Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-20
SOLD|ERPAT|ENT'S
SHOTS IN HOSPITAL
WOUND DR.. ROONEY
w. S. HoIbert, War Veteran.
ASSaiIant at Providence
Institution.
MAN HAD BEEN GASSED:
SHELL-SHOCK VICTIM
Three Bullets Fired Take Effect in
Body-Lakewood Physician
Also Object of Anger.

AS Dr. John Francis Rooney. TWEEN
ty-seven years old. public health sery-
Ice physician, who has been stationed
at Providence Hospital, stood in the
first floor hallway of the hospital this
morning at 10 o'clock he was ap-
proached by Walter Scott Holbert, an
ex-soldier and patient in the hospital,
who shot the doctor three times.
Hope for the recovery of Dr. Rooney
is held out by hospital physicians al
effect in the doctors body. One bullet
tore through the left shoulder. an
other is lodged in the back and the
tahird went through the left elbow
Caught by Detectives.
Holbert fled from the hospital, but
was captured half a square away by
Detectives Scrivener and Kelly. who
were at the hospital at the time to
ascertain the condition of Detective
Armstrong. Holbert is being held at
police headquarters.
They mistreated me and j got my
revenge" Holbert told the police time
and again, after his capture.
Or. Rooney would not do anything
for me-" is given by Holbert as his
reason. for shooting the physician,
police say.
Holbert was a member of Company
A. 18th Infantry, and was overseas
through most. of the war. He had
been gassed while in the Argonne
drive and was treated in an Army
hospital for shell shock.
Police claim that Holbert tells of
his intention to shoot a Lieut. Adams.
physician in the military hospital at
Lakewood, n. j.. who. the prisoner
says. did not give Holbert attention
satisfactory to the patient
only Z could not get a gun then
to shoot with" Holbert is said to
have informed police.
Holbert had been discharged from
the Lakewood hospital and had come
to Washington. He suffered later
from oSteomyelitiS of his left foot and
applied to the public health service.
Through the agency of the service he
where he has been a patient for four
mon this.
Operator saw Shooting.
Miss Mary Crogan, telephone opera
tor at the hospital, whose Office over
looks the hallway, saw the shooting
this morning.
DR.. Rooney was standing in the hall,
about twenty feet from her windows
when Holbert approached him and be-
gan shooting. she said. There were
three shots in rapid succession and
one of the bullets. supposed to have
been the one which went through tho
doctors elbow, struck the marble
facing near Miss Crogan's window.
Holbert turned and ran through the
door near at hand to the street. DIR.
Rooney, holding both hands over his
chest, staggered down the hall. Miss
Crogan ran from her Office, calling
for help.
DIR. George Davis. hearing the shots.
hurried from the room of a patient on
the first floor and caught DIR. Rooney
in his arms. He assisted him to a
bed. The wounded man is being al
lowed to rest in order that an N-ray
picture may be taken this afternoon
to ascertain the exact location of the
bullet in his back.
Holbert used 32-caliber Colt re-
volver He hurled the weapon into a
snow bank as he ran from the hos
pital, but later walked back with De-
tectives Kelly and Scrivener to recover
the gun.
DIR. Rooney is unmarried. He was
rooming at 1880 Vermont avenue. He
had planned to leave Washington to-
night to spend Christmas with his
parents at Worcester, Mass. He has
been in the public health service here
for two years.
Physicians at the Providence Hos