The morning call., 1891-11-14
GILLEN'S MURDER.
How the Special Officer Wa
Killed by the Highlander.
Story of a Mongops Pistol Practice as Told
BY Witnesses Before the Coroner's
Jury-The Verdict.

Coroner Garwood held an inquest yester-
day in the case OF special officer John H.
Gillen, who was shot and killed on Satur-
day by Chew Chin Jan, alias Chez Cheong,
the desi crate highlander from Sacramento.
Neither the assassin nor his legal counsel
was present, but attorney McNally appeared
in the interests of the prosecution. George
Gillen, brother of the slain officer, also
watched the proceedings carefully.
First to be called as a witness was John
A. Smith, one of the boys who was on the
malt wagon driven by Corwell, when the
trouble with the Mongol commenced. He
said they were hauling load of refuse
malt from the San Francisco Stock Brew
cry. While going up Stockton street at the
crossing of Lombard, a Chin ese was seen
walking along the sidewalk, and one OF the
boys on the wagon, in spirit of mischief,
threw handful of grain at the fellow. The
malt did not strike the intended mark, and
the Celestial took off his hat to ascertain If
any OF it had fallen on him. The boys
laughed and the Chinaman made motion
as if to draw revolver
One of the boys cried out. you monkey,
you haven't got one" The accused fol
lowed the wagon, and when on Montgomery
avenue, between Green and Union streets,
he drew a pistol from beneath his blouse.
He fired at the boys on the wagon, and the
one who had tossed the grain alighted and
ran around the horses. Almost Immediately
after the shot was fired Gjlien appeared and
the highlander fired at him. Gilen drew a
pistol at about the same time aud discharged
it at his assailaut. Then he faltered few
steps and fell. The murderer ran up Stock
ton street.
This testimony was corroborated by Will
lam McGrcevy of 1911 FIlbert street.
THE CHINAMAN FIRED FIRST
l.. ~.
stated that lie heard the noise of a pistol
shot on the corner of Green and Stockton
streets. When he reached the corner he
saw Chinaman running up the block fol-
lowed by white man. The white man was
Officer Gillen. The officer had his pistol
suddenly and fired. The officer fired imme-
diately after and then fell. Was certain
that the Chlnaman fired first, as witness saw
the flash of the pistols. The officer was
about six feet from the Chnaman. who then
ran up Stockton street A white man was
following him, and at Vallejo street over
took him and grappled with him. The
Chinaman wheeled and fired again and the
white man fell. The Chinaman continued
up Stockton street and Ehringer lost sight
OF him. Officer Glllen, when Shot, had his
star on, and 1t could be seen block away.
Police Surgeon Williams told of the result
of the autopsy upon the body of the muir
dered man. The bullet struck below the
right breast just to the right OF the median
line. 1t made curve like horseshoe. and
came out within a few inches of the point of
entrance.
ALL THE WITNESSES AGREE.
Patrick Ryan, o teGmster, deposed that
he had been home 10 dinner and was on his
way downtown again, when he stopped on
the corner of Green aud Stockton streets.
On Montgomery avenue there was a heavy
team coming up and an excited Chinaman
on the sidewalk. The latter finally started
TO run and Officer Gillen, who came up
Stockton street, followed him. He called to
the Chnaman and the latter turned and
discharged his pistol. Immediately after
Gil.en fred and then fell. When the China
man fired they were about ten feet apart.
The witness was satisfied the Chinaman
fired the first shot.
Several other persons, whose stories were
related in The CALL on Sunday, test fed
in reference TO the fatal pistol practice of
the bloodthirsty Mongol, after which the
jury returned verdict finding that the de-
ceased came to his death from gunshot
wound inflicted by the prisoner. No charge
was preferred against Cheong for the reason
that he is already held in dy awaiting
trial for