Moonshine Misfire: Cop’s Bullet Brings Down Highway Robber

In a tense showdown on the Rainy City streets, Patrolman Willlam Stevens proved himself a true guardian of the night, bringing down a young would-be bandit who had been terrorizing passersby. 19-year-old Willlam Bard, a Spokane transplant who had been indulging in a heavy drinking spree since his arrival in Seattle just last week, had teamed up with two other youths for a moonshine-fueled joyride through the city’s underbelly. The trio had been hitting up some of Seattle’s notorious moonshine joints, until they spotted their latest mark: logger Willlam Graham, who was walking home from a long day’s work on Railroad Avenue near Washington Street. Bard, brandishing a pistol, had Graham in a tight spot, but Graham’s quick thinking and Stevens’ sharp instincts would soon change the course of events. As Bard and his cohorts made their getaway, Graham cried out for help, and Stevens, who had been patrolling the area, sprang into action. The young patrolman drew his gun, shouting for the bandits to halt. One shot rang out, and Bard, realizing the jig was up, threw up his hands and cried out, ‘Stop! I’m done!’ before crashing to the ground. Stevens quickly radioed for backup and tended to the wounded Bard, who was rushed to the city hospital with a bullet wound to the leg. According to police, Bard’s companions managed to slip away, but Bard himself would likely face charges of robbery. When questioned, the young would-be thief admitted to his role in the holdup, revealing a disturbing pattern of reckless behavior and a penchant for the high life that had brought him to the Rainy City’s mean streets.