Pastor Palmer of the Free Methodist church escaped being killed while walking to his church located at the south end of Virginia avenue. While nearing Rose Alley, he noticed a tall man standing a little ways off. The man fired one shot, turned and fled. Rev. Palmer proceeded on his way ignorant that he had a close call. When he stopped at the post office, he noticed a hole in his overcoat. A 22 caliber bullet passed through his coat, lower side pocket, and into his bible. The bullet entered the Bible to the 12th chapter of Romans, against the first verse. The verse reads “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…” Rev. Palmer had no idea why anyone would seek to injure him and thought it must have been a mistake.

• Follansbee Review, “Bullet Shot at Preacher Enters His Bible,” Feb. 2, 1917, front page.