The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-17
A POLICEMAN KILLED.
AN ACTOR OF WELL KNOWN ABILITY
THE MURDERER.
The Tragedy Occurred Within Half Block
of the Police Station, to Which the
Office Was Taking the Actor
as a Prisoner.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Sept. r.
Late last night the officers at the
Southern police station were startled
by pistol shot just outside the door.
Rushing out they found Officer Grant
lying dead Gil the pavement with a
bullet hole in his head. A man was
seen running away, and on being
stopped, Grants handouts were found
on his wrists. A discharged pistol
was found on the pavement near
the dead body. The man gave
his name as Maurice Curtis.
He denied shooting Grant. He is in
fact M. B. Curtis, well known in
theatrical circles as "Sam'l of
Posen." Curtis had come over to the
city from his home in Berkeley and
had been drinking all evening with
his theatrical friends. Why Grant
arrested him is not known; but it was
supposed the actor was creating Il dis
turbance. Two men across the street
say Curtis and the officer have a
short struggle in front Of the police
station, and saw the flash of a pistol.
Curtis was under the influence of
liquor when seen at the police station
and would not talk.
ACTOR CURTIS EXPLAINS.
Curtis tells the following story Of
the affair: ~ was at the Grand opera
house last night with my wife to see
Bernhardt in "Camille.n l left the
theater about 10 o'clock to go to the
Tivoli theater with VIM. KEELING, one
Of the proprjetors. We had drink
together and / got him to return to
the Grand opera house for my wife.
When | reached the corner of Third
and Mission street, | was suddenly
tumbled into the gutter, and after
that remember nothing only some-
body pulling and jerking me around,
until l found myselfin a wagon with
handouts on my wrists" When Cur
tbs was taken to Jail last night he APP
pcared to be under the influence OF
liquor, and spoke incoherently of his
dOings during the night, protesting
that he had no weapon, and that
he was innocent of murder.
The place where the officer ar
rested Curtis is some blocks from
the station house and the shooting
occurred within half a block of the
station, and within the hearing of a
number Of policemen. Grant was
killed Immediately, the bullet enter
ing the middle of his forehead near
the hair and penetrating his brain.
lie was IS years of age and had been
on the police force about five years.
He was much liked by his brother
officers, many of whom were unable
to control their grief when he was
brought to the station dead.
Curtis, who is known through
out the United States, from character
of "Saml of Posen" in play which
was created for him, has resided for
! the past two or three years at Berkeley,
Cal. He had acquired considerably
property through profits accruing
from his success as an actor, and
erected a large hotel at Berkeley which
has since been converted into a semi
nary.
He began life as Il call-boy in the
old California theater i'll this city,
gradually working his way up
through minor roles t. the position Of
recognized actor in comedy parts.
The pistol with which Curtis shot the
policeman was found in the street a
short distance from where the tragedy
occurred.