The morning call., 1894-03-24
HOW HERRICK DIED.
Graphic Description of the Shooting
by Bookkeeper Melvin.

Graphic Description of the Shooting
by Bookkeeper Melvin.
When Herrick dropped dead behind the
counter of his office the safe doors were
open and over $4,000 lay exposed to view.
One proof of The reconciliation in his
crime is the close calculation the murderer
made OF the amount of money lie would be
likely TO get By his crime. He calculated
on something between 5000 and $4,000,
as be Informed he police officials. When
he iell The cashier stretched bis full length
on the floor face upward. knocking the
glass door open with such force that
its glass was all shattered. The
blood gushed in streams from his mouth
and nos,rls. c. 5. Melvin, the book
keeper. overcome with horror at the sight,
mustered up enough courage TO move the
BODY away from the door and then care
fully closed the vault. A minute later
Officers Shields and Flynn arrived from
the Central station, but finding their man
had escaped, started in hot pursuit. A
message was sent TO The Coroner and to
the officials of the bank. In very short
time President Miller of the San Francisco
Savings Union, who is an uncle IF the
murdered man, and other officials ar
rived. They were struck dumb with
horror at the awful sight. w. F.
Herrick. the father, was also summoned.
He broke down utterly at the sight of the
body of his beloved son. lying bathed in
large pool of blood, which saturated his
garments and covered his features. At
tempts were made to stop the flow of
blood. but all to no purpose. The unfortu-
nate young man was stone desd-in fact,
had been killed Instantly. At first it was
thought he had been shot through the
head. owing to the immense quantity of
blood which burst from his mouth and
nosirils and covered his face, but it was
soon found that the fatal bullet had passed
through the left breast
The Coroner made a hasty examination
and finding the man was quite dead had
the body conveyed at once to the morgue.
Then tire officials of the bank and the be-
reaved father went away. Bookkeeper
Melvin locked up the desks and drawers
and doors of the branch Office and went
home, quite prostrated. All day long a
great throng OF people gathered around
the scene OF the tragedy, peering in through
the windows and discussing the terrible
event. circular hole in the glass win
dow of the cashiers desk showed the pas
sage of one bullet and the shattered glass
| door bore witness to the heavy fall of the
| dead body. A card was placed on the
| doors of the bank with rosette and
streamers of black and white crepe, and
on the card was written:
CLOSED owing to the death of W. A.
Herrick."
According 10 c. S. Melvin only three
shots in all were fired. Mr.. Melvin lives
at S11 East Twenty-second street, Oak
land. On being asked to give his version
Of the sad affair he did so willingly.
| 1T happened about $3.50 O'clock" be
said. Mr.. Herrick and l were posting
yesterdays transactions. A man entered
and walked toward my window. at the
same time taking a paper out of his vest
pocket. Mr.. Herrick went to the desk,
which is about ten feet further along. ]
said to the man. The next window,
| please He walked to that window,
handed Mr.. Herrick a small piece of
paper folded up. l paid no attention
to the matter just then. No words
were spoken by the man. Alter reading
| the paper. Herrick passed it back 10 the
! man. shaking his head as lie did so. Then
the fellow slipped back step and drew a
large revolver. As 1 caught glimpse of
| the weapon / shouted to Herrick to stand