The Republican., 1935-09-26
NEGRO SHOT In ATTEMPT
TO PILFER LOCAL STORE
Caught Robbing Coffman-Fisher
Store; Surrenders When Cor
nered Back of Miller Building
EMPTIEs GUN AT OFFICER

Shot in the foot in a running
gun battle with town and county
officers when he was caught rob-
bing the store Of the Coffman-
Fisher Company last Saturday
morning at four o'clock, a Negro
who gave his name as William
McIntire, 81, was finally cornered
back of the Miller building, Sec
ond and Liberty streets, and is
now lodged in the Garrett County
Jail where he will be held until the
March term of the Circuit Court. A
gun with six empty cartridges was
found at his feet when ne surrendered
to Irwin R. Rudy, store manager.
McIntire was shot by Officer B. B.
Nethkin as he was fleeing from the
rear of the store building. Finding
that he was trapped in the store, Nc
Intire was said to have shot hole
through a rear window and then fired
several times at Officer Nethllin, all of
which went wild.
The bullet fired at the fleeing Negro
by the officer pierced the ball of his
foot and came out near his toes. Even
when cornered McIntire did not give
up until after Mr.. Rudy had shot at
him several times. One bullet came
within two or three inches of his head.
This is the second unlawful entry
into the Coffman-Fisher store in as
many weeks and town officers were
on the alert. Noticing the lights out in
the building about four o'clock Satur-
day morning Officer Nethkin notified
Special Officer Lee R. Mason. After
telephoning Mr.. Rudy and the Sheritf's
office the town officers stationed them
selves at strategic points to prevent
the escape of the robber.
The battle followed shortly after
the man found himself trapped. He
was questioned following his arrest
and incarceration by States Attorney
Fraley. McIntire said an unidentified
white man whom he had met up with
on freight train coming into Oakland
a short time before the robbery, had
assisted him and had escaped during
the excitement of the chase. An auto
mobile was heard to leave from near
the Second street railroad crossing
about 4:3O and is is supposed that If
the man had an accomplice or accom-
plices they were in the car.
Upon entering the store room Mr..
Rudy and the officers found six suit
cases filled with coats, dresses, shoes,
mems suits, jackets and other wearing
apparel, ready to be taken out one of
the windows of the building. An in
ventory of the goods was made and
their value was placed at several hun
dred dollars. When the robber thrust
the first suit case through the win
dow, however, Officer Nethkin, by rea-
son of the fact that it was still dark,
was under the impression that the rob-
ber was making his exit, and fired. The
bullet punctured the case and dam
aged the contents to some extent. 1t
was then that the Negro opened fire
on the officer.
When questioned at the Jail by the
States officers McIntire denied that
he was implicated in the robbery of
the store occurring two weeks previ-
Gus. At that time clothing valued at
several hundred dollars was stolen
The prisoner, however, had on a pair
of shoes that were similar to the
ones stolen at that time.
Makes Full Confession
After being grilled for several
hours yesterday by Mr.. Fraley and
county officers, McIntire made full
confession. The confession came when
Fraley, sensing that the theft of
goods was made on account of wom-
an, told McIntire that they had his
"sweetie" locked up in the Fairmont
jail.
"Mister Prosecutor" said the Ne
gro, "you can lock me up for forty
years, but please keep my girl out of
(ToDAinnnI Eo11r\