The morning call., 1891-01-20
HELD FOR MURDER.
Sidney Bell Examined in the Pc.
lice Court.
The Story Of the Shooting of Samuel NJ Jacob
son Told in Public-The Assassin
Also Held for Robbery.

sidney Dell, alliS nOnaS, Un6 numerous
garroter, made his last appearance in the
dock of the Police Court yesterday after
noon. His next public appearance will be
in the Superior Court, where he will be tried
for the murder of Samuel NJ. jacobson on
the night of the 10th of last August. If not
convicted on that charge he will be tried for
three OF the highway robberies he commit
ted during his garroting career in the West
ern Addition.
When the bald head and blonde mustache
of the murderous footpad appeared in the
dock az o'clock yesterday afternoon thu
courtroom was crowded. Loungers on the
back seats nearly twisted their necks out of
Joint trying to get better view of the pris-
oncr. and Sergeant Duncan knocked the
skin off his knuckleS duri ng his frequent and
vigorous raps for order.
Prosecuting Attorney Nicholson. started
|, the proceedings by saying lie understood
Bell desired to waive examination on all the
charges against him.
THE CHARGE OF MURDER
Proceed with the murder CHARGE" said
Judge Rix. HAS the defendant an attor-
ney to defend him?"
John n. K. Wilson explained that Bell
had not made all the necessary arrange
ments to engage him as counsel, and so lie
would only watch the proceedings and take
no part in them.
S. Veil was called as n witness and test-
fed that he had been acquainted with ia
cobson. He saw him last at the residence
of the deceased, at the northwest corner of
Webster and California streets. When
shown a photograph the witness Identified
it as likeness of jacobson.
Just before jacobson died." continued
Mr.. WE'LL, he told ME he stepped off a
CaliiOTnia-Street car at u 80 o'clock on the
night OF August 10th last. Two men came
up behind him. One was a tall man and the
other small. He said he heard one say,
Throw up your hands, He thought they
were Joking, and grabbed one of them.
During the scutfle he said the small man
shot him in the left side. jacobson died at
his house on August 18th last"
There was a buzz of expectancy when the
name of Edward William Campbell was
called. The man who Witnessed the fatal
shooting then stepped to the stand and re-
reated the story that caused Bell to be
charged with the crime of murder.
STORY OF THE KILLING.
"Where do you live?" asked the Public
Prosecutor.
AT present in the City Prison, but last
resided at u Prospect place"
d" DO you know Sidney Bell?'
Yes; | have known him since last May
or June"
,
AUGUST Is. 1899?
" did
state what you saw him do on that
night"
ION the evening of August 10th he called
at my residence on Clara street. He said he
was broke, and wanted me to go out with
him and make some money. As my wife
was absent | left my baby with the landlady
and Went with Bell First we went to a
saloon, where | asked for my pistol, but the
4 I'M
to q restaurant at the corner of Dupont and
Sacramento streets, Where Bell was handed
a box containing a revolver Soon after he
loaded the pistol and handed me police
mans club with lead in the end. We pro-
ceeded out Jack son street to Central avenue.
There we waited over an hour and then
went back up jackson street, stopping at
several places on the way. Several persons
were passed and Bell wanted TO hold them
up. but | refused. He quarreled with me
because | would not help him rob and said
l had no nerve.
SOMETHING GOOD.
"He said we had overlooked several good
things. We Kept on quarreling until we
reached Fillmore anu California streets,
where l said | was going to take the car and
60 home. We walked to the corner of Web
ster street and when car from town came
along Bell said something good would get
of, / refused to help him and said | would
rob no one that night. Just then man q
the car. Bell said, Now let's take this;
come on said, NO, no. Bell pulled a
HANDKERCHIEF over his face and shouted to
Jacobson, Throw up your handsv Then
jacobson grabbed Bell by the wrist,
and Bell cried, Give it to him. Then
pistol went off and jacobson said: Shoot
me, Will you Bell ran away, but l soon
overlook him. Bell said: Hold on; we
can get that yet l demurred, and as we
walked away he said we could have got
500. Soon after, he patted me on the back
and bursted: Amt | a daisy. The man
had grip like iron. If you had jumped in
would not have had to shoot him.
Boosted OF THE DEED.
IS then told Bell l would have nothing
more to do with him. Bell only said, |
gave it to him good, anyway. l shot him
right in the heart. | thought the man was
shot lower down and t0ld Bell so. We went
along Vallejo street to Jones and down the
steps to Montgomery avenue. At COgs-
wells Fountain we separated"
When did you STE Bell next?"
The next day lie Came to my house, 235
Clara street He said the man had been
severely shot aud that he was a fool for not
say nothing about it. | advised him to go
away. After few days he went away and
did not see him for ten days"
Did you have anything to do with the
shooting that night ,"
Nothing, except as a spectator. l tried
to prevent II"
Handed Bells pistol, the witness ex-
claimed: That's the gun he had that
night"
lie also Identified the loaded club. and
both weapons were offered 10 evidence
Did you make any attempt to catch hold
Of jacobson and strike him with a club?'
did not. had no weapon except The
club"
POLICE TESTIMONY.
Detective Hogan and Captain Lees told
e nf Poll nd ,,fG