The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-11
PERHAPS A FRATRICIDE.
William j. Raggett Dies From
the Effect of His Wound.
His Brother, Black Dick" Charged With
Eurder-The Dying Man Maintained That
He Was Accidentally Stabbed

William j. Raggett. the young man who
was stabbed through the right lung during
scufiie with his brother Richard j., better
known as BLACK Dick. died early yester-
day morning at the home of his mother
Was his death case of fratricide or the
result OF an accident? That is the ques ton
the police are trying to solve.
BLACK Dick" had a room in the Root
House. 126 Fourth street, which he shared
with woman known as Josie, an inmate of
den In Morton street. He was bar
tender by occupation. but had not worked
Tor some time, living upon the earnings of
the woman. On the night Of Thursday,
June 80. his brother paid a visit TO bis
room. William was wearing an overcoat
owned by Richard and this seems to have
been the cause Of the quarrel that led up to
tue fatal staDbing. When the quarrel
began William " adleigh. a friend, who
was present Ostensibly for the purpose of
sharing the morphine used by the brothers,
lett the room and retired to his own apart
meDt In the same house. A few minutes
later W lillian fell TO the floor with knife
wound In his ri ght breast. Richard dragged
his wounded brother down TO saloon
underneath the house and left him there.
Then lie fed, but soon after was found and
arrested on charge OF assault TO murder.
BOTH TOLD THE SAME STORY.
Receiving Hospital, where he said that he
had been accidentally injured by falling
upon knife While quaTreling with his
brother. His brother said the same.
For several days the condition of the
wounded man improved, and last Thursday
Police Surgeon Somers consented to his re-
moVai to the home of his mother. Puss
ga hered in the wound. however, and blood
poisoning Set ln. DIR. SOmers, who con-
tinued to attend William, informed his
qf Sag FHaN afsfhf hot a,
dying condition. He was advised to make
dying statement and he did so. In the
presence OF his mother and a notary public
he said that lie received the fatal wound
by accidentally falling upon knife.
The Coroner was notified of the death
but the remains were not removed to the
Morgue. An autopsy will probably be
made to-day and an inquest commenced
Deceased was aged 20 years. a native Of
California and butcher by occupation He
was about five years younger than Richard
and, having been out OF employment, re-
ceiyed assistance from him.
WOULD SAY NOTHING.
When informed OF his brothers death YES
terday afternoon Richard was greatly af-
fected. lie turned very pale, shed few
tears and elutcbed the bars of his cell to
keep from falling. After charge OF muir
der was recorded against him Oh the CITY
Prison register lie declined TO say ANYTHING
more about the encounter. MY lawyer"
and l am going to follow his advice"
Wadleieh, the young cigar box maker
who has been locked up as a witness since
the night Of the affTay. was more eommunj
cative. Il can only repeat" he said, what
L have stated before. On the night Of the
stabbing | was in Dick Raggett's room
when William entered. Dick tainted his
brother with what he had done for him. He
then began TO find fault with William for
wearing his oyefcoat. William took of
the overcOat, and as l left the
room | heard Dick say. I'd rather cut IL
TO pieces than let You wear it, While pass
ing through the hall heard ripping. tear
ing sound, as though the coat was being cut
TO pieces. Several minutes later Dick en-
tered my room and exclaimed: My God
William has fallen upon the knife and cut
himself While / was looking for NV
brother, who rooms with me. | was arrest
ed. That's all know about it,"
THE POLICE THEORY.
The police believe that the knife was held
In Dicks hand when the wound was in
hicted. Whether il was accidental or ipten
tiOuai remains to be determined. The
brothers had had many quarrels, and. in
fact, they never parted, for months before
the stabbing, without exchanging words of
wrath.
Several applications were made last week
to Judge RiX for tile release of Richard
Raggett on bail, but each time the applca-
ton was denied