Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-24
SHOOTS HIMSELF TO AVOID
SUMMONS UNDER DRAFT
Edward N. Hyatt, Of Topeka, Kan,
Puts Two Pistol Balls
In Foot.
OUT IN WOODS
Physicians Say He Will Recover, but
May BE So Injured That He Can
not Serve-His Number Not Called
OH First Draft.

Edward n. Hyatt. twenty-five years
old. claiming to be son OF Thomas II.
Hyatt NJ. d.. 1900 Harrison Street. To-
pcka. Kan. was a patient last night at
Grace Hospital, suffering from two pis-
toll wounds in his left foot. inflicted. ac-
cording to his own story. by himself
In order that he may escape the army
draft.
Hyatt told Sheriff Sydnor OF Henrico
County. that he came to Richmond
Wednesday afternoon, and that he
stayed at leading hotel that night.
He says that he hired horse and
buggy from the HyEeia Stables yester-
day morning and drove seven or eight
miles out in the country on the Tucka-
hoe Road. intending to main himself
so that he would escape army duty.
lie was discovered wounded in a
small forest that borders the roadside
yesterday about noon. Persons who
notified the sheriff and Police Head
quarters few minutes after the dis
covery of the wounded man. told the
officers that Hyatt was armed with two
pistols and defied persons to come to
his aid They telephoned the sheriff
that they were of the opinion that the
wounded man was insane.
ADMITS MANNING HIMSELF
TO ESCAPE ARMY SERVICE
Sheriff Sydnor and County Policeman
Lawrence went to the scene of the re-
ported tragedy at once. and found
Hyatt faint from the Sunshot wound
and consequent loss of blood They
summoned DR.. l.. u. Michels, of West
hampton, who gave Hyatt first-aid
treatment. The sheriff said that Hyatt
at first refused to state why he had
shot himself, put later the young man
admitted. the sheriff said. that he fired
the shot so co MAIN himself that he
would escape the army draft.
Told that he might have responded
to the call of the nation for help when
a ferocious foe menaces it and have
come back unscathej. Hyatt is said to
have responded that he had heard that
before, and is said to have added. II
am too big coward to take the
chances. and ! do not regret that
have taken the step l have"
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CALLED
ON FIRST OR SECOND DRAFT
Hyatt showed the officers an army
registration card, red ink number $50.
which was drawn on the l.611 draw,
making it impossible that he would
have been summoned OIL the first or
second draft. He also showed his ad-
dress as 1906 Hollywood Avenue, To-
ledo. Ohio He claims to have en-
listed later in the quartcrmasters' SER
Sixth Avenue, New York City, on Au-
gust Is. He said Edwin Markham. his
brother-in-law, lived at 90 Water Ave-
nue., New York, and the sheriff wired
to that address. In a short time the
telegraph company notified the sheriff
that there was no Water Avenue in
New York City, and that there WAS no
such number as % in Water Street.
Sheriff Sydnor says that Hyatt said
he was born and reared in Topeka. and
that his father. a prominent physician
OF the Kansas capital city, lives at LOO
Harrison Street there. A message was
sent TO that address by the sheriff at
once. At the hospital last night 1t
was said that Hyatt's wounds were
not serious at all. though they might
cripple him past usefulness in an army.
y. y. Bacon, Of Harrisonburg, said to
be brother-in-law of Hyatt, was noti-
fled of his mishap late last night over
the telephone by the police. Bacon
said that he would be here this
morning.