Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-23
CHARLES n. Joyce
IS SHOT TWICE IN
MYSTERY ATTACK
Police Search for Ro0mer
Who Was Former Patient
at st. Elizabeth's.
NEIGHBORS SAY SUSPECT
FLED AFTER FIRING ARMS
Vict,m Had Been Ccunael for James
A, Wood, Securing VI,
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looking for former rstient ct st.
Elizabeth's Hospital, who was seen run
ming from Joyce's home Immediately
after the shots were fired.
x-rsy pictures taken at the hospital
reveal that Joyce has a chance 10 sur
vive. physicians said. One of Two shots
fired took effect in his head.
joyce was found in a semi conscious
condition early this morning on the
rear porch OF his home. 313 Whslon
avenue, Aurora Heights. Va. by neigh
ton police immediately began search
for James A. Wood. former st. Eliza
beth's Hospital patient and client Of
Joyce. Wood who lived at the lawyers
home. was seen running from the house
Immediately after the shots by TWO
neighbors.
Joyce. who has acted as attorney In
number Of insanity proceedings in
the District Supreme Court. obtained
the release Of Wood from st. EliZabeth's
Hospital in 1925 after he had been con-
fined there for six years, following the
shooting OF a soldier at Seventh street
and Pennsylvania avenue.
Joyce is in Emergency Hospital suf-
fering from two bullet wounds, one OF
which is said 10 have penetrated his
head. Since there were no witnesses 10
the shooting, police have been unable 70
learn inst what occurred.
At the time of the shooting Mrs. Jovce
believed that Wood was in his room, and
was surprised to find IT. was deserted.
Based on this fact and other informa-
ton concerning Wood. the police inSti-
uted q search for him. They have been
informed that Wood was later seen in
Clarendon.
Worked on Invention.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joyce have been &C.
cupying the house In Aurora Heights for
almost a year. He has An Office in the
Fendall Building. in Washington. They
lived alone until early this Spring wh&l
Wood rented 8 room there and Spe -
most OF his time working on photo
graphic invention in basement
laboratory.
This morning Joyce had been water
ing his garden when neighbors heard
two pistol shots. They discovered Joyce
lying on the rear porch. bleeding pro-
fuSely from two wounds. A call TO
Emergency Hospital elected the infor-
nation that the ambulance could not
be sent outside OF the District. so the
wounded man was placed in the auto
mobile Of /. l.. Bollinger. neighbor.
and taken to Key Bridge, where the
ambulance awaited them.
Neiehbors Heard Shots.
Neighbors heard the shots and sew
eral. including Mrs. A. t. Parnell. gave
the police the information that is said
to connect Wood with the shooting.
They said they saw him run through
the garden just after the shots were
fired, climb over a high wire fence and
slide down steep bank to the Lee
Highway. Although reported later TO
have been seen at Clarendon. police
have not yet succeeded in locating him.
1t was believed be may have headed for
Washing !.
Mrs. Joyce. who was inside the house.
said she either did not hear The shots
or attributed them to the backf1ring of
passing automobiles.
While it is not known at Just what
place the shooting occurred. 1t is be-
lieved 1t took place on the porch. since
one exploded .32-caliber shell was found
screen indicated that a bullet had
passed through it from the inside.
Lacking an evident motive, police are
trying to find out what occurred to
precipitate the shooting, since none OF
the neighbors had heard any argument
just prior to the shots. Joyce was so
weak from loss of blood at the hospital
that his speech was inaudible when he
was asked about the shooting after his
arrival there.
Say Wood Unfriendly.
Neiehbors said that Wood had shown
an unfriendly attitude toward them
since taking up his residence with
joyce. He spent most Of his time at
work on what he called photographers
patent. .
War, Wood is SAID once to have been
A patient at the Government Hospital
at Balboa. Joyce Is said to have secured
his release from st. Elizabeth's follow
ing his commitment in that institution
after Wood had shot Sergt. Emmltt
Ianier of the Army December Is, 1871,
at Seventh street and pennsylvania
avenue.
fined in st. Elizabeths for six years,
when he was released in 1925 on jury
verdict of sanity.
Wood recently filed divorce proceed
ings against his wife. through Joyce as
his attorney. In his bill of complaint he
charged, among other things, that while
Mrs. Wood was employed at the Bureau
Of Engraving and Printing she gave
out information that her husband had
died during the war. and coliectlon
was taken up for flowers.