. who was brought to Rolston
hospital by mayor Prieto. Of Juarez
stated that as he was making the turn
on Constitutional street in Juarez
man stood in the center of the track
and mouoned Tor the car to stop.
stops Car; In Shot.
Phelps brought the car to a stop and
opened the front door. when the man
who did the shooting, stepped in, and,
drawing an automatic pistol, fired four
times.
The motorman collapsed to the floor
and two Of the bullets struck against
the metal of the motor box. There was
general stampede on the part of the
Is passengers. and the motorman. who
fell upon the floor, was tramped by
many feet and heels as men. women
and children rushed from the car TO the
street The man who did the shooting
disappeared into the night and his
Identity so far remains unknown
IL Resting Well.
After being shot and trampled upon,
Phelps staggered from the car and is
said TO have gone to three Mexican
homes seeking relief His condition
was reported to the American consulate
and mayor Prieto was notified Phelps
was resting well Tuesday morning. He
is expected to recover.
Mayor Brings Victim Over.
The conductor. F. He'll. closed the
doors and started the deserted street
car to FL Paso without stopping until
he got to the Mexican custom house,
when the trouble was explained and
mayor Prieto arrived in his machine
and hurriedly took Phelps across the
bridge to the emergency hospital and
later to ROlston hospital.
Phelps is one OF the oldest street car
service men in El Paso and lives at
1916 Montana street He is well known
on the Highland Park line.
Mayor Prieto asserted to the FL Paso
officers that the identity Of the man
who did the shooting was known; that
he was bandit and was wanted by the
Juarez police.
street Cars stopped.
All street cars operating to Juarez
were Immediately stopped for the night
Manager II. S. Potter, of the street car
company, later had a conference with
Mexican consul Andres Garcia, in FL
Paso, and arranged for service today.
Mayor Prieto expressed regret to FL
Paso officers for the incident and prom
ised to use every effort TO bring the
man to justice for the shooting.
He told police chief Don Johnson
that MeXicans had circulated story in
Juarez that Ell Paso police were herding
MeXicans. covering them with gasoline
and applying the torch He said this
had caused considerable excitement in
Juarez early in the evening. For that
reason, at dusk. all Americans had been
turned back at the bridges and not per-
mitted to enter Juarez from FL Paso,
for fear they might be molested.
Protect Americans.
In a statement issued by Andres G..
Garcia, the Mexican consul. he assured
the American public that every Amer
lean crossing the bridge will have full
protection.
Gen. Gabriel Gavira, upon learning
the actual conditions OF the Jail fire
and the rumor that had spread in his
city, Immediately set out additional
guards to keep order. This patrol was
increased after the shooting on the
street car.