The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-05-18
THE KINGS SON"
Demented John 0'Brien Shoots Down
Frederick Stein.
He Imagined That Stein Intended to
Rob and XIII Him-Stein Is
Badly Injured.

Frederick Stein lies at the County Hos
pital with one hand less than he had
yesterday. Somehow he wandered into
the camp of an eccentric individual
named John O'Brien, which is located in
the brush on the ranch of Daniel Nc
Carly, some three miles east of the city.
Presently, and without warming, he was
startled by the report OF gun near by,
and then realized that its contents had
taken effect in his body.
He found his left wrist shattered, and
was also wounded in the thigh and other
parts of the body. He did not see the
party who shot him, but managed TO
drag himself along about half-mile to-
wald the public road, where he became
too weak from loss of blood to proceed
farther
Some parties about the McCarty ranch
discovered the wounded man shortly be-
fore noon, and word was telephoned to
the SherlfPS Office. Sheriff Stanley,
Deputy Alter, District Attorney Ryan and
Or. 7. Is. Nichols drove out 10 McCarty's
place, found the wounded man, heard
his story, and sent him TO the County
Hospital for treatment. Nobody about
the place remembered having heard a
Shot fired, and Stein himself could not
tell who shot him.
Just then 1t occurred to members of the
party That on their way out they had met
Weu-knoWn character, who had for
years been regarded as q demented but
harmless creature, Flooding along the
ROAD with the old musket that he had
carried about with him for the past ten
years, and when il was learned that be
occupied the camp in the brush where
stem was shot, the officers made quick
haste back TO town in search of him.
They overlook him at Twelfth and
streets, and Deputy Sheriff Alter quietly
approached him from behind and seized
the musket before O'Brien could make
any resistance. He was then secured,
alter struggle, and taken to the County
Jail. bis musket was found to be
loaded.
OBrien admitted that he Shot at the
man, but declared that there was nothing
but powder in the gun. He said the man
whOm he had shot at had been stealing
his clothes and clothing for many days,
and that he had frequently warned him
to keep away. He said, furthermore,
that the man (Stein) had gone there yes
terday to kill him.
OBrien has been in Sacramento about
eleven years, and has occupied a misera-
bic hut made of brush on the McCartv
almost daily, and almost invariably car
ried his old musket. He rarely spoke to
anyone, but when questioned said he was
the Kings son." and claimed to have
been an old soldier. He was always re-
garded as harmless person, although a
few years ago someone took the hammer
off his musket, fearing that he might take
notion to shoot at people. He stated
yesterday that he was born in Ireland.
and that he was 90 years Of age
Stein, the injured man, was found to be
badly wounded, his wrist being so badly
shattered that it was necessary to ampu-
tate the arm below the elbow. When
DR.. White came to dress the wounds he
made the singular discovery that Stein
was not injured by shot nor bullets, but
by pebbles, of which a number were
picked out Of his flesh. They were OF
various sizes, but averaged about the size
Of a large pea.
Stein, it is said, lately came here from
Stockton, but claimed to have been en-
ployed in this city year ago. 1t is not
by any means certain that he can recover.
Steps were taken late yesterday after
noon TO have O'Brien examined as to his
sanity, but Judge Van Fleet quickly
stopped it, saying that person arrested
for crime must first be proceeded
against, and if he claimed to be insane, OF
was suspected of insanity, then it would
be proper to establish that fact.