The Nation - News from Feb. 8, 1985

Bernhard H. Goetz has confided that long before he had his famous encounter with four youths in the subway, he pulled a gun to protect himself from two muggers. That time, he did not shoot. Twice, he also came to the aid of women being mugged, though he did not take out a gun either time, said his lawyer, Joseph Kelner. “It shows he’s not an irresponsible man--he didn’t just shoot, unless he had to,” said Bernard Goldstein, a Goetz friend. Goetz, 37, a self-employed electronics expert, remains free on bail while awaiting trial on weapons charges. On Dec. 22, he shot four youths who he claims were menacing him on the subway.