The record-union., 1892-03-09
Sad Result of a Wordy Election
WrangIe.
George, alias 'sBig Neck,'' smith
Shoots and Kills Patrick Branni-
gan-Alleged SeIfDefense.


cinct OF the First District at just 3
o'clock, and ten minutes later George
(alias big Neck'') Smith of San Fran
cisco shot and killed Patrick Brannigan
Of this city few feet distant from the
polls on Third street, between j and X.
1t seems that early in the afternoon
Smith and Brannigan had a slight falling
out in that vicinity. The latter was quite
under the influence OF liquor, and was
somewhat annoying to people about the
polls. He finally came in contact with
Smith, and the latter, it is said, pushed
/ him rudely from him.
Brannigan went away muttering. some
/ thlng about revenge, and later on visited
a saloon opposite the polling place, with,
1t Is said, a pistol in each side pocket of
his sack coat, and made a remark To the
effect that III he could kill that fellow
smith he could make money by it,"
BRANNIGAN's FOOLISH THREATS.
Brannigan is also reported to have said
to a friend, who previously led him away
/ from smith, that he would put him
Smith in the morgue before night.
Whether this remark was overheard by
smith or not IS not known, but it is sup
posed that some Of Brannigan's foolish
I threats reached Smiths ears.
ItIE FATAL MEETING.
AZ all events, the men met on the side
walk about ten minutes after O'Clock,
Just after the polls mad closed, and the
dispute that had occurred earlier in the
day was renewed. The men did not talk
loud, but quite a large crowd gathered
about them.
About the first words that Were heard
by DystanderS was remark by Branni-
gan 10 the effect that Smith had punched
40 VaH i9arr 1,-,t Il IL,
| again He stood with both hands in his
coat pockets at this time, d-say the
bystanderS appeared to be fumbling
with something in them.
Smith said to Brannigan that he had
always been the latters friend, and if he
wanted to fight he had better tackle
some stranger"
After some further remarks of the
kind, Brannigan said: ''Wen, / don't
know. whether or not you've been my
friend" and made movement as if to
/ button his coat across his breast.
THAT SETTLES Irn'
/ Replied Smith, and in an instant he
/ whipped a big revolver from his pocket,
and quick as thought shot Brannigan in
/ the abdomen.
! The crowd then scattered so precipi-
/ tateiy that it was difficult to find anyone
! who could state positively just what fol-
lowed, although scores of persons saw
1 the shooting, III general way. 1t ap-
/ pears, however, that Brannigan turned,
after the first shot, and was falling when
! smith fired second shot, which struck
him in the left side, near the arnpit. AS
( Bfannigan fell to the sidewalk he pulled
pistol from the right pocket OF his coat,
/ and II dropped from his hand.
/ lie fell toward Smith, and as he lay
! upon the pavement Smith reached for
ward, held ms pistol within about four
feet of his yictin's head and fired third
shot. This bullet entered Brannigan's
forehead on the left side and emerged be-
hind the ear.
The unfortunate man did not utter a
word alter he was shot, and died almost
instantly.
SMITH WAS COOL.
AS soon as Smith fired his last shot
! Officer Gibson, who had been inside the
| polling place. reached the spot anu placed
! Smith under arrest. The latter had re-
cooked his pistol, as if prepared for pos
/ siDle demonstration from some other
! quarter, but handed it to the officer, who
! led him to the police station. On the way
/ there Smith claimed that he had shot
! Branngan in self-delense.
CHEAT EXCITEMENT.
! 4 vast crowd Of people gathered about
/ the scene of the tragedy and viewed the
! body as il lay on the pavement while
awaiting the arrival OF the Coroner's s
/ wagon.
/ Many OF Brannigan's friends We're wild
/ With excitement, and several Of them de-
! cared that Smith should be taken from
4 the Jail and lynched. Every body, except
4 two or three personal and political
/ friends Of Smith, loudly denounced as
c0wardly and brutal his shooting OF
( Brannigan after the latter had fallen TO
/ the ground.
WHAT SMITH HAD TO SAY.
( Smith, when seen at the City Prison by
Il REC0RD-U UNIoN reporter, declined to
talk much about the tragedy. He said he
was very sorry ii happened, but that he
could not help il.
He had threatened to kill me during
the day" said Smith, ''and several per-
sons warned me to be on the look out.
/ He was intoxicated, and / knew that
when in that condition he was dangerous.
/ W hen he made for me the last time | was
satisfied that he was armed, but tried to
get him to 90 away. When he made a
move for bis pocket, why l defended
myself: that's all there is to it."
OFFICER GIBsoN's STATEMENT.
/ Considerable criticism has been passed
uDOn Officer Gibson, who rumOr had it
I was warned 10 remove Brannigan from
the polls or there would be trouble. Glib
I son SAYS that a few minutes prior to the
] SIlOOlltG L. L SlliCO Oll Slg&BSG 10 MN
! that Brannigan should be taken away.
and be went to the door for that purpose.
I As he got there he saw Brannigan quietly
moving off along Third street. in com
4 pany with another man, and, concluding
] there was no danger OF trouble, returned
+ to his place within the polls, where the
/ returns were being canVasSed.
/ When the deceased was taken to the
/ Morgue it was found that three shots had
taken effect, one entering the head over
/ the left eye and emerging behind the ear
one under the left armpit and one in the
abdomen, either one of which was fatal
a revolver was found in his left COAT
! pocket. with all the chambers loaded
1 showing that he had two weapons on him
4 at the time of the shooting.
/ SMITH AND HIS VICTIM.
George Smith, the man who shot Bran
nigan. Is well known in certain circles
here and in San Francisco. the latterpIace
\ being his home. lie is better known az
Big Neck Smith, and has something
+ of. a reputationas q prize-fighter, wrestler
and ward bully. lie has been here for
some months. ana, despite his general
] reDutatioB, has been peaceable He took
/ a very active part in the election yester-
day, but it does not appear that he went
out of his way to pick quarrels. although
4 he became engaged in a few wordy
Wrangles.
Patrick BTannigan, the victim of
+ Smiths unerring pistol, had been resi-
dent o. this city FOR many years, where he
i had reared a family of i've children. his
+ eldest son, William, being IS years of age.
lie was plasterer by trade, and a hard
working man. Ills only falling was an
T occasional over-indulgence in liquor, at
which times he was inclined to be a little
auarrelsonle, but not without provoca-
+ ton.
He was a native of Scotland, and 5S
years OF age. He Is said to have served
i in some capacity in the army during the