The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-26
A SAD CHRISTMAS.
A Young Married Man
at Deaths Door.
Emil Klause Has His Skull Crushed
In With a Ratchet by an
Unknown Assassin.

Emil Klause. young married man. lies
at the Receiving Hospital with his skull
crushed in and little or no hope of his re.
covery.
He was spending Christmas eve at his
mothers house. Beale place, small street
running west from Main street. between
Folsom and Harrison, and not far from
the scene of the disastrous dynamite ex-
plosiOn.
About o'clock yesterday morning he
and friend, j. V. Rustholl, cockswain of
The Mohican, left Mrs. Klause's TO 60 to a
saloon on the corner OF Second and HOw-
ard streets to buy bottle of whisky.
They were both under the influence of
liquor and were feeling jolly. AS they
turned into Beale lace from Main street
a man jumped out from the cover of the
wall of Curtin's boarding house, which
runs along Beale place, and without q
word struck Klause a terrific blow on the
skull with a Ratchet or other dangerous
instrument, and Wild groan kIauSe sank
10 the ground.
1t was done so quickly that Rusthoil had
no time to interfere before the deadly blow
was struck. Rustholl made grab for him
and caught him by the shoulder, but he
shook himself free and ran north on Main
Sllccl lO hiUCOu GULL, w DCIc IlubtuUll IOSt
sight of him.
Mrs.. Klause heard the noise of the
scuffie. and young man who was in the
house with her two daughters waiting for
the return of Klause and Rustboll ran
out and was Mortified to see klause lying
on the ground with his skull crushed In
and pool of blood around his head.
The wounded man was carried into the
house ana everything done to stop the
flow of blood. Word was sent to the South
Harbor police station and he was taken to
the Receiving Hospital in the patrol
wagon.
Kusthol, the only one who saw the ruff
fan, was seen yesterday afternoon at Mrs.
Klause's house and said: 1--WE had some
drinks at the saloon on Second and How
ard streets and then left with the bottle of
whisky. AS we got into Beale place 1 saw
man come suddenly out of the shadow OF
Curtin's wall and hit Emil over the head.
Emil fell and caught hold OF the man by
the shoulder and had good look at him
''He was a tall, thin man, with pale
face and black mustache. He wore gray
suit of clothes and TO overcoat. L only
got quick glance at him before my hand
slipped from his shoulder, but l think
could recognize him again.
81 chased him down Main street. hoiler-
ing Murder and he ran into Rincon court
and l lost sight of him. The only man
saw after | returned was Curtin, and he
said lie had just come from church and had
seen nobody lettering in the neighborhood.
"A ter they brought Emil into the house
fell asleep and was awakened by Detec-
tive Egan and Policeman Riordan, vino
took me to the South Harbor police station
but afterward let me CO."
Klause's sisters say they never heard
their brother speak of any one with
whom he had falling out. and they did
not believe he had an enemy in the
neighbOrhood.
Klause lived with his wife and two
year-old daughter at 305 Sixth street.
He is a cooper by trade aud worked for
David Woerner, corner OF Fourteenth and
Harrison streets.
His mother and young wife visited him
at the hospital and both were craZed with
grief.
The police are hunting for the ruffian
and hope to have him In the tolls soon.