Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-30
SHOT IN THE DARK.
AN UNKNOWN BURGLARS HEAD FILLED
WITH BUCKSH0T.
Edwin Kaiser Was Waiting for Him at
the Capital Cannery, and
Killed Him.

For the past two or three weeks burg
lars have been making periodical raids on
the establishment of the Capital Packing
Company, located at the corner of Eleventh
and streets. Much annoyance was ex-
perienced, and though a sharp watch was
kept for the depredators, they could not be
caught.
Edwin Kaiser, formerly watchman, but
at present the engineer of the cannery, oc-
cupies apartments in the rear of the estab-
lishment with his family, and he, too, had
suffered much from these nocturnal prowl-
ers. About three weeks ago his dwelling
was entered, and quantity of clothing,
fruit and other articles were stolen. Again
his apartments were entered on last Thurs
day night, and another installment of
household wares disappeared.
Kaiser became exasperated, and COM
planned at the police station.
Officers patroled the neighborhood all of
Friday night, but there were no develop
ments. But Kaiser was not satisfied with
their efforts, and kept watch himself Sat-
urday evening he stationed himself in q
shed just back OF his dwelling and through
which the burglars invariably effected an
entrance. He continued his vigil until a
late hour, and no one appeared to disturb
him. Nothing daunted, he resumed his
watch again last night, and sat in secluded
corner, armed with q double-barreled shot
gun.
He was getting sleepy and was just about
to give up and go to bed, when shortly be.
fore II o'clock he heard the sound of
s.ealthy footsteps in the alley just outside
the shed.
Kaiser held his breath and waited.
Presently board was noiseless removed
from the side of the shed, and Kaiser OBJ
served in the shadow the outlines of two
men. They held a whispered conversation
for moment and then entered.
Kaiser crouched lower and strained his
eyes to follow their movements.
They approached little cupboard which
occupies one corner of the shed, and which
contained several dozen jars of fruit, and
began ransacking it. Kaiser was satisfied
that they were not there for any good, and
that they were the individuals who had
paid him the previous midnight visits.
Throw up your hands !" suddenly ex-
claimed Kaiser, and he brought the shot
gun to bear upon the burglars.
For a second neither man spoke nor
stirred. Then recovering from their sur
prise they both made bolt for the small
opening through which they had entered.
One of them managed to get through, and
Kaiser commanded them to halt. They
paid no attention to him, however, and the
second man was just squeezing through the
opening when Kaiser fired.
The full charge OF buckshot entered the
right side of the burglars head after tear
ing a large hole in the side of the shed.
The burglar ran about sixty feet up the
alley before he fell.
The report of the shotgun attracted the
attention of the watchman of the cannery
and other persons, and they quickly
gathered in front of kaiser's place. Kaiser
told then what he had done, and said he
thought he had shot somebody. A lantern
was procured and a search of the alley was
rewarded by ghastly sight. The burglar
lay in the dust, face down, and was mass
of blood. The whole side of his head ap-
peared to have been blown open. He was
dead when they examined him, and prob
ably had been for several minutes.
The Coroner was telephoned for, as was
also the police. Officer Matt. Coffey first
arrived on the scene and made an investi-
cation, and later on Captain Karcher and
others arrived. The latter placed Kaiser
under arrest.
Deputy Coroner George II. Clark took
charge of the remains and conveyed them
to the Morgue.
AT an early hour this morning the re-
mains of the dead burglar had not been
recognized, although several persons
thought he was a tramp who had been
hanging around low saloons for coui lie of
months past. The body is that of young
man, probably not more than % years of
age. He was heavily built, smooth face
and roughly clad.
Kaiser, when seen at the police station
appeared to be very much excited over
the tragic affair. He said he did not
mean to kill anybody, but when
he fired he did not think the bullets
had struck anybody, as he had fred di-
rectly at the wall of the shed. He had no
idea that the bullets would go through the
wall. He intended more to frighten the
men than anything else He was sorry
he had taken human life. Kaiser added
that he had no doubt that the dead man
was one of the parties who had entered
the place before, as he recognized one of
his own shirts upon the body after the
shooting.
An inquest will be held this evening.