The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-19
SHOOTING At LIME POINT,
John Stafford Attempts to Kill
a Lieutenant and a
Forem an.
The Would-Be Murderer Sends a
Bullet Into His Own
Brain.

John Stafford, young man, attempted
to kill Oscar Patch, foreman of the con.
struction gang at Lime Point, Monday
morning, where some heavy guns are
being mounted. He then attempted to
XII Lieutenant Potter, and, having failed
turned the revolver against his own head
and sent bullet into his brain. He died
| two hours later
Stafford had been in the army at one
time, but deserted, was captured, and as a
| punishment was sentenced to imprison-
ment on AlcatraZ Island for two years.
After he had been out some time he went
TO Fort Point and was employed for three
years, despite the fact that deserters are
not usually taken in by the Government.
He then went to Lime Point and sought
work there, seeking a position similar to
that he held at Fort Point, which Lieuten-
ant Potter refused, though he was set to
work as a laborer. 1t is said that he de.
We loped anarchistic ideas. and caused a
great deal of trouble among the men who
were working with him. A few DAYS ago
the men were laid off and were subse-
quently ordered back to work, exec pt
Stafford and two others.
| Monday morning Stafford. attired in his
him II he was armed and fired two shots at
Patch. One of the bullets grazed Patch's
| neck and the other one of his hips. Patch
ran away and Stafford went to the upper
end OF house near by. From the window
OF the house he had conversation with
Lieutenant Potter end endeavored to in
duce him to come to the ROOM The lieu
tenant declining. Stafford fired a shot at
| him, but the bullet went wide of the mark
| and the lieutenant withdrew out of range.
In the meantime Reservation Keeper Nor
gan went to Sausalito and returned with
| Constable Creed
| The constable on entering the room in
| which Stafford had taken refuge found
| that individual on a cot with bullet
| wound IN his head and revolver clencbed
| in his right hand. He was still BREATHING
! but unconscious, and he died some time
afterward. In the room were found three
notes as follows:
| 70 the Laring: l am disguised with God if
Patch, Morgan and Lieutenant Potter are his
images, Potter is the most contemplate of
them all because OF his education.
JOHN STAFFORD.
am an Ouu Fellow, but believe in getting
am sorry didn't have a better gun. This
one won't shoot through shingle
JOHN STAFFORD
Stafford's body was taken to Sausalito
where an inquest was held and verdict of
SNNSh' Ing jury CenSureQ Lleuten-
ant Potter for not having arrested Stafford
after he shot at Patch.
The wounded man was taken to this
City, where his wounds, which are not seri-
| ous were dressed
1t is believed that Stafford attempted to
Kill Lieutenant Potter and Foreman Patch
| to be revenged for having been discharged.
joseph Riley, who worked with Stafford
at Fort Point, said yesterday: 'The at
tempt to kill, believe, goes further back
than the discharge from work. Some weeks
ego Lieutenant Potter lost watch and
Stafford found one. He heard it reported
that he was charged with having taken
Lieutenant Potter's watch, and he went
to the lieutenant, showed him the watch
he had found, and that official declared it
was not his He was informed that Lieu
tenant Potter had said he had been told by
man named Devine that Stafford took
the lieutenant's WATCH" which statement