The San Francisco call., 1895-11-18
Alfred A. Neville, a Carpenter,
Killed in Cold Blood in
a Saloon.
he PLEADED FOR HIS LIFE
The Miscreants Make Their Escape
Statement of F. G. Eickhorst,
the Only Witness.

AIs-ad Neville, a carpenter living at
oo2- Greenwich street, near Steiner, WIS
murdered in cold blood by two robbers In
tho orocerv-store and saloon OF +. q.
Fickhorst on the northwest corner OF
Greenwich and Pierce streets, at 11:10
O'Clock last night
The robbers at first made an attempt to
rob Eickhorst by pointing two large re-
volvers at his head and demanding MS
money. The groceryman dropped behind
the bar and slipped out Of the back door
into the yard.
a second later he heard shot fired and
the sound of a heavy body falling upon
the floor minute later he heard the
footsteps of two men running down Pierce
street toward the bay.
When Eickhorst returned to his place he
found Neville dead on the floor, with
hideous bullet wound in the back of his
head, and large stream of blood flowing
from the wound.
The crime and its surroundings strongly
resembles the style of work done by foot
pads and robbers last winter, only these
two criminals were so bold that they
did not taken even the precaution Of con-
cealing their features by masks.
The crimes of last year started about this
time OF the season and caused great fear
and uneasiness among those living in the
outskirts of the City and even those who
had to be out at night down town.
The murder of Neville is about as cold
blooded as the murder of old Cornelius
Stagg at the Ingleside.
The story of the crime of last night is
best told in the language OF Grocer Eick-
horst, who said:
During the evening several of my regu-
lar customers were in the saloon, which,
as you see, is connected with the grocery
by two screen-doors. a little before II
o'clock stranger entered the saloon and
got q glass of beer. I noticed that he
looked around under his slouch hat, as il
sizing up the place.
He went out after getting g his drink
and q little later my customers went out
except Neville, who was reading paper.
Two soldiers came in and bought keg
of beer and took it up the hill to O'Briens S.
They had hardly gone before the two
robbers came in, and | saw that the larger
fellow was the one who had got the drink
OF beer fifteen minutes before.
Neville was standing in front of the bar
reading, anc | was behind the bar. As the
two men entered | saw that each had a
pistol in his hand. The tall one said
Throw up your hands and shell out the
cash. l was so astonished that I did not
take in the situation, and the smaller one
said: '--@, be quick about it, as
we mean business and viii blow your =
head off!
81 dropped behind the counter and
slipped out of the back door. AS | did so,
l turned and saw Neville still standing by
the bar. When I reached the yard l heard
Ia OfaT,, Tor n ~ ,1f1 i
ing sort of tone. Just then there was a
loud report OF pistol, and something fell
to the floor. A minute later | heard the
robbers running north along Pierce street
toward the bay.
II ran around the neighborhood for sew
eral blocks to get some one to go back with
me, for | was badly frightened, but l could
not rouse any one. When l went back l
found poor Neville lying on the floor dead
with bullet in the back of his head"
1t was half an hour after the murder was
committed that the police were notified OF
the crime, because the store is situated in
q thinly inhabited part of the City and
there are no telephones within several
blocks. Sergeant Donovan and a police
officer went from the North End station in
the patrol wagon. To them Eickhorst
gave a fair description of the murderers
and robbers.
The fellow who first entered the place is
about feet Inches IN height. His COM
panion is about an inch shorter. Their
features are inclined to be thin and they
wore dark black suits. Both wore soft
slouch hats ana each robber had small
black mustache.
None of Eickhorst's customers had ever
before seen the tall fellow, who first
entered the place.
There is no doubt but what after "sizing
up the place the villains waited until
they believed all the customers had gone
before entering. Neville's presence there
was a surprise to them, no doubt.
What took place in the barroom after
the proprietor fed only the murderers
know, but it is surmised that Neville seized
one of the pistols and showed fight and
that while he was struggling the other
ruffian placed the pistol to the back of his
head and fired.
Neville was a carpenter, 35years old, and
had lived at 1927 Greenwich for the past
two years. He was steady and industrious.
The saddest feature of the tragedy is
that he leaves a widow and three little
children, who were dependent upon him
for support Neville was member of the
United Order of Workmen. The body
was taken to the Morgue.
Only a few heard the fatal shot, and it is
believed that no one saw the robbers in
that neigh borhood, which has as little po-
lice protection as any in the City. The
police were unable TO do anything last
night, as the murderers had time enough
TO have reached the San Mateo line before
the alarm was given.