The morning call., 1892-07-07

SHOT DOWN LIKE A Dog.
William Byrn Meets Death at The Hands
Of His Nephew.
HE WiKTED HIS SECRETS KEPT.
Charles Crews Did Net Besire the Story Of His Past
Life ToId. and Took an Awful Ienge.
aRce When Betrayed.
HE WiNTED HIS SECRETS KEPT.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

SANTA Rosa, July 6. = William Byrn,
who lives two miles west Of Windsor. is
now lying in a critical condition as the re-
suit of a pistol wound in the abdomen, in
fiicted by his nephew Charles Crews. The
latter is from the northern part OF the
State, and came to the ranch on visit TO
his uncle some weeks ago.
The fatal shot was fired early this morn
ing, when the two men were quarrellng
about family matters. The story of the case
parallels in all respects the notorious
Bruggy murder. Crews was the aggressor
all through. and Byrn begged hard for his
life when his nephew deliberately shot him
down like q dog. The wounded man was
married recently to the daughter of A. VIII
son, whose ranch he was working at the
time Of the tragedy.
The first news of the murder reached
here late in she afternoon, and late tonight
word has been received TO the effect that
Byrn's physicians have informed him that
he must die, and that the wounded man has
made dying statement OF the particulars
OF the shooting
Byrn's Dying Statement.
From the statement, the murder would
seem TO have been most cruel and cold
blooded. Crews, it appeared, had led a
reckless life in the East before coming TO
the northern part OF the State TO see his
uncle he concluded to go TO work on the
Wilson ranch, anu told Byrn that he desired
the particulars OF his past kept secret.
Byrn. however, thought that he owed duty
to his mother-in-law. Mrs. Wilson, in the
premises, and so told her all about it.
This angered Crews. and this afternoon
lie asked 8grss 10 60 with him lnto red
wood grove on the place TO talk matters
over. first promising that he would not let
1af fa,,,s fraf aBah hat NJ i'm hrHn IN
the grove and out of sieht of the ranch
house, he broke his wore and began up
braidng his uncle bitterly for telling on
lin. A a climax, he drew a revolver, ex-
claiming. Il ought to shoot you down
where you stand.
The Murderer Escapes.
Byrn begged him not to shoot, backing
away at the same time. but when he had
gone about 10 ieet Crews fired. the bali strik-
ing his victim in the abdomen. Byrn did not
fall at once, and turning fed for his life
with the heudish murderer in pursuit
The wounded man ran about 100 yards
before weakness oYercame him, and leaving
his victim lying on the ground Crews coOIly
return cd to the Tanch-hOuse and told what
lie had done, saying at the same time that
he would go in and surrender himself He
did come straight TO town, too, reaching
here early in the morning. before the kill
ing had been heard OF. Instead OF giving
himself up however, lie bought ticket 10
NeatherpOTt, Tex, remaining in hidin z
until the afternoon train went out, and sue
eeeded in getting away before his crime
became known. Crews is not very well
known here, but he is said to be a tall
young man. with a long dark mustaehe, a
scar across the front OF his throat, and
three fingers OF one OF his hands miss
ing. Il il thought that his capture is GER
tam, rs ali officers have been warned to
look out for him. Excitement is still high
al Windsor over the Brnggy case, ii
Crews is caught there is likely to be trouble