The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-09
SHOT AT ACABLE CAR.
The Mad Freak Of q Yeslcr
Avenue Passenger.
PAID HIS FARE WITH BULLETS.


Five pistol shots were 6rcd about
O'Clock last night at Yesler avenue cable
car NJ the corner OF yeSler avenue and
South Eleventh street. by carpenter
named w. +. Sanderson. The dummy
and car carried about sixty passengers at
the time. and the shooting caused great
CONSERVATION amongst them. Fortunately
ell escaped with . scare
Officer ". A. johnson heard the shots fired
while pafrolling his beat on Jackson street
and run over and arrested Sanderson and
took him to police headquarters, where he
was locked up on charge OF carrying con-
cealed weapons
The shooting, from what can be learned
from those who we're present when IL oc-
CURED, was most cowardiy and unpro-
yoked. Sanierson, who lives with his
family near Lake Washington. boarded
car No. 5. in charge of Conductor William
Cook and Gripman Frank Mefford, at the
turntable, ct the intersection of South
Second street and Yesler avenue.
When the car reached the top of
the : hill Conductor Cook went out
on the dummy where Sanderson
WASTING. and as is customary.
touched him on the shoulder and asked
him for his fare. Sanderson was badly in
toxicated, and, rs it afterward appeared,
in fighting mood. He impertinently re-
piled that the gentleman sitting next to
him had paid for him. This the man
mentioned and the conductor denied, and
Sanderson was informed if he did not pay
he would have to get off,
By this time the car had reached South
Eleventh street, where il always stops, be-
ing distributing point Conductor Will
Jams then put Sanderson of the dummy.
and received in return heap Of abuse,
and kick. He didn't pay any attention
to it, however, and jumped aboard the
dummy, as it started ahead.
A few seconds later no heard
three shots fired. and then two
more. He jumped off the dummy and got
on the rear platform of the coach, which
was crowded with passengers. but did not
signal the gripman TO stop, thinking it was
best to get out of danger rs soon as
possible.
Several of the passengers standing on
the rear platform say that as soon as the
cars started up Sanderson pulled out his
revolver and commenced shooting. but it
was impossible for them to tell, owing TO
the darkness, whether he aimed at the
coach or not. 1t is presumed by them,
however, that he did.
When Officer johnson arrested Sander
son he found 3S-caliber Smith & Wesson
revolver on him, containing five empty car
fridge shells. The odor OF burnt powder
still remained. which plainly demonstrated
that the gun had been discharged but .
short time before, Upon arriving at police
headquarters Sanderson strenously de-
MED having had a revolver in his posses
sion. or that he had been on . cable car
during the evening. He afterwards con-
tradicted this story by admit
ting the revolver 70 be his
property. and saying that he carried
it for self protection. He insisted. however.
that he had not fired a single shot. The
charge of carrying concealed weapons was
put against him. simply to hold him till
this morning, when he will be charged with
q more serious otiense.
Sanderson is well known in this city. He
is . member of the carpentering firm of
Sanderson 4 Sweeney. The conductors
aud gripmen of the iesler avenue road
have had trouble with him several times
during the past winter, when he boarded
the cars in an intoxicated condition.
When be is sober they say they don't have
any trouble with him.
Those who were eyewitnesses 10 the
shooting consider it marvellous that no one
was injured. The coach was crowded with
ladies and gentlemen, many having to
stand OH the rear platform. and how he
could have shot at them and hit no one Is
beyond their conception.