The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-05

window looking into the porch had been
forced open by bursting the inside catch.
Chief of Police Kidward of San Jose
sent particulars OF the burglary to Chief
Crowley. Detectives Bee and Harper con-
cluded from the method of working
adopted by the burglar that he was
Ledger, who was released from San Quen.
tin few months ago after serving a three
years sentence for burglary.
The detectives suspected that Ledger
would come to this city to dispose of his
plumber and they had been laying for him.
Their suspicious proved to be we'll
founded.
About 1880 yesterday morning Harper
was walking along Fourth street, when to
his joy he came face TO face with Ledger
Harper grabbed him and hustled him into
the stationer's store. 146 Fourth, to hand
cuff HIM. Ledger showed fight and
reached for his revolver. Before he could
pull it out OF his hip pocket Harper had
his out. Ledger grasped Harper's revol-
yer by the handle and endeavored to
wrench it out of his hand. Harper pulled
the trigger and the bullet went through
the fieshv part of Ledger's right hand.
This made Ledger release his hold of
Harper's gun, and he broke from him and
drew his own gun. Harper sprang upon
him and seized his right arm before he
could fire. Ledger again grabbed hold of
Harper's gun, and the struggle for the
mastery commenced in earnest.
Harper felt that it meant death to either
him or the desperate burglar. but wanted
to capture him alive If possible He fired
at Ledger's legs to disable him, but the
shot went between his legs. Then be
closed with him and threw him, falling on
top of him.
Harper had continued to keep a firm
grip of Ledger's right arm. and while
struggling on the floor Ledger was irving
hard to release his arm to get shot at his
opponent.
Detective Bee was about block away
when Harper arrested Ledger. His attep-
ton was attracted by a crowd that ha d
quickly gathered in front of the statiouer's
store, and it struck him that Harper had
met the man they were searching for. He
ran as fast as he could to the stationer's
store, dashed through the crowd and int
the store, where be saw Harper and Led
ger In their life and death struggle on the
floor. Bee soon put an end TO the con fiic,.
and the murderous burglar was hand
cuffed and taken to the Receiving Hos
pital where his wounded hand was dressed
by DR.. Bushnell. He was then taken to
police headquarters. where Captain Lees
had brief interview with him, and after
ward to the City Prison. where he was
charged with burglary.
When searched package of loose dia.
mOnds which he had torn out of their set
tings so as to prevent Identification. and a
quantity of old gold wrapped in hand
kerchief were found in his pockets besides
$50 in greenbacks belonging to DR.. Bas.
sett.
Bee and Harper recovered the greater
portion Of the stolen jewelry In a room oc-
cupied by Ledger in a l0dging-house on
Mission street near Fifth. During the
struggle with Harper in the stationer's
store Ledger threw package behind The
counter, which contained pieces of brok g n
gold, part of the plumber.
The revolver with which Ledger at.
tempted to shoot Harper was the one he
used 10 robbery in Oakland about three