The New York herald., 1922-03-15
Pierpont Potter, Officer of
q. S. Armor Corporation,
Had Done Trick Often.
FIRST ACCIDENT OF KIND
Money Handlers Of Third Ave-
nue. Elevated Line Witness
Accident.

Pierpont Potter, sales manager for
the United States Armor Corporation,
arranged fake holdup in the base
ment of 104 Front street yesterday
afternoon to demonstrate the bullet
proof qualities of steel plated canvas
vest manufactured by his firm.
He was showing the device to three
employees of the Third avenue ele-
waited railroad. all trusted men who
are in charge of the collection of
money from stations and the handling
of huge sums for pay rolls. They had
been sent to witness the test. it was
learned, because the railroad company
is anxious to protect them from at
tacks by bandits and the vest had been
suggested as a safeguard.
The railroad employees. with George
w. Smith, one of Potter's statesmen,
stood back gainst the wall to be out
of the path of revolver fire. Edmund
McGrath of 2540 Boulevard, Jersey
City, Potters assistant in demonstra-
tions, had the role of bandit and was
armed with a .32-calber revolver
while the sales manager, playing the
part Of the victim, wore one of the
vests.
Ready for Attack by Thief.
"Now watch carefully" shouted Pot-
ter to the gallery. II walk along the
street With bag OF money. The shtef
springs at me-come on Mac, come at
me--and / get ready for him."
McGrath leaped at Potter. whipping
revolver from his pocket. Hands up"
he said.
"He says Hands up" Potter con-
tinued, reaching out to grapple with
McGrath Il go at him and he shoots
shoot Mac"
McGrath fired. Potter staggered and
screamed with pain and then collapsed.
McGrath hurled the gun into a corner
and raced to the street and then 20 Old
Slip station, where he found Patrclman
Marshall Smith and Detective Dunpay.
"Tve shot a man accidentally" he
told them. He led them to the basement
OF the Front street building. where they
found DR., Gibson Of Broad Street Hos
pital already at work over Potter Pot
ter was losing consciousness, but before
he was taken away TO the hospita! he
begged the detective not to arrest Nc
| Grath.
Victim Abs0Ives shooter.
Don't arrest him. He didn't mean
to hurt me- Mac and are old pals"
At Broad Street Hospital ii was said
that Potters condition was critical The
bullet passed through his stomach.
| lodging in the tissue near the spine. 1t
was extracted.
An inspection of the steel plated vest
showed that the bullet had passed. not
through the steel but between two OF the
three broad overlapping plates used in
protecting the chest and abdomen. Potter
the spectators said. raised his hands and
! took breath as IL in preparation for a
struggle just as he told McGrath to fire.
The initiation OF his lungs and the rails
ing of his arms expanded his chest
enough to cause the overlapping plates
to spread apart a small fraction OF an
| inch and IL was through this space that
the bullet went
The office of the armor corporation is
at AZ Exchange place. but Potter had
rented the basement of the Front street
building for use as a demonstration
I
scores OF fake holdups for the purpose
of showing the value of the vest and
yesterdays accident was the first.
steel Plates Turn Bullets.
A few minutes before the fake holdup
Potter had placed a plate OF the steel
against a block OF wood and fired bullets
at II to prove II would turn them and
not even suffer a dent.
Detective Dunphy questioned Nc
Grath as well as the railroad employees.
William Ellis, guard on the money car I:
Frank J. Buechler. collector, and Will
lam y. Campbell. chauffeur Of the auto
mobile used In handling big sums for
the pay rolls. Later John r. Hennis.
Assistant District Attorney had them
go over the facts. He and Dunphy said
they were satisfied McGrath was not to
blame.
Potter's home Is at 55 West Eighty
fourth street. He is ss years old and
unmaTied.
TTACKC RTCH WIDOW