The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-17
SHOT DOWN BY MASKED ROBBERS.
Hans Cornelius the Victim of a Pair of
Thugs.
Killed While Defending Lafe Derr's
Country saloon From Robbery
Last Night.

the wayside saloon OF Lafayette Derr,
two and one-half miles south of the city,
on the upper Stockton road, and shot
down the barkeeper, Hans Cornelius. be-
cause he made an effort to prevent them
from robbing the place.
The particulars that came to hand by
telephone were quite meager. Thomas
Neel went to the County Hospital about
$50 O'Clock and reported that Cornelius,
himself and a half breed Indian were
sitting at table playing game Of cards,
about O'Clock, when TWO men with their
faces masked entered the door.
Cornelius, knowing that they were bent
on robbery, jumped from his chair and
made an effort to get behind the bar,
probably for the purpose of getting his
pistol, when the robbers shot him down
behind the bar.
They then turned their attention to
Neel and the Indian, and relieved the
former of silver watch and fifteen cents
in change.
They then ransacked the place and left,
but Neel could not say in what direction
they went.
He reported at the hospital, however,
that Cornelius was not dead, and DR..
White left at once for the scene of the
shooting. When the doctor arrived there,
however, Cornelius was dead.
Derr, the owner of the place, had gone
to Florin to attend a ball given by the
Ladies' Alliance OF that vicinity, and had
got Cornelius to look after the saloon in
his absence.
Cornelius daughter was also at the ball
when the news of the shooting reached
florin, and she left for home imme-
diately.
Word was telephoned in all directions,
and men were out everywhere looking
for the scoundrels who shot Cornelius.
LATER PARTICULARS.
After Neel had related the circum-
stance of the shooting at the County
Hospital, he started for this city, and
when he arrived at Twenty eighth and NJ
streets he met Officer Bagley to whom he
related the circumstances of the shooting.
Bagley took Neel to the police station,
where the latter was interviewed by
RECoRD-U MON reporter.
NeePs story is as follows: AT met an
Indian named Jake Martin coming into
town. We stopped at Derr's saloon, and
after being in there awhile commenced to
play a game OF cards. Martin wanted
something 70 drink, but Cornelius re-
fused to give him anything, because he
was an Indian. Martin and myself were
seated with our backs toward the door.
and Cornelius, who was sitting at the
same table, was facing it.
I'VE had just completed the first deal
when the two robbers. with masks on
their faces, appeared at the door. Cor
nelius, taking in the situation instantly,
Immediately went behind the bar, pre-
sumably to arm himself. He had no
sooner got behind the bar when one of
the robbers fired two shots at him. Cor
nelius Immediately dropped to the floor
from the effects of the shots. The robber
who was with the one who fired the shots
said TO me, You keep still; sit where you
are The man who shot Cornelius then
went behind the bar, aud after seeing
how serious Cornelius was wounded. said
to me, Go as quick as you can for doc
tor Immediately started for the
County Hospital and told what had hap
pened. DR.. White went out to Derr's,
and L afterward left the hospital and
started for this city.
The robbers took watch and about
twenty cents from me, and about 81 80
from the Indian. They then went behind
the bar and took what money they could
find"
Both shots took effect on Cornelius
One OF the bullets struck him on the left
arm, between the wrist aud elbow, and
the other, which caused his death, struck
him on the right arm, between the shout
der and elbow. and through the arm into
the right side, few inches below the
arm pit.