St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-12
SERIOUS FOR sAM,L.
NJ. B. Curtis Kills a Policeman in
San Francisco

san francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1.-Late last
night officers at the Southern police sta
ton were startled by pistol shot just
outside of the door. Rushing out. they
found Officer Grant lying dead OH the
pavement with bullet hole in his head,
A man was seen running away, and, on
being stopped, Grants handouts were
found on his wrists. The man proved
to be M, B. Curtis. we'll known in the
atrical circles as "Sam'l of Posen." Cur
It's had come over to this city from his
home in Berkley,a and had been drinking
all evening with his theatrical friends.
Why Grant arrested him is not known,
but it is supposed that the actor was
creating disturbance. Two men saw
the officer and Curtis have a short strug-
gle in front of the station, and then saw
the flash of pistol.
Curtis was under the influence of
liquor when seen at the police station
last night, and would not talk, but to-
day he found his tongue and concluded
to speak about the tragedy. Il was at
the Grand opera house last night with
my wife, and left the theater about 10
O'Clock to go to the Tivoli theater with
one of the proprietors. We had drink
together, and | left him to return to the
opera house for my wife. When |
reached the corner of Third and Mission
streets was suddenly tumbled into the
gutter, and after that | remember moth
ing only somebody pulling and jerking
me about until found myself in pa
troll wagon with handouts on my
wrists" Curtis was pitiable object
as he sat i'll the police station wringing
his hands in despair, running from one
officer fn n
cence, and telling in an incoherent,
drunken way his doings during the
night. Time and again he started to his
feet. "My GOd!" he cried, ''if | could
only recall the last four hours of my
life. Pm no murderer, gentlemen. /
had no pistol; l shot nobody; have not
an enemy in the world" "Why did
you draw your pistol on him?'' was
asked. II had no pistolw he ex-
claimed, "and did not shoot any one.
| am so sorry it happened. l wanted to
have a good time, and never harmed a
man in my life."
body Of Officer Grant it was shown that
Curtis was noiSily drunk when arrest
ed. The officer had led him to within
few yards of the police station when
Curtis broke from his grasp. drew his
revolver and fired three shots at him.
one of which entered his forehead, kill
ing him instantly. The murderer start
ed to run off, but had not gone far when
he was overtaken and arrested. He
had dropped his revolver after shooting
Officer Grant, and it was found an hour
later.
DETROIT, Sept. II. = The genial
comedian, "Sam'l of Posen," who is
charged with numbering an officer in
San Francisco last night, is a Detroit
boy. His name is Maurice Bertrand
Strellinger, and he was born here about
forty years ago. After leaving school
he worked in a tobacco store three or
four years as shipping clerk. He went
to Chicago afterward and worked ayear
as bell boy. Then he took to the stage.
At first he was employed in the stock
companies. but later he played three
seasons with Maggie Mitchell and three
with Lawrence Barrett, always in
comedy roles. With his experience and
the peculiar funny play, .Sam'l of
Posen," he embarked upon the stage
upon his own account. His expecta-
tons, great though they may have
been, were more than realized. The
play was a golden mine, and he coined
money so rapidly witt it that he was
enabled to retire rich four years ago.
The case of Curtis was called before
Police Judge WQrley this forenoon. Cur
tbs looked pale and troubled, and Lad