The morning call., 1892-01-07
Mystery Surrounding a San
Rafael Tragedy,
The Body Of a Murdered Man DlSCOY-
cred Near The Depot.
Bullet Hole in the Re3d-ODe Of Gang Of
HaTi Characters From San Francisco. / {
4 SalOOl-KeepeT'S Story.
Special to THE MORNING CAtL

SAN RAFAEL Jan. 6-This morning the
bodv If man was noticed lying on
sewer-pipe near the DJnahue railroad derot.
Passers-by paid DO particular attention to
The man. thinking he was one Of the many
tramps who now infest this locality. Shortly
before the o'clock train started for San
Francisco one Of the passengers called the
attention Of the section boss to the man and
on an investigation being made it was found
that he was dead and that 10 all likelihood
he had been murdered, as a bullet hole was
found to have penetrated his forehead.
Coroner Eden was Immediately notified
and be repaired TO the scene and removed
the body to the MorEue, where it was laid
upon a slab and all day 1t was viewed by
motley crowd Of curious people
Sheriff Frank Healy soon after the dis
cOvery began an investigation, but with
what results it is impossible to tell. BE has
been out all day exploring the surrounding
country, and all the haunts of the tramps
who sojourn in this section. but nothing of
note in connection with the case, it Is be
lieYed, has been discovered.
TROUBLESOME PASSENGERS.
Shortly after the body was found this
morning the following facts were discov-
cred On the 5 o'clock trip from San Fran
cisco seven hardlookiug specimens Of hui
mainly, the deceased being among the num-
Der, boarded the boat en- route to this place.
At Reeds station they raised a disturbance
on the train and after a great deal Of trou-
bic t. the trainmen three of the tramps
were put off the train and before the signal
TO start Up could be given the passenger
cars we're deluged with a shower Of rocks
and c0bbles. The missiles came in a per-
feet Iusiljade and the passengers had 10 seek
refuge below the seats The train sped on
and the remaining tramps reached San Ra-
fac, where they proceeded to celebrate
their arrival They INDUCED in various
petty tricks at the depot and then repaired
70 neighb0riDg saloon, where, after taking
several drinks, they made an attempt TO re-
lieye the proprietor Of his watch In this
they partly succeeded, as one case Of the
watch Is now missing.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.
Virgil Escaller, the proprietor of the sa-
loon. gives his story, as follows; About
o'clock last night four tTamps came into my
saloon. They seemed 20 have considerable
money and treated ia turn. While not
greatly under the Influence Of liquor they
seemed QuaTTelsOme. i ala not pay any
particular attention 20 them until / looked
at UY watch % comp IRE u with tie clock ON
the bar, and one OF the men made grab for
It, bad firm hold on the watch, bu- the
nan succeeded In Wrestling the case from ma.
They a.. ran cut, win the exception Of the
man who was found dead tljs morning. He
remained 10 the saloon for some time, and
said De would be able 30 Identity NY a,sail-
ant"
Several persons who reside in the vicinity
Of Wlere the man was found state tuat
ab vi o'clock st night about the time at
when the deceased left EScallier's saloon,
they heard q shot Gred. No attention was
paid ~ il, a IL was thought that the watch
man at tie Hotel Rafael was firing at tres
passing dogs. Four tTamps who are seTv-
Ing time IN tie County jail were brought TO
the MOTEUe to-day and identified the re-
mains as thase Of SWede who had occupied
the Same barn with them on last Saturday
night. They state that he was In the barn
when they reached it and left early on the
following morning, but they were positive
as 10 his Identification.
THEORIES OF THE TRAGEDY.
No pistol or other weapon having been
found near the body, various theories have
been set aflOat as To the cause Of the Oc-
currenCe One is that deceased tried to
stand uD some paSSer-Oy anu was SHtiG
down; another is that ne and his cOmpan-
ions became involved in a dispute and that
tie deceased WAS murdered and his muir
deTer escaped. The latter seems the most
plausible, as deceased was seen to display a
pistol and considerable money, but when
discovered this morning but thirty cents
was found on his person and no weapon
could be found anywhere in the vicinity.
The position Of tile body when found indi-
Gates that the man was shot aud the body
deposited where it lay this morning. The
opinion is expressed that it was a cold
bOoded murder. and many acts Of lawlrss-
ness which have disturbed this town for
some time past are now being agitated, and
no doubt the offenders will be summariIy
dealt with.
RECENTLY IMPRISONED.
Deceased was a man about 90 wears OF
age, feet inches IN height and clean
shayen, and was dressed in a chinchla
coat, blue over1ls and gaiter shoes. To-
night it has been learned that on the train
he cOnfded to one of the passengers from
whom he was trying to borrow some money
that he had just been released from the
House Of Correction IN San Francisco. An
accurate de5cT ptiOn of the companions Of
the deceased could not be gained. Sheriff
Healy has not as yet returned from his
search, and no further developments can be
given. Many Of our foremost citizens have
become interested, and IL is thought that the
Board of Trustees Will be asked to appoint
.avaraI additional D0Iicapan