The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-04
FIRING AT SHORT RANGE.
The Fugitive Bandit Receives
a Mortal Wound During
the Encounter.
COURAGE OF THE DESPERATE.
The Ending of the Chase for the
Men Who Looted the Arroyo
Grande. Station.

SALINAS, CAL, April 3,-In a pistol
fight that was short, sharp and decisive
between an unknown robber and Sheriff
John L. Matthews of Monterey County
and Deputy Sheriff w. J.. Nesbltt these
officers to-day proved their mettle and
succeeded in getting their quarry, mortally
wounding the fighting desperate and cap
turing his partner in crime. The wounded
robber died soon after the fight-dfed un-
repen tant, with his lips sealed and with.
out cry or groan of agony. He is un-
known. His companion, Henry Bishop,
who is now in Jail, stated that he did not
know the name of the dead man.
At IL A. NJ. to-day Sheriff John l.. .
Matthews received the following telegram:
SAN LUIS oBIsPo, April g..
John L. Matthews, Sheriff, Salinas, Cal: Both
the.Arroyo Grande men are on the northbound
freight. Look out. for them. l am on No. q
| (northbound passenger). They are armed.
| S. BALLoU, Sheriff San Luis Obispo County. :
! Sheriff Matthews and Deputies w. j.
| Nesbitt and B. E.. Duckworth secured a
livery rig and arming the driver, William
| Smart, drove to the outskirts of town to
meet the incoming train. This precaution
was taken to prevent the robbers from
escaping when the train slowed. The
train came in at12:30 P. NJ. AS soon as the
train stopped all the officers proceeded to
the boxcar indicated by sign from the
| brakeman. Conductor Butler, who had
been advised of the character of the pas
sengers who were. stealing a ride, had
| bolted the door at. Gonzales. Matthews
and Nesbitt approached the car door on
one side and Under Sheriff Duckworth on
the other side of the car. Nesbitt took off
the bolt and. pushed the door open, Mat
thews standing in front with his revolver
ready.
As the door opened it disclosed one rob-
Der standing opposite the door with big
44caliber revolver in his hand.
''What in h do you want?" he said,
! leveling his revolver at; the Sheriff.
There were NO further words. The Sher-
iff and the robber fired simultaneously.
The bullet from the bandits revolver
whistled close by the Sheriffls head. =
The Sheriff's aim was better. The ball
| from his pistol struck the outlaw between
the tenth and eleventh ribs, passing
through the body. He fell backward,
the Sheriff continuing shooting. The rob-
Der then shot at. Deputy Nesbitt, who re-
turned the fire.. The wounded robber
|
bullet from Nesbitt's pistol shattered his
knee.
Then he. shouted: '..'I quit I'm shot all
| to pieces"
'sThrow away your gun," replied Sheriff
Matthews.
The command was obeyed and the fight
was over. 1t had resulted in the mortal
wounding of the outlaw, the capture of his
partnerin crime and two badly frightened
tramps, who shared the car with the rob-
bers.
Sheriff Matthews had narrow escape,
as the robber was not ten feet away. Eight
or nine shots were fired in all, and both
officers showed courage and nerve. The
wounded bandit had courage, too-the
courage of desperation.
| The wounded man was removed to the
office of DIR. III. E. Stafford. He was feet
10 inches high, weight 100 pounds, was of
swarthy complexion and evidently had
Portuguese or Spanish blood in his veins. =
He refused to make any statement. The
doctor told him it was important that he
should tell his age. He replied, "31.''.
The: doctor said: 'You are badly
wounded. Do you want US to do what we
can to save your life?"
| He answered: "Im not bit particular.
Give me a gun for minute and ! II. set
| tie it."
| After replying to another question of
similar character from the doctor he said,
''Just as you please about it."
| County Recorder Coburn spoke to him
in Spanish, but obtained no response. He
asked him if he wanted priest. The
dying man replied in English: go away
and don't bother me-"
| Although suffering much, as evidenced
by his blanched face, contracted muscles
and nervous twitching of the mouth, he
never moaned or gave further sign of
agony. And so he lay, his life ebbing
away.
| Drs. Stafford and Brumwel1 proceeded.
to operate in the hope of stopping the
hemorrhage. An incision revealed the
hopelessness of the effort to stay the hand .
of death. The ball had caused as much
havoc as a load of buckshot. badly .lacer-
ating the robbers internal organs.
AT 3:36 p NJ the bandit gave gasp and
died, having impaired no further informa-
ton than above narrated.
| Among the things taken from the dead
mans pockets by officers were H. E. Fry's
| gold watch, engraved with the initials of
the latter's name; $24 45 and mask made
of woman's black stocking. He had an
other revolver of 3S cafiber which
was in scabbard, and was not used DUR
ing the fight.
! The robbers partner was interviewed at
the County Jail. He would say nothing
of the robbery. He said his name was
Harry Bishop, that he had been born in
Cincinnati and was aged % years; his
height is 5 feet 10 inches and he weighed
about $50 pounds. He has light mus
tache, his chin indicating weak char
acter, and he betrayed great. nervousness
and evidently remorse. He said he came
to California year ago. He met his COM
/ panion in crime month ago in San Ber-
nardino and met him subsequently at San