The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-05

Hervey were at the California street
Methodist Episcopal Church. Hervey is
director of the chorus choir, of which Mrs.
Hervey is a member. Upon the return of
Hervey and his wife from the church Gator
accused Hervey of being exceedingly an
tagonistic to him, and soon became very
much excited. He drew his revolver and
threatened to shoot Hervey, who ran into
rear room, and, being chased by Gator,
he ran downstairs and into the street with
out his hat.
Hervey found Officer Langford, and
when the latter went upstairs he heard
Gator talking in loud voice about what he
would do
Langford searched the orator, and as he
took the revolver away Gator wept. Ser
geant Monahan and Hervey went upstairs
and again Gator wept. He begged Hervey
not to file any charges against him. Her
vey was willing to grant the request, but
Sergeant Monahan would not acquiesce.
He placed Gator under arrest.
p Then came the peculiar scene of an in
tended victim rushing about to get bonds
to save his would-be slayer from spending
the night in jail. Gator was taken in the
patrol wagon to the Polk-street police sta
ton. Hervey accompanied him there
Hervey found Clerk OBrien of Judge
CampbelPs court and o. Brien accepted the
proffered bond. Hervey could find no one
to go on the bond with him so he FASTENED
to his own residence and in few minutes
Mr.. and Mrs. Hervey had furnished bail
for Gator.
When the case was called in Judge
Campbell's court yesterday morning Her
vey arose and stated that he did not desire
to prosecute Gator. Judge Campbell asked
if he had sworn to a complaint. Hervey
replied that he had not and that he would
not do so.
Gator then said: "Judge, this is simply
jangle between two brothers-in-law over
business matters. / feel ashamed of what
did, and for the sake of the family l be-
lieve the least said the better"
Judge Campbell dismissed the case.
Gator and Hervey left the courtroom to-
gether and Gator promised to settle the
bills and to never step inside the Hervey
residence again, even to see his children.
The causes which led up to the at
tempted shooting run back over period
of more than ten years. Gator first became
known to fame in Jersey City in 1882, when
he received the nomination of the Anti
Monopolists to run for the Assembly. He
ran on the Democratic ticket and sur
prised every one by defeating strong
Republican railroad attorney in a
district in which the monopolists
were powerful. This secret was explained
when vote was taken in the Assembly
on all important railroad question. Gator
voted with the railroad forces. His vote
would have carried or defeated the bill.
Two years later Gator was reelected AS
semblyman, running on the Republican
ticket. All this time Gator had been a
strong advocate of temperance. His wife
was pleased with that part of his course
until Gator began to go home after dallying
with the rosy god.~ In 1886 he secured the
nomination on the Republican ticket as
State Senator, but was defeated. While
making his campaign his conduct became
obnoxious and his wife left him, taking
with her the three children.
For year or two Gator was unheard of
He was later discovered at Methodist camp
meetings, and he led such a blameless life
that the friends he had once betrayed be-
lieved that he had reformed. They de-
cided to run him for Office again. The Re
pubGcans nominated him in 1898. By
political manipulating he secured the in
dorsement of the Democrats, the Pro-
hibitionists and even. of his old time
eral public had no faith in Gators refor-
nation. They put up an independent
candidate, and with all his nominations
Gator was beaten three to one. He then
left Jersey City and went to New York.
From there he came to San Francisco.
In the meantime Mrs. Gator No. Sc
cured divorce. She did not want any
X
able to Gator. She compromised by allow
ing him to take $4,000 worth of Jersey
City property. He allowed the divorce to
go by default. By the terms of the agree
ment Mrs. Gator was to have the children,
but Gator was to contribute to their sup
port. 1t is his failure to do this which
caused the trouble Sunday night. Gator
married again shortly after his divorce.
His divorced wife came to this city. She
knew how much property he had and how
well he could afford to contribute to the
support of the children. She watched his
political career here, and knowing what
expenses she had footed for him in his
campaigns in Jersey City, she was patient,
Gator got into politics about as soon as
he landed here. He was first known to
the public by his Fourth of July Grafton in
1890. In the fall of that year he ran for
Congress in the Fourth District. John T.
Cutting was the Republican nominee, Rob
ert Ferral the Democratic, and Gator rep
resented the Reform Democracy and the
American party. 1t was believed Gator ran