The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-25
LADIES SCREAM WITH FEAR.
Special Treasury Agent McLaugh-
lin Pulls a Gun
AND RUNS AFTER A YOUNG MAN.
He Fires a Shot at Him and is Ar
rested on Charges of Assault
With Deadly Weapon.

Major A. C. Mclaughlin, special agent
OF the treasury, was booked at the City
Prison last night on charge OF assault
with deadly weapon. The complaining
witnesses are two brothers, Alfred f.
Cordes and Louis Cordes, who are con-
nected with the San Francisco Laundry
COMPANY, on Eddy street.
The stories told by the two brothers and
by Major mclaughlin are conflicting, but
they agree in the fact that the major
scared the passengers in Post-street car
by pulling out revolver and that he
fired shot at some one on Fell street.
But they differ as to who the person fired
at was.
my brother Albert and l." said Louis
Cordes. SCOT on Post-street car about
O'Clock at the corner Of Ellis and Leaven-
worth streets. / stood on the rear plat
form and Albert took seat inside We
were both carrying parcels. My parcel
contained clean towels for barber on
Market street, near Tenth.
my intention was to get transfer to
the Mission electricians at Polk and Mar
ket. jump off the car when it stopped
there and deliver my parcel, so as TO join
my brother again on the car as it came
across the street to Tenth street.
''The first time l ever saw the man
whom | now know as Major Mclaughlin
was when l got on the car at Ellis and
Leavenworth. He stood beside me on the
rear platform. As the car turned into
Polk street he asked me where | was 60
ing. L thought it was none of his busi-
ness. but replied l was going to my home
on MISSION street. When l got my trans
fer he took hold OF my arm and said. 1
place you under arrest
II thought he was fooling, but he kept
hold of my arm. and my brother came out
and asked me why l didn't get off the car
and deliver the parcel l replied, This
man won't let me- Albert separated us,
and Mclaughlin pulled out pistol and
showed it in Albert's face.
1.-The ladies in the car screamed with
fright, while the conductor seized Nc
Laughlin by the arms. Albert ran through
the car to the dummy and jumped off.
while l jumped off and ran along Fell
street. Mclaughlin ran after me and |
heard his pistol snap. This made me run
all the faster. but when l thought 1 had
outrun him / turned round and was walk
Jog back, when | saw Mclaughlin COM
ing toward me with tue pistol in his hand.
81 turned and ran again, when bullet
whistled past my head. l turned down
Van Ness avenue to Market street, de-
liyered nv parcel and went down as far
as Seventh street 10 see if | could fiud
my brother. / saw him with Policeman
Cook and joined them. just then we saw
Mclaughlin and TWO other men on the
opposite side of the street. Acting on our
instructions the policeman arrested him
and took him to police headquarters. |
went back to the barber-shop and took the
parcel with me to police headquarters as
evidence"
Major Mclaughlin told the following
story:
II got information that young man,
carrying basket, who got on POst-street
car at Montgomery street. was connected
with the gang who have been peddlng
fraudulent Chinese certificates. got on
the car also to follow him and see where
he went to. as was anxious to capture
the gang. / suspected that parcel which
lay in the bottom of the basket contained
The certificates.
when the car reached Polk and Mar
ket streets the young man was leaving the
ear when l took hold of his arm and told
he was under arrest. He wriggled out of
Il
street The conductor grabbed hold of
me and forced me to my knees. l got up
and followed the young man with the bas-
ket, calling upon him to STOP AS he did
not stop / pulled the trigger, but the car
fridge missed fire. / continued running
and fred again, but as / fired my foot
slipped and l fell on my knees, and the
shot went into the air.
II lost sight of the young man, and was
shortly afterward arrested and taken to
police headquarters
IF pulled out my pistol in the car and
showed 1t IN the face of another man
don't remember it, as l was considerably
excited when the young man wriggled OUT
of my clutches.
1.-The young man with the basket was
younger and good deal smaller in stature
than the one calling himself Louis Cordes.
1t looks to me as If Louis had substituted
himself for the young man with the basket
for some object which / cannot Just at
present fathom. They apparently have
the advantage of me just now. but we will
see what will yet develop"
Both persons told their stories to Cap
tain Lees, who told the Cordes brothers
that they could prefer charges against Nc
Laughlin If they liked. They expressed
their desire to do so, and Mclaughlin was
taken to the City Prison by Polio eman
Cook. the two young men accompanying
them and preferring the charges.
Mclaughlin was released on his own re-
cognizance at II O'Clock by Judge Low.