Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-21
DR.. ROONEY, SHOT
BY AN EX.S0LD|ER,
IS RESTING QUIETLY
Full Recovery Expected-As-
saiIant Said He Came Here
to "Get" DR.. Adams.

Dr. John Francis Rooney, public
health service physician stationed at
the Providence Hospital. who was
shot by Walter Scott Holbert. former
SoloIer. yesterday morning, is rest
ing quietly and is expected to recover.
Reports from the Providence Hos
pital. where DIR. Rooney is being
treated. state that unless infections
appear there is little doubt Of his
complete restoration to health.
All three shots fired by Holbert, as
he approached DR.. Rooney in the hall
way Of the Providence Hospital and
opened fire on the physician with
Colt revolver, entered the doctors
body. One wound is in the left Shout
der. another through the left elbow
and the third through the fleshy part
of the left side. No vital organs are
affected.
Held mt Tersth Precinct.
Folbert. in custody in the tenth
prec'~- police station. continues to
caus !, considered that the physician
wa ~ giving him proner attention.
IT - neglected me and 7 decided
to get even" Holbert told detectives
last night.
Holbert was in Company A. goth
Infantry. during the war. He was
gassed and suffered from she'll shock
in the Argonne forest drive. Later
he was returned to this country. and
has told police that he had intended
to kill Lieut.. Adams, who treated him
tai. Holbert learned that Adams was
in Washington. and had come here
from. West Virginia to get him." he
told police. But Holbert could not
find Adams. and as the ex-soldier was
suffering from osteomeliti of the left
foot he was sent to the Providence
; Hospital by the public health service.
Probably DR.. J. b. Adams.
DR.. Frank Bennette Adams. son of
Dr. S. s. Adams. of 1901 Connecticut
avenue is believed to be the Lieut..
Adams who was marked for death by
Holbert.
Dr. Adams treated numerous she'll
shocked and gassed soldiers from
overseas When he returned home
from a detail in the hospital at Lake
wood. NJ j., he related incidents in
which some of the patients. their
minds affected by overseas duty. had
expressed dissatisfaction with their
treatment and INDUCED in incendiary
talk
Lieut.. Adams is graduate Of
Princeton University and Harvard
Medical School He returned here
from Lakewood and was on duty at
Walter Reed Hospital until September
% last, when he went to the Peter Bent
Brigham Hospital in Boston. He was
stationed in the hospital at Lake
wood from August, 1918, until June,
1919
Former Lieut.. Adams yesterday aft
ernoon learned how fortunate it was
that he was not in this city this week.
and his friends fully realize that Hol-
bert probably would have killed or
wounded him had he met him on the
street or in a public building where
he searched for him.
Tells Of His Movements.
Last evening Detectives O'Brien. Kelly
Scriyener, herman and Sweeney were
with the prisoner two hours or more In
an effort to learn all they could about
him and his movements after he left
the hospital at Lakewood.
Holbert said he had purchased the
revolver while visiting friends in
West Virginia and that he had bought
it in a store at Hinton, paying $22
for it.
II bought it for the purpose of kill
ing Lieut.. Adams" he declared.
Holbert said he spent some time III
a marine hospital in Pittsburgh, and
while there his treatment was no
better than at other institutions. He
told the detectives that some time
ago he informed a woman war worker
Of his intention to kill Lieut.. Adams
Thursday night I made up my mind
to kill Dr. Rooney" the prisoner told
the detectives.
II hope he's dead" he added. land
I'm ready to take the punishment"