The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-02
POLICEMAN LAID Off
FOR new SHOOTING
Moran Just Cleared When
He Gets Into Trouble
Again.
WOUNDS WOMAN In LEG
Says Visit Was Friendly and
Discharge of Pistol
Accidental.
TO FACE FOUR CHARGES
Patrolman Will Be Placed on
Trial Before Superiors
at Headquarters.
TO FACE FOUR CHARGES

Policeman William J. Moran, Jr,
who ten days ago was accused OF
shooting a man in a poolroom but was
cleared when the complainant re-
tracted the charge, shot a woman in
the leg while paying her friendly call
yesterday. The woman, Mrs Stella
Russell Of 1T East Seventy seventh
street, is in Bellevue Hospital, not
seriously hurt, and Moran Is tenn
porarily off the police force, having
been suspended by Commissioner En-
right.
Moran, who is unmarried, lives with
his parents at 249 East Seventy-sev-
enth street, block away from Mrs.
Russell and passes her house every
day on his way to and from the West
Forty-seventh street station, to which
he was attached. She and her hus-
band, who is furrier by trade, keep
house in couple of furnished rooms
and, according to her and according to
Moran, all three have been good friends
for several years.
According to the story which they
both told after the shooting yesterday
he was on his way home at 10 o'clock
in the morning when he saw her at her
window and decided to call on her.
When he entered her rooms he found her
breakfast dishes still on the table and
upon her invitation sat down while she
put the coffee pot on the stove.
The warmth of the day, according
to her version, prompted him to remove
his coat. and then, so that he might be
completely at his ease. he took his
service pistol from his hip pocket and
laid it beside his plate. She complained
at this, saying that 1t made her ner-
vous, so Moran picked up the gun again
and began taking the cartridges out
of it.
1t was while he was taking out the
last cartridge that the weapon was ex-
ploded and Mrs. Russell wounded in the
left leg. She ran to the rooms OF Mrs.
Marie Hotchings, a friend. down the hall,
and ultimately an ambulance from
Flower Hospital took her to Bellevue.
Moran left the house before she was
taken away. After she had gone Mrs.
Hotchings went into her room and found
Ave cartridges among the coffee cups.
Moran was due back at his station
house at 2 o'clock. but did not go there,
and detectives found him in bed at home.
He will have to stand trial at head
quarters on charges of being absent
without leave. failing to report a shoot
ing, failing to render first aid and call
an ambulance, and conduct unbecoming
an officer.
AS was explained at Police Head
quarters yesterday he was cleaned" of
the last shooting charge against him
by a retraction on the part of the star
witness. On August % there was fight
in a pool room at 1919 Third avenue and
Edward Clayton. youth who lives In
that neighborhood, was shot in the leg.
He accused Moran. but Moran, who adj
mitted that he was in the pool room
just before the fighting. denied that he
was in it when the fight did start. He
was on sick leave. off duty at the time.
Later Clayton retracted the story. ex-
planning that after thinking the matter
over carefully he had decided that his
Identification OF Moran was mistaken.