Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-08
A MIDNIGHT DISCOVERY
POLICE OFFICER RICH FINDS BLOOD
IN THE PARK.
What the Discovery Led To-The Strange
Tale of Man Who Says He Was AS
saulted Wednesday Night While on
His Way Home. f

stabbing late Wednesday night which is
shrouded in mystery, and will probably
remain unexplained for all time.
The hour of midnight had just struck,
and Officer Rich, who patrols Sixth
street from Main to Pearl, was on his
way down Sixth street, and upon reach
ing the corner Of Olive, pulled out his
watch to compare it with the time in
dicated by the big clock in the high
school, which had JUST proclaimed the
hour.
He sauntered along across Olive street
wishing it were time to be relieved and
passed under the electric light which is
located at the entrance to the park.
His eyes were fixed on the ground, and
when he reached the center of the
cement walk he saw something that
aroused him to high state of excite
ment. There before him on the pave
ment was trail of fresh blood.
The officer had heard no shot fred,
and was at loss to account for what
Seventh street, and the officer turned
his steps in that direction. The trail
was very plain and so recently made
that the blood marks glistened in the
rays of the arc lamp. Rich had nothing
but matches, but by using up good
sized bunch he managed to follow up
the blood marks half way up to Seventh
street, where he lost it.
He retraced his steps and called up
Officer Harris, who looks after the
Broadway beat, and the two held con-
sultation. They repaired to the spot
where Rich made his discovery, and
after quite search picked up the
bloody trail X in the park. With
the aid of Harris's supply of
matches they succeeded in following the
trail along the winding paths and across
the grass to point near the drinking
fountain in the center of the park where
there was quite a pool of blood which
seemed to indicate that the cutting,
shooting or accident-whateve it was,
had taken place there.
Harris doubted Rich's theory that
someone had been stabbed orshot, and
tried to induce his brother officer to be-
lieve that the blood was that of dog.
They agreed that nothing more could be
done until daylight, and when Officer
Bob Martin came on duty Rich informed
him of his discovery of the night before,
and Martin took up the hunt yesterday
afternoon.
About o'clock yesterday morning a
man about 50years of age, with hair and
beard slightly tinged with gray, went to
police headquarters and was immedi-
ately cioseted with Captain Roberts.
| He had his hand and arm bandaged and
appeared very weak and faint. The
captain knew nothing of Rich's discov-
cry and was surprised when he learned
! from the lips OF his visitor that there
had been stabbing at the park and
| that he was wounded in the affair.
The stranger was very careful to inn
press upon the captain that the affair
must not be talked about, and that the
newspapers were not to know anything
about it. He then told his story. He
stated that he is a minister, although at
present engaged as a teacher of music at
the Los Angeles conservatory on Olive
street near Seventh. His name was
given to the police, but the HERALD's
informant forgot it.
In the course of his story he said he
was on his way home from the center of
the city, and, as was bis usual custom,
started through the park. When near
the fountain he concluded to take a
drink and halted for that purpose.
IneT0 was man standing near Dy.
Suddenly he felt stinging sensation in
his arm, then blow on the head which
was delivered with sufficient force to
knock him down. He heard someone
say in Spanish, swell, I've downed
you"
The man whom he saw standing at
the fountain stepped up and asked him
if he was badly hurt, and be replied
that he thought not. He got up and
started home. When only short dis
tance had been traversed, he discovered
blood running down his coat sleeve,
and began to grow weak. He finally
reachek his house, but when inside the
house, tainted away. His wound. he
said, was slight one, the knife having
cut across the arm without penetrating
| deeply. He could give no reason for
any person wishing to assault him and
regarded the affair as very mysterious.
Before leaving the station, he again
impressed upon the captain his wish to
have the matter kept quiet, but neglect
ed to assign any good reason why it
| should not be made public.
| Officer Martin knew nothing of the
mans visit to the station, and was pur-
suing quiet little investigation on his
own hook. After a short search he
fouud blor,d "a, ~, a nl,, M f 1a !, q