The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-04
BULLET-RIDDLED.
Il. S. COlvin MOrtally Wounded
by j. G. Howell.

What appears to have been a cold blooded
shooting occurred about $40 o'clock in the
office of r. S. Colyin, shorthand reporter,
in the Wilcox Block, at the corner of Broad
way and Ninth street, Oakland. Colyin was
MORALLY wounded. Five shots entered his
body, one in the abdomen, one in the right
side below the ribs, one in the left shoulder,
another in the arm and the last in the back,
passing through the lungs.
The shooting was done by John G. Howell,
aged 55 who rooms at present Mt 207 Post
street San Francisco. An ante-mortem
statement was taken by S. n. Sheridan, in
which Colyin stated that he met Percy Ii.
Maxwell on the street about clock, and
was ted by him that Howell wanted 10 see
him and would meet him during the even
ing. They walked about while and had
two or three drinks, and finally met Howell
and went to Cnlyin's office.
Howell asked Maxwell to 20 out, but he
refused to do so, and sat down, ana COlvin
stated TO Howell that he wanted to talk
matters over. Howell replied. Throw up
your hands," C0lYin did so. adding that he
had nothing in them, notwithstanding which
Howell drew a pistol Colvin pleaded.
" You are not going to shoot me, are YOU?
am unarmed." HOwell'S reply was to fire,
and as his victim felt the bullet strike him
he implored Howell not to shoot, again stat
ing that lie was unarmed. His pleading
was unheeded and he started to go away,
receiving the last shot as he turned around.
This is the substance of tine statement of
Colvin.
After the shooting Howell walked down.
stairs and meeting man on the stairs said
he had shot man. Going out on the side
walk he met another, TO whom he said he
had shot man upstairs and wanted to
know what he should do about it. This man
was Deputy Sheriff Ross. who told him
to come with him, and he was
interview with newspaper representatives
at the City Hall, Howell refused to say any,
thing about the cause of the shooting, stat
ing that he wanted his case tried in court,
He did state TO CALL reporter just before
leaving HIM that the man he had shot had
been bounding his daughter for three years,
but he would say nothing more, except that
his children are all model children.
He gave history of himself from which
it appears that twenty-eight years ago he
was constable of Idaho City and one year
later Sheriff of Alturas County, Idaho. lie
came to California and sixteen years ago
founded the Russian River Flag at Heads
burg. AfterTard he came down to San
Francisco and was in the stock broker bust
with his brother. He was, moreover,
clerk in the Legislature for three
terms and is well known all
over the State. His wife and three younger
CLluIou are Oh IL ranch near Lander Station.
Placer County, while his eldest child, Miss
Annie Howell, is a teacher in the Franklin
School, East Oakland, and has been teach
ing in Oakland about four years. She is %
years Of age.
Although Howell would say nothing
about the cause OF the shooting further than
that Colvin had been bounding his daughter
for three years it was learned from other
sources that the shooting was about this
young woman. 1t is said that about three
years ago ColYin and she were engaged in
marriage, but for some cause the engage
ment was broken off, presumably
by her, but this could not be
aseertained definitely, though Colvn's
action would seem to indicate that. 1t is
said that he was determined not to be
snubbed by her, and following her to the
Centennial Hotel took his meals at the same
table, whether she noticed him or not. Re-
Gently he declared that he would have an
interview with her, and she as resolutely
declared that he should not.
He afterward said that lie did have an in
terview and that the five minutes she ac-
corded him were heightened to two hours.
He declared to friends that he would not
marry her and did not want to, but it is be-
lieved that such was not the case and that
she would not marry him. Some four
months ago he became part owner of the
Oracle, weekly, and in it. without giving
names, be aired some OF his grievances
in the way OF stories about things that
had occurred, harmless in themselves, but
annoying to the young lady. About four
weeks ago he started another paper, calling
1t the Current Comment, and in this he also
printed sQuibs which no one but her friends
and herself and family would understand.
a late hour it was stated that there
was chance of COlvin's recovery, the sur
| geon stating that none of the bullets had
struck vital part or largo artery. The one
in the abdomen is considered the most dan
gerous. HIS brother, c. l.. Colyin, an attor-
| ney, is with him at his room.