The record-union., 1892-08-01
UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE.
q Newspaper Reporter Shoots at 3
Policeman.
Inc Latter's Narrow Esoape-An Affair
mat Appears to Have Resulted
From a Mistake.

al unfortunate affair occurred on Sew
ehth street, between X and L, at an early
nour yesterday morning, in which Police
oIhcer }. @. Cox came very near being
shot by Joseph G. Mansfield of the REC
okD-C MONS reportorial staff
mansfield was confined TO his bed yes
terday from the effects of blow on his
mead received from the officers club, and
was disinclined to talk much, but friends
VINO had conversed with him just after
the affair occurred CLEANED from him
some particulars, from which it would
appear that he was on his way to his
home at Seventh and p streets, after hav-
ing completed his Saturday night detail
and spending an hour or two with some
friends, when he noticed a man who-as
1t seemed to him-was logging his foot
steps up X street. When he increased his
pace the unknown man did the same, al
ways keeping close TO Mansfield.
Not knowing but that the man meant
mischief, Mansfield stepped aside at
Sixth street and allowed him to pass.
When he resumed his journey he en-
countered the man again on the opposite
side OF Sixth street, where he had appar-
emily been waiting for Mansfield.
As the latter reached the corner the
man approached and Mansfield asked him
what ne wanted of him and why he was
following him up. As they came to-
gether Mansfield struck at the man, who
Immediately cried out that he meant
nothing wrong and that he was no foot
pad. This man, as subsequently APP
peared, was Henry b. Humphrey, an
employee in the Postoffice.
Mansfield said he then walked away
from the man, whom he did not know,
10 hn
where he sat down and conversed for
some time with Lee Bell, the night clerk,
10 whom he related what had occurred.
He then started TO go down Seventh
street to his home and had got short
distance past the Capital Hotel when two
men came after him, and he recognized
one OF them as the man Humphrey with
whom he had had the trouble on x
street.
Humphrey said something to Mans
field, who, seeing the former had a COM
rade, and fearing they intended to way
lay and beat him, kept on his way in the
hope of eluding them. The companion
of Humphrey then called upon Mans
field TO stop, but the latter refused, at the
same time telling him to mind his own
business, or something to that effect.
Just then the man ran after him and
struck him on the back of the head with
heavy weapon, knocking him almost
wound. AS soon as he recovered suffi-
GENTLY to be able to act he drew his pistol
and fired several times at his assailant
but was soon overpoWered
lie then learned for the first time, he
says, that his assailant was an officer.
A person living on the corner Of the
alley near where the ARRAY occurred
heard one man say, as the party passed
on their return, Il guess you'll stop the
next time l tell you top or something to
that effect and then someone replied,
w ny didn't you say you were an Off
cer?''
Mansfield insists that he did not know
either Of the men-that it was dark under
the awning, and he supposed the men
were there to do him harm. He saws Cox
did not declare himself an officer, for if
he had he (Mansfield) would not have
been foolish enough to resist arrest.
Clerk Bell, OF the Golden Eagle Hotel,
says he saw the beginning of the affair,
and knows that Mansfield was endeavor-
ing to get away from the men.
At the police station officer Cox told a
different story. He said that Humphrey
came TO him at Ninth and X streets and
said he had been assaulted by a man
down the street and wanted the officer to
arrest him; that they FASTENED to Seventh
street, and Humphrey pointed out Mans
field, saying he was the man; that they
intercepted Mansfield, and he Cox asked
Humphrey if he would swear to a COM
plant if he would arrest Mansfield; that
Humphrey said he would, and that he
Cox then told Mansfield he was under
arrest; that the latter then struck him,
and he in turn knocked the reporter
down with his pOlice-club; that Mans
field soon got upon his feet and fired four
shots at him, but surrendered when the
officer covered him with his pistol and
threatened to shoot. He says he did say
he was an officer at the time he attempted
to make the arrest.
This, in brief, is the statement of Cox, as
understood from other officers to whom
it was made. -Four bullets from 81
caliber pistol had pierced his clothing, and
one of them grazed his left side causing
an abrasion OF the skin.
Officer Cox has placed a charge of as
sault to murder against Mansfield, who is
at his home. 1t is an unfortunate affair,
and apparently resulted from a misun-
derstanding all round. While Officer
Cox says Mansfield must have known he
was a policeman, the latter declares he
did not know him. Indeed, but one
among the reporters on the paper is ac-
Quainted with the officer or knows him
by sight. He has been on the force but a
few months, and has been doing duty
mostly on distant beats, where he did not
come IN contact with the reporters.
One circumstance which gives strength
to Mansfield's explanation that he did not
know Cox was an officer, is that he was
we'll aware that a policeman has no right
to arrest a person for a misdemeanor on
the mere statement of another, and that
he must have been a witness to such
alleged misdemeauOr before he would
have authority to make an arrest.
He has been a reporter for many years
in San Francisco, and is familiar with
police customs.
Mr. Mansfield has been employed as a
reporter on this paper for three years, is a
man Of family, and one who has never
shown a disposition 10 quarrel; on the
contrary, he is a young man of unusual
Chcerlulness and exuberance of spirit.
He enjoys the respect of all that Know
him. and it certainly does not seem posi-
bic that he would have resorIed to the use
OF weapon unless he believed his life in
danger. He never carries a pistol except
when on his way home at late hours in
the night.