The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-08
A TRAIL OF BLOOD.
Strange and Perhaps Fatal
Wounding of J. J. Collins.
He Is Found With Fractured Skull and
Morris Higgins and James o'Day
Are Arrested on Suspicion.

John ]. Collins, teamster. lies on cot
in the Receiving Hospital suffering from
fracture at the base of the skull and other
Injuries that may soon cause his death. and
two men are locked up in the tanks" at
the City Prison on suspicion OF having
caused the injuries.
The men suspected of foul PLAY in the case
are Morris Higgins, the proprietor of a
saloon at the corner of Eighth and Ringold
streets, and James O'Day, man of uncer-
tain occupation who frequents the saloon.
Conflicting stories are told by the pris-
oners and the investigating officers have
reason to believe that they are more deeply
implicated in the wounding of Collins than
they admit.
These are the circumstances connected
with the peculiar and rather mysterious
affair: Early yesterday morning Officer j.
j. Hayes of the Southern District was pass
ing along Eighth street. when he heard a
voice that sounded very much like Higgins
say: Take that, you lying - -,
and the next instant there was heavy fall
upon the sidewalk.
IN POOL OF BLOOD.
Proceeding to the corner of Eighth and
Rlngod Streets opposite Higgins saloon,
which was then closed, the officer found
Collins lying unconscious upon the sidewalk
in pool of blood that trickled down from
wounds about his head and face. Hayes
saw no one else in the vicinity. and at hrst
supposed that the unconscious man had re-
celved his injuries by fall.
The patrol wagon was summoned ana
Collins was removed TO the Receiving
Hospital, where an examination revealed
the fact that he had received a lacerated
wOnDI 0f the month commissions on the
head and a deep fracture at the base OF the
skull.
The injured man recovered sufficiently
yesterday afternoon to murmur that his
name was John j. Collins, and that he
lived on Eighth street, near Rlngold. lie
then lapsed into Inconsistencies, and sank
SO rapidly that the Police Surgeon con-
sidered his condition most critical
A CRIMSON TRAIL.
Upon returning to the spot where Col
Inns was found Officer HAYES was surprised
by finding trail of blood that led to the
very door of Higgins saloon. This caused
him to believe that Collins had been as
saulted in the saloon and carried across the
street to the corner where lie was found.
Acting upon this theory he reported his dis
cOvery to Chief Crowley, and Detective Ben
Bohen was detailed TO assist in unraveling
the mystery.
The officers soon gathered sufficient in
formation to warrant them in taking Hig-
gins and 0'Day into custody. The names
of the suspected men were placed on the
small book and they were slowed away
in the tanks " to await further investiga-
ton and the result OF Collins injuries.
MYSTERIOUS TALL MAN.
When questioned O'Day admitted that he
spent the evening in company with Col
Inns. From Higgins saloon they went out
on the sidewalk. while we were stand
ing there" said he, "a tall man and
woman came along. The man took excep-
ton TO a remark made by Collins and
Collins and the tall man also struck me in
the face with such force that fell upon the
sidewalk. Then the tall man and the
woman disappeared. AS far as | know
higgins had nothing to do with the en-
counter"
In support of his story O'Day exhibits
blackened eye, but it looks as though he
had been struck severa! days ago. The
officers do not believe his version OF the
affair and are of the opinion that the tall
man and the woman figured only in his
Imagination.
A DIFFERENT VERSION.
Higgins made the following statement,
which differs materially from that made by
O'Day:
About 10 80 o'clock last night jim O'Day and
John Collins came into my saloon, bought drinks
and remained until 1910 o'clock this morning
and then went outside. / closed up Immediately
after they left aud went 10 bed. AhnnL five
minutes after 1 gOJ INTO bed heard Tue voices
of ODdy aud Collins and they appeared 10 be
quarrellng on the ST eet just outside OF my door.
they remained, L should judge, about fifteen
minutes. During this lime they appeared TO be
wrestling with each other They then left and
heard no more of them. During all this lime
heard no one else about the place and heard
only their own voices.
Higgins has been in trouble before and
was recently arrested on charge OF an
assault with a deadly weapon for striking
man in his saloon with a club. The
fracture of Collins skull could have been
caused by fall. but his head and face has
the appearance Of having been struck by a
blunt instrument.