Shot Man and 'Phoned Police Dec. 2, 1904 news

A facetious fireman, an indignant swain, a club and a pistol all played parts in the little farce which resulted Thursday morning in the wagoning of James Cowen, 23, of 730 West Fourth street, to the city hospital, where he had a bullet wound dressed, while Walter Richmond 28, white, a stationary fireman at the Big Four round-house at Third and Wood streets, who did the shooting, was released on bond, to answer to a charge of assault and battery.

According to the story told by the participants in the affair to the police, Cowen three nights ago escorted a group of women past the round-house. They were laughing and talking, and enjoying themselves thoroughly, when a joker inside the round-house began operations. Just as the women got in front of the mouth of the steam valve which is used to "blow off" the boilers, the joker turned the valve on. The result was that the party made a prompt exit through a cloud of scalding steam, which burned their countenances and wilted their clothes. Cowen was deeply irritated by this occurrence, and two days later returned to the round house in the daytime, armed with an iron gar, and announced that he was looking for the man who turned the steam on.

Richmond, who is on duty during the day time, was accused of the offence, and although he denied it, Cowen made an effort to assault him. He was prevented, but declared he would return. He did so Thursday morning, armed with a club. After an altercation, he attacked Richmond, who drew a revolver and fired. Cowen who is colored, threw up his left arm, and the bullet pierce it, was deflected from its course, entered his left side, passed around the ribs and lodged at the back, from whence it was removed at the city hospital.

While Cowen was lying in the alley, yelling from the pain of his wound, Richmond stepped to the telephone and called up the Fourth district police station. He notified them that he had shot a man and wanted to give himself up. His victim, he said was lying in the alley. Lieutenant Krumpe and Patrolman Hess accompanied the wagon and made an investigation. As a result, the charge of shooting to kill which was first placed against Richmond, was changed to that of assault and battery, while Cowen, after his slight wound was dressed, was taken to Central station and locked up on charge of disorderly conduct. Richmond was released on bond. He lives at 1618 Harriet street.