The record-union., 1893-12-29
SHOT down IN COLD BLOOD.
Charles Berg Probably Fatally Shot
by Stranger.
The Deed said to Be without the
Least Provocation and No
Reason for 1t.

Charles Berg lies at the County Hos
pital at the point of death, the victim OF
a pistol bullet, fired by an unknown man
Yesterday morning, who has thus far es-
capped.
Berg has been employed at Guten-
berger's foundry for the past two weeks,
but not having money to pay for MS
lodgings Tuesday night, he and frleno
named John H. Kemp slept in a refrlger-
ator car in the yard. 1t became so cold,
however, that shortly before O'Clock IN
the morning the men got up and went 10
the Lafayette Saloon to get warm, and
after doing SO, went out and stood IN front
of Wilson'S stable talking.
The man who did the shooting had been
In the Lafayette for a couple OF hours.
Attention had been attracted to him by
his going around peering into the faces OF
those present and acting strangely.
He had treated once or twice, and asked
several persons to take walk with him.
Two finally consented, and were ABOUT 10
leave the saloon with him when their
companions advised them not to DO so. as
he was evidently crank, and they then
declined TO go.
he man LQeU M6ut OUT dAOuC anu obONtt
in front, but soon observing Berg ana
Kemp near him he approached them and
invited them to take walk with him,
saving that he was a watchman IN the
next block. AS Berg thought he recog-
nized him as q man who mad worked at
hop-picking with him last summer at
Menke's, the three walked up to HAM
mer's drug store at Fourth and Is, talk
ing.
Stopping minute in front of the door
way next door to Hammers, the stranger
stooped down and fumbled with the lock
amoment, and then wheeling suddenly
fired pistol into Kemp's face, burning
his cheek badly with the powder. the
bullet going through the rim OF his hat
Almost Immediately he fired at Berg,
striking him in the shoulder, and with
out pause turned his pistol on
the fleeing form OF Kemp, who was
making time that would have made
Directum green with envy. lie
missed him, however, and wheeling,
again shot Berg, who had fallen TO the
ground, in the abdomen. He then put
his pistol in his pocket and before OIL
GERS Alter and Maley, who were two
blocks away. or officer Ahern, who
Jumped out of bed and dressed himself,
could arrive at the spot he had disap-
peared.
A diligent search was made for him by
the officers, but to no avail. Berg was
conveyed to the County Hospital as soon
as possible and the bullet extracted from
his shoulder, but IL was not deemed ad-
visable TO try TO extract the other one
until he was stronger. His condition was
about the same last night, and it is very
doubtful if he RECEIVERS. He is native
of Norway, about SO years old and is not
married.
Both men say the shooter had no provo
cation and gave no warning OF ms lnten-
tons He is described as about 80 years
old, a short, stout man, about five and q
half feet high, having black mustache
and hooked nose which bears evidence
Of having been broken. He wore a
Prince Albert coat and black Alpine hat.
Special officer May insists that the first
shot was fired on the corner of Fourth
street, but Kemp tells very straight
story. and he contends that the man shot
ut him in front OF the door he was trying
TO open, which is some distance east OF
the corner.
1t was reported late last night that a
man who had come in from Antelope,
near the Placer County line. said per-
son answering the description given OF
the shooter arrived there yesterday from
the direction of this city.
Officer Franks says the shooter was
seen in FrOnt-Street saloon about Z
o'clock yesterday morning, but this is
likely a mistake, it being more than prob
able that he left the city at once.
About o'clock last evening City Attor-
ney Post was called to the County Hos
pital TO take the ante-morten statement
of the wounded man. but the latter in
sisted that he was not going to die right
away, hence no statement was taken. He
was, however, very weak, and DR.. White
thinks his recovery Is very doubtful.