The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-12


night the policemen in the Southern
Police station were startled by pistol
shot Just outside the door. Running
out they found Officer Grant lying dead
on the pavement with bullet wound
in his head.
A man was seen running away, and
on being caught was found to have
Grants handouts on his wrists. On the
pavement near the dead policeman was
found discharged pistol. The man
gave his name as Maurice Curtis, q well
known comedian, and denied shooting
Grant.
Curtis had been drinking all the even
ing with some friends. Why he was
arrested is not known, but it is supposed
he had been creating disturbance
Two men saw Curtis and the officer
struggling in front OF the police station,
and then saw the flash OF q pistol. Cur
tbs was seen at the police station, but
would not talk. He was under the in
fHence ofliquor.
Curtis tells the following story OF the
affair: ~ was ut the Grand Opera
House last night with my wife to zee
Bernhardt in Camille" l left the
theatre about 10 o'clock to go to the
Tivoli theatre with Wm. kreling, one
Of the proprietors. We had drink to-
gether and left him to return to the
opera house for my wife. When l
reached the corner OF Third and Mis-
sion streets, was sudden ly tumbled to
the gutter and after that remember
nothing only somebody pulling and
Jerking me about until found myself
in a wagon with handouts on my
wrists"
HE WAS DRUNK.
When Curtis was taken to Jail last
night he appeared to be under the in
fluence of liquor, and incohcrently told
Of his doings during the night, protest
ing that he had no weapon and that he
was innocent OF murder. The place
where the officer arrested Curtis is some
blocks from the station house, but the
shooting occurred within half block
of the station, and within the hearing
of a number OF policemen. Grant was
killed Immediately, the bullet entering
the middle OF the forehead near the
hair and penetrating the brain. He
was thirty-eight. years OF age, and had
been on the police force about five years.
The pistol with which Curtis shot the
police officer was found on the street a
short distance from where the tragedy
occurred.
A Detroit dispatch says: The genial
comedian, "Sam'l OF Posen," who is
charged with numbering IN officer in
San Francisco last night, is q Detroit
boy. His name is Maurice Bertrand
strellinger, and he was born here about
forty years ago. As an actor he was
employed at McVicker's Theater. Sew
erai Years later, with the peculiarly
funny play, 9Sam'l OF Posen," which
had been constructed by himself and
George II. Jessep, he felt justified in
embarking upon the stage on his own
account, and his expectations were more
than realized. lie made money so rap
idly with it that he was enabled to
retire rich four years ago.
PITIABLE OBJECT.
The arrested comedian, booked for
murder, was n pitiable.obiect us he sat
in the Southern police station wringing
his hands in despair. "My God" he
cried, "if l could only recall the last
four hours OF my life. I'm no murderer,
gentlemen. had no pistol. / shot
nobody. 1 have not IN enemy in the
world.h
Vainly he protested his innocence OF
any offense and wanted to 60 home to
his wife. In n rambling way he told
the story OF his business and his affairs.
The only known witnesses OF the
shooting were two young men, Thomas
Muller and L. Toomey, who stood di-
rectly across the street, and heard the
policeman. say, "Come along now"
There was no reply, but almost at the
same instant the young mon saw
flash. A pistol shot rang out in the
quiet street, followed in quick success
sion by two more reports. The officer
fell to the sidewalk without groan.
and Curtis, who, moment before, had
been his prisoner, turned and fled up
Folsom street. The officers from the
station near by gave chase, and soon
captured the fugitive.
The dead officer was native OF Nova
Scotia. Byconsent the case was post
poned until Monday next TO await the
action of the coroner's jury and allow
the attorneys to prepare their cases.
All About n Horse Trade,