The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-19
WAS NOT A BURGLAR.
w. NJ. Brown Shoots August
Peterson by Mistake.
THE WOUNDED MAN RAN AWAY.
Hurt Not Dangerous-Brown Brought
to the Police Station and Released
No Charge Against Him.

august Peterson, young man about q
years old, was shot in the right thigh,
Monday night, by w. NJ. Brown, who mis-
took him for burglar. Brown fred two
shots at him. One of the bullets missed
Its marx, while the second one indicted
painful, but not dangerous, flesh wound.
Peterson appears anxious to prosecute
Brown, while the latter contends that the
formers actions were so suspicious that
he was justined in taking shot at him,
The shooting occurred about IL o'clock,
on Pine street, between Sixth and Seventh
streets, just in front of Mr. Browns home.
1t was not until yesterday, however, that
1t was known a man had been shot
Mr.. Brown is proprietor of a billiard hall
in the rear of Murphy's cigar store at 7ls
Front street. and, with his mother. lives at
Alb Pine street. The night of August 10
burglars entered his home and carried
away about $500 worth of articles Of furni-
ture and wearing apparel, and since that
time several men have been seen sneaking
about the neighborhood in very SUSPECT
Gus manner. Monday when Mr.. Brown
went home he armed himself with re-
volver and determined to put a stop TO
persons prowling about his premises.
About 1890 O'Clock his attention was
attracted to two men who stood in the
shadow OF his house talking in an under
tone as if fearful lest their conversation
would be overheard. Mr.. Brown watched
them for some time, and finally the larger
OF the men went away and disappeared in
a building in the next yard. Then the
younger man started down the street.
When he passed Mr.. Brown the latter
asked:
what are you loafing around here for ?"
The young man started to run and Mr..
Brown followed, firing two shots at the
fleeing figure. So far as he knew neither
OF the shots took effect, for the man kept
on running. and soon disappeared In the
darkness.
A little later August Peterson limped
into his lodgings. at the corner of Ninth
and Stewart streets, and complained that
be was shot. DR.. Wright was called and
extracted the ball from the young mans
thigh. Speaking OF the affair last evening,
Peterson said: Monday evening I went
home with my friend Otto Berg, who lives
on Pine street next door to Browns. We
talked awhile outside the house. so that
we would not awake the folks. Leaving
my friend, who had stepped into his house.
started to walk home, when / saw man
come out of Browns house / had Just
got by. and he was behind me several rods
He asked:
"'What do you mean by loating here p"
81 could see revolver in his hand and
was so frightened did not answer for a
moment. but started away. Then he fired
shot at me and l very foolshly COM
menced running. He followed me and
shot me in the thigh. He had no occasion
to shoot me, and don't think the police
ought to let the man go. He has no bus
mess shooting people who happen to walk
by his place after dark, and he ought to
be arrested"
Yesterday morning at 9 o'clock Otto
Berg learned the story of the shooting and
complained to Officer Sam Corbett, who
has the Pike street beat He found
Mr.. Brown and together they
went to police headquarters. Brown
told his side of the case and
then accompanied by Captain J. L. Barck,
they went to see Peterson. They found
him in bed at his lodgings. The captain
had a long conference with the men and
he decided to release Mr.. Brown and con-
cluded that Peterson was not burglar.
Peterson has not complained to the
authorities yet and has not asked to be
allowed to swear out warrant for Mr..
Browns arrest.