The record-union., 1892-03-14
MORE BLOODSHED.
Fatal Ending of a Bitter Quarrel Be-
tween Partners.
II. J. Palmer Encounters Charles w
PhIeger and Kills Him-A Ter
ribIe and Sad Affair.

Of bullets will come, and who will be the
victim. On Saturday last III. j. Palmer
shot and killed Charles w. Phleger, his
former partner. Like the Smith-Bran-
nigan tragedy of the preceding Tuesday,
the affair was not only the partial result
of liquor, but the shooting took place In
the back room of a saloon, where Palmer
had been drinking heavily.
Palmer and Phleger had been partners
in the Monument Ranch, in Yolo County,
few miles north of this city. Palmer
was also Superintendent of one OF ex-
Senator Fairs large farms in that county,
and became involved in law suits with
his employer Fair not only sued Palmer
for a large sum of money, which he
claimed the latter had unlawfully OBJ
tanned from him, but he also brought
large number of criminal charges against
him. Some of these were brought in
Yolo County, some in this county, some
IN Solano and others in San Francisco.
A number of the cases came TO trial and
were won by Palmer. A few months
ago, however, Fair won his civil suit
against Palmer for some $4,000, and
Palmer turned over, in satisfaction OF the
Judgment, his interest in the Monument
Ranch. Thereupon Fair caused the re-
manning criminal charges against Palmer
to be dismissed.
DRIVEN TO THE WALL.
During all this litigation there were
many persons here and in Yolo County
who believed that Palmer was being per-
secuted by the millionaire. He was
ruined financially, and his character
greatly injured. Phleger was made a
witness for the prosecution in some of
the criminal cases, and he testified against
Palmer concerning certain transactions
of the latter while acting as Fairs Super
inteudent
When Palmer transferred his Yolo
property to Fair, it is said he bargained
with the latter to secure a purchaser
therefor, if possible, he (Palmer) to re-
ceive commission on the amount Of the
sale. The sale was recently made, and
Palmer became considerably worked up
over the prospect of losing his commits
sion, as certain creditors had taken steps
10 procure judgments against him. he
consulted his counsel, a. l.. Hart, on the
subject few days ago, and was then
very much agitated over the matter, as
he had lost everything else, even to his
household furniture, which was recently
sold at auction.
These difficulties drove Palmer to
deeper indulgence in liquor, and lately
his friends noticed with anxiety that he
was much of the time so far under its in
fuence as to be incapable Of talking busi
ness.
BREAKING OUT OF HosTILITIEs.
Palmer was in this condition on Satur-
day last. He and Phleger had met on the
street early in the forenoon and some
words passed between them, but were
not overheard. Palmer was greatly dis
turbed over this interview, however, and
drank deeper and oftener than usual, and
as his libations told upon him he began
talking bitterly and abusively of Phleger
10 all with whom he engaged in conyer-
sation.
About IL o'clock Palmer, Chris. Wag-
ner, w. II. Leeman and William White
met Oh Fourth street, and soon Palmer
began talking Of Phleger, applying the
most opprobrious epithets to him. The
men all went into a neighboring saloon
and had round OF drinks, Palmer al
most filling his glass with brandy. He
was so wild with anger at Phleger that
his friends tried to pacity him, but to no
purpose.
MORE LIQUOR.
After another talk on the sidewalk the
party entered another saloon, that OF
George Weissman, where more drinks
were had, Palmer again indulging heavily.
Phleger sat in the rear of the saloon,
screened by partition, while Palmer
continued calling him a coward, etc.
Fearing trouble, Wagner induced Palmer
to go outside, and after a short time the
saloon was again visited. and again
Palmer drank heavily.
Then the group separated, Wagner.
Ieeman and White retiring to the rear
room TO talk over some private business,
and seated themselves at a table opposite
the one at which Phleger was reading.
Palmer soon entered the rear room and
went 10 the table where Wagner and his
friends were seated. a little conversa-
ton passed, and he joined them in a
glass of beer. He then went out through
the rear door.
PHLEGER SHOT TO DEATH.
In few moments he re-entered, and
the first that was known of his presence
was when the report of pistol rang out,
Palmer had opened fire on Phleger, and
before any person could interfere he had
emptied his revolver-a Smith & Wesson
hammerless of the latest pattern. During
the shooting Phleger had arisen from his
chair and held it before his face for pro-
lection, but soon dropped it and took
refuge behind the stove, Palmer follow
ing him up and shooting rapidly. At
the last shot Phleger fell to the floor a
corpse.
Leeman rushed up to Palmer and de
manded the latter's pistol, which was
handed to him. +. II. Dole had caught
hold of Palmer as soon as he could get to
him. placed him under arrest without
any lIOuDtGs anu lpoh nlll 10 lne DOllCG
station. On reaching there Palmer is
said TO have remarked, 81 have done it
] had to do ~ He was locked up, and
soon afterward was visited by his coun-
sci, General Hart, who instructed him to
make no statement concerning the affair
THE FATAL BULLETS.
But four of the shots took effect in
Phleger's body. DR.. q. A. White made
an autopsy on the body later in the day.
i 4 El,,E a.
the flesh OF the right arm. Another
broke the bone OF the forearm. Another
passed through the liver and intestines,
and still another went through both
lungs and heart. The doctor said that
Phleger was a man of remarkable phy-
sique, and that all the organs of the body
Were in perfectly healthy condition,
something quite unusual.
THE DECEAsED-HIs FAMILY.
Charles w. Phleger was native of
Ohio, 30 years of age, and leaves wife
and two Children. His father and mother
reside at Findlay, in that State, and were
at once Informed by telegraph OF the un-
fortunate death of their son. a sister of
the deceased has already started for Sac
ramento, and the funeral will be delayed
until her arrival
Mrs. Phleger, wife of the deceased
was formerly Miss Mary McCory,
well-known school teacher in this county.
She u about TO become mother, and her
friends lear that in her delicate condi-
ton the excitement caused by the terri
be tragedy and her sad bereavement
may result seriously. There was
Tumor abroad Yesterday to the effect that
Mrs. Phleger had died in one of her par
oxysms ofgrief, but fortunately there was
no truth in the story
PALafER's HISTORY.
Palmer is native of Placer Comfy.
horn in 1852. but was reared i'm this city