The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-24
Cashier Herrick, Of San Fran
cisco, Shot Dead.
BY A NOTORIOUS DESPERATE.
Killed for Refusing 70 Aeeede 10 a
Crazy Demand for Money.
Ahe Murderer ls Captured and Proves
60 BE . rrofess,onal Crisntaai-ro.x-
ere Make . Bag Haul from 81. Loa,s

'"so tac psatSa AanA cl the san francisco
Savings Union. which is situated at the
corner Of Market and Polk streets. about
$3.50 O'Clock this morning. He presented
Q written demand for money TO Cashier
William A. Hesrick. The demand was re-
fused. whereupon the man murdered the
cashier and fed. hut was captured few
blocks away. The note presented to the
murdered cashier reads as follows;
Mr.. Csshicr--Sir. After considering
my deplorao!e condition | am convinced
that this life is not worth living without
liberal means. and therefore am resolved
to make one more effort 10 self-heip to sns-
tain my miserable existence. Should you
not comply with my demands | am com
PEELED 10 employ my las. remedy, a bottle
oil nitro-giycerine, and to bury myself un-
der the ruins of the building. blasted To
everlasting nothingness. Yours respect
fully, "a DEspoSpExr Man"
The note was penned in red ink, and at
the bottom was rndeiy xketched a skull
and crossbones. After glanclng a; the
document Herrick returned il to the man
With shake of the head. The man
quickly drew . revolver and fred. but his
aim was bad. Herrick seized his pistol.
which lay beside his desk. The cashier
and desperate AIRED at each other almos,
simultaneously.
The former missed, but the latfer's sec
ond shot found its mark, the bullet passing
into Herrick's heart. As the murderer
turned TO flee Q bookkecper. c. S. Melvin,
drew pistol and sent number OF bullets
after him. two of which, il was af;erward
discovered. took effect. The assassin was
pursued from the scene by a large crowd
of people, among whom was n 9u artette of
police officers. The fugitive jumped into
wagon and drove up blind alley, hat he
was so holly pursued that he was forced
to abandon this method OF escape and
jumped over a fence into a vacant yard.
where he was captured. Upon the pris.
oner were found two 45-caliber pistols, a
belt full of cartridges, = dirk knife, razor
and q fuse such ~ il used TO ignite dyna-
mite.
On being taken to the city prison he
gave his name as Fred Bonnemsnt. aud
said he came here from Denver last week.
He had been seriously wounded by Mel
wins bullets. one striking his temple near
the eye. the other lodging In his left Shout
der, IL Was not long before tho police
recognized in their prisoner . desperate
criminal for whom the authorities
throughout the state have been searching
for some time. He proves to bs none
other than the notorious Ercdericks. an
ex-convict. who was at one time confed-
crate of Bandit Chris Evans He killed
Sheriff Pascoe. Of Nevada county. He
subsequently killed q Southern Pacific
brakeman. Benjamin Bruce, and is the
man who supplied the arms TO George
Sontag and his companions q; the time
they made their futile attempt TO escape
from prison. Fredericks' last victim,
Cashier Herricks, was 35 years OF age. He
resided In Oakland.
The murderer when accused by the no.
lice of being William Frsdsricks admitted
his identity. saying that he knew it was
only question OF q short time when IL
would be discovered. The prisoner is a
slightly built man about % years Of age.
az had been planning that raid for two
weeks" he said. If wanted money. and
that was the only way knew to get ii.
looked about among oil the banks, and Sc
lected the one on Market street, because It
was less guarded than any Of the others.
I knew only two men worked there
When l went to tho place 1 had bottle in
one hand and was smoking q cigarette.
handed the note to the cashier and told
him that unless he did NJ | ordered
would blow up the hank, at the same time
showing him the bottle. 20 which fuse
WAS attached. told him the bottle con-
tanned nitro-glycerine. but there was moth
ing in IL except alcohol He read the
letter ard went over 10 drawer Instead
of giving me the s. Op0 that told him in
the note l wanted. he commenced shoot
ing at me- One shot hit me in the right
eve and another in the side. l fired at
him then in order to save my own life
aimed a, the hand IN which he held the
pistol. The frs, time pulled the trigger
the cartridge did not explode. l cannot
remember how many shots were fred.
Then | ran up Market street. through
some alleys, and hid under house.
was unable to move, vas so tired. Re-
side. my eye vas burning and my side
hurt"
Il would not have shot at the cashier IL
he had no, been 81 bnll-hcaded and fred
at me-" continued Fredericks. Il had In
tended carrying the whole thing through
SO quietly tha. there would have been no
pursuit.
after got the money I expected 10
make the cashier and bis assistant 20 into
the vault, when I would have locked the
door and quietly walked away. Ny right
name is Bonnemont frederieks Ii my
middle name"
Although he processes TO feel great pain.
Frederlcks is not badly hurt. His eye il
cut by spiintercd glass. and the bullet
which struck him in the breast did not
snter the flesh.
CLEVER FoRGERIEs IN sr. LOUfs.