The morning call., 1892-07-07
PROBABLY A MURDER.
A WeIl-KnoWn Citizen Shot Down From
Ambush.
THE AFFAIR SHKOUDED IN MYSTERY
David E. Lee COlleeter forsGray Bros., Walked Into
an imbuscade Near felrose Staten Early
This Morning.

David P. Lee lies OF the Oakland Receiv-
ing Hospital, probably in the agonies of
death.
Mr.. Lee is well known in this city. being
a collector in the employ of the well-known
firm of cement-dealers, Gray Bros, Of 2l6
Montgomery street. and he resides at 3109
Central avenue, Alameda Late yesterday
afternoon his business took him to the little
station of Melrose, on the Niles line of the
Southern Pacific, five miles out from
Oakland, and he was detained there
until quite late iE the night 1t was imrOs-
sible last night to learn the cause OF that
detention, but ii was certain that shortly be-
fore midnight Lee started to walk down the
railroad track from Melrose station, com-
ing toward Oakland.
He had gone but a short distance when
he thought that he heard noise coming
from bunch of bushes alongside the track.
and stopping for moment to listen, was
startled by a shot and the singing Of rife
ball close to his ears. He turned about at
once running back up the railway toward
Melrose station, when FIVE men rose out OF
the bushes and there was another shot foi-
lowed in quick succession by perfect vol
ley.
The second shot fred took effect, the bail
passing almost entirely through Mr.. Lees
stomach. aud he staggered, almost falling,
but recovered himself sufficiently TO
make his way. faint and reeling. TO
the station. Whether the assassins
followed him is not clear, the wounded
man being too weak TO make statemeu
OF the affair, but if they did he succeeded
in getting free of them.
Arrived at Melrose, tie people OF the
neighb0rhood were aroused and Deputy
Sheriff Melville OF that place took charge OF
the wounded man and gave him such relief
as was obtainable. Later the officer hitched
ND his team and took Lee 10 the Oakland
Receiving Hospital, where lie arrived al
about 80 O'Clock this morning, and where
his wounds were dressed.
The physician stated that while the in-
jury was a serious one, il was not neces-
Sarily fatal, although there were reasons 10
fear the gravest consequences
Immediately upon leaving Lee in the
doctors care Melville, with Jailor Louis
Scbaneau, got into the buggy again and
started for Melrese 10 attempt 20 arrest the
assailaDts
What the men were ambushed for, at
that place and at that ffour, ami who they
were, ii is difficult 10 say. Mr.. Lee had a
considerable sum of money on his person,
however. and it is just possible that some
parties in the neighborhood may have
that he would pass that way late at night
and so have prepared an ambuscsde.
1t is even possible that the collector
may have been followed from Sau
| Francisco by some tough citizens. and this
| is quite probable If he was at MeIrose on
collecting tour, and if be was in the habit
| of going into the country upon trips OF thai
sort.
Meanwhile the officers are as much in the
dark as to the probable reason for the at.
tack as anybody else, and have absolutely
| no clew as TO the identity of the ambushers
II is. OF course, possible that somebody
else was wanted, and that Mr.. Lee
wandered into an ambuscade intended fsl
| larger game, but this seems imDro baDle, the
place being lonely one and there not even
| being a train passing to be robbed at that
! hour of the night. Or it may be that IL was
/ simply a camp of murderous tramps.
The Deputy Sherl1fs will proceed directly
to the scene of the attack, and from thai
| point will make a thorough search OF thi
surrounding country.