Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-12
BANDIT GANG VICTIM
WILL SURVIVE ATTACK
Policeman Shot While Bat
tling With Auto Thieves
Regans Consciousness

Policeman Walter James, attached to
the Twentieth and Federal streets sta
tion, who late last night single-handed.
under a fusillade Of pistol shots, battled
with n gang OF gunmen until he was
wounded, regained consciousness today
at st. ARnes's Hospital. and furnished
detectives with description OF the men
who attacked him. James was shot In
the face. He will recover. Pictures of
some of the men mentioned by James
IRE in the rogues' gallery.
The attack on James was another
chapter enacted by the automobile ban
iits. who for n week have been operat-
ing in this city. Besides James being
old. Of Brooklyn. ~ Y, alleged leader
Of the gang. was wounded in the left
arm. Another man who was seriously
wounded was Henry Quandra. thirty-fice
years old, i222 South Eighteenth street.
q ruffenr employed by L G Harr'-
son. Jr. 2i3 East Rittenhouse square.
Quandra was shot In the abdomen. lie
~ also In st. Agnes's Hospital
The triple shooting occurred about 10
o'clock last evening in the saloon OF
Chris Packoff, Reed and Bowler streets,
where O'Neil and an automobile be-
longing TO the Harrison family had
stolen from IN front of Quandra's home.
Quandra, driving the Harrison car.
reached his home shortly after s o'clock
last evening. While eating his supper
the automobile was stolen. When he
reached the street neighbors t,d him
that a youth accompanied by about six
or seven young men had jumped into
the car and rode away.
For two hours Quandra made a tour
Of South Philadelphia searching for tho
car. He had reached Reed and Bouvier
streets when he saw the Harrison car
on the corner. Several negroes told
Quandra that party Of men who had
alighted from the car were in Packoff's
saloon. Nearby stood Policeman James.
to whom Quandra reported tire theft Of
the car.
James and Quandra ensered the
saloon, followed by n group OF negroes,
vho po'~tA' ont O'%eii as TIVE man
who had driven the car At this time
the saloon was IN pitch of excite
mcnt.
Eight or ten men were icvelinG re-
volvers at patrons in the saloon. Ac-
cording 10 James, O'Ncil was one of the
men who was participatin in the ho!d-up
of the saloon.
rushed forward and tried TO place his
hand on ONeil.
''G,. back. you dirty -----" shouted
o'NeII.
Look out, officer. that man has Il
revolver" shouted Quandra as warn
ing to james.
Before james could draw his revolver,
the police al!egc O'Ncil pulled the trig-
ger Of his revolver. Tho first bullet
struck James in the face, penetrating his
left cheek.
The shot was heard by Policeman viii
| liam Clark. of the Fifteenth street and
Snyder avenue station, who raH toward
! the saloon. His attention was attracted
| to the place by screams of women and
| hi'dren. O'Neirs companions were
| shooting left and right when Clark en-
tered the place. James, though wounded
was on his knee firing back at the gun
men. ono of the shots Iircd by Jane
struck O'Noil in the arm Before the
gunmen fled they had succc cded IN
wounding ouandra
A riot call brought n squad of police
men from the Fifteenth stree, and Sny-
der avenue station. O'Ncil was placed
under arrest. With James and Quandra
| he was removed TO -. Agncs's Hospital
| Detectives later questioned O'Ncil at the
| hospital, but he refused to saw a I'D.
ONcil was held BY Magistrate Wat
son in Central station wItdout BAH 10
await IL. result of Jlmcs's injuries
| and in $1,000 bail on the charge OF steal
| ing the Harrison automobile.
Two men suspected of being impli-
Gated in tho hold-up of the saloon and
| in the theft of the Harrison car were
arrested ear y, today.