The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-02-25
INSCR|BE IT ON HIS TOMB
Attempted Assassination of
John w. Mackey.
The Bonanza King Shot in the
Back by a Crank.
The Murderer Then Infiicts Mortal
Wound on Himself.
Mackey's Injuries Not Necessarily Fatal.
The Author of the Crime identified
as w. o. Rippey a Bankrupt
Stock Gambler.

BY the Associated Press.l
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24-Just few
minutes after the bells and whistles in
the business portion of the city had an
nounced the noon hour today, and when
the downtown streets were crowded
with hurrying men and women ON their
way to luncheon, a tragedy occurr ed
near the principal center of local COM
merce. John W. Mackey, the bonanza
king whose millions have made his
name known all over the world, was
shot and severely wounded by Wesley
Childs Rippey, an old man, crazed by
having lost fortune he once possessed.
There seemed to be no motive for the
assault on the millionaire, except that
his would-be assassin had determined to
commit suicide and had made up his
mind to die in company with one who
was luckier than he in dealing with min
| ing securities.
Mr.. Macksy was wounded by bullet
in the back between the sixth and
seventh ribs. This, two hours after the
shooting, was extracted and he is rest
ing easily. His physicians express
every hope that no inflammation win
occur in which case there will hardly be
any danger of serious results.
Rippey, who after firing the shot
which he hoped would kill Mackey,
turned the pistols mnzzle against him
self and pulled the trigger, lies mortally
wounded in the receiving hospital with
hardly any possibility OF recovery.
THE ACT OF A MADMAN.
Were it not for the fact that every cir
cumstance connected with the case
shows that the shooting was the act of q
madman, the attack would go on record
as a most cowardly deed, because, pistol
in hand, Rippey lay in wait for his in
tended victim until he saw him walking
from Sutter street into Lick alley, a
small thoroughfars in the rear of the
hisGk nYSaia as at tshsb about h tie middle Of
the alley, where suddenly and without
word OF warning, he deliberately shot
him from behind. Msckey did not know
he was being followed, and the first inti-
nation he had of it was when he heard
the report of the pistol and felt a sting
ing sensation in his back.
GREAT EXCITEMENT OVER THE SHOOTING.
1t being the noon hour the streets
were crowded and the news of the shoot
ing spread with great rapidity. At first
it was reported both Mackey and his
assailant were dead, and crowds rushed
to the scene of the shooting. The cor
oner was telephoned for and the morgue
wagon came after the bodies, but in the
meantime Mackey had disappeared and
the assassin, although lyi ng motionless
on the pavement, was not dead. and was
taken to the receiving hospital in pa.
troll wagon.
Groups of excited stock brokers and
merchants gathered about and discussed
Mackey's career and the supposed cause
OF the shooting. 1t was generally
thought the murderer WAS some old
mining man who fancied himself injured
by Mackey. Probably no similar senss-
tion and excitement was caused in this
city since Judge Terry was shot at
Lathrop by Deputy Marshal Nagle four
years ago.
THE IDENTITY OF THE ASSASSIN.
1t was first reported that the name of
the assassin was Ratcliffe, and subse-
quently that his name was Dunn.
DR.. Troesel called at the receiving
hospital, however, and identified the
wounded man as W. G. Rippey. Rippey
told him that he had lost considera BILE
money in stock speculation and at
tributed his losses to Mackay's manipu-
| lations.
THE CRIME WAS PREMEDITATED.
The attempt on the life of Mackey
was deliberate and premeditated. II
was known that he usually appeared on
the street in that vicinity soon after the
noon hour, when in San Francisco, and
the old man was there awaiting him.
After shooting himself, Rippey ex-
claimed: "My God, | am satisfied p"
and fell on the paved court. When
driven to the receiving hospital he was
conscious, but could not articulate.
From letters found on his person, it was
shown that the crime was premeditated
and that he was demented.
When Mackey's assailant arrived at
the receiving hospital he was nearly un-
conscious. He was shot through the
left breast. The bullet went clear
through his body and there is no hope
for his recovery. In his pocket was
found letter addressed to the Ex-
aminer. 1t was headed:
''FooD FOR REFLECTION"
The text of the letter was as follows:
Paid $3.50, 900 for one sapphire to place
on the jaded person OF his wife, a sum
sufficient to have saved at least 500 OF
| his psupers from suicidal grave. Just
think OF It'll Inscribe it on his tomb.
| (Signed) W. G. RIPPEY.
Another letter was directed to DR.. J.
L. Linton. Palace Hotel.
On Rippey's body was found loaded
revolver which had not been fired,
showing that he had two pistols and
was prepared to make sure work oft.
wELL-KNowN oLD-TIMER.
William O. Rippey was well-known to
old-timers in San Francisco. He was
born in Cincinnati and leaves wife and
family there. At one time he was worth
800. 900 and made about $50, 900 on the
| Comstock. He came to San Francisco,
commenced gambling in stocks and soon
lost his money. At one time he lived