The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-01
FIGHT AGAINST ODDS.
The Robber Succumbs to His
Injuries and Is Found
Dead in a Lot.
ERUsTRATIoN OF A JAILBREAK.
"A Deputy Sheriff Discovers Plot
of County Prisoners in the
Nick OF Time.

SAN JOSE, CAL., March 31.-Three foot
pads held up William Dowdigan, Santa
Clara street notion dealer, late last night,
and one of them is nowlying on slab at
the morgue, while the others are at large.
Mr. Dowdigan was attacked while on his
way home and desperate struggle ensued
during which one of the 70 bbers was
bbed by the man assailed. Dowdigan's
= eket, containing about $15, was cut
way and the three men fed.
About IL o'clock this morning the corpse
or one of the footpads was found in a
-acant lot short distance away by Mrs.
Dowdigan and girl who had followed the
trail of blood. The dead man was Swede,
4bout 50 years old, who had been seen
bout town for some time and had been
under police surveillance. His pockets
were turned inside out, and there was
nothing about him by which he could be
identified, his companions having taken
everything. The body of the man is feet
inces in height, the hair is bown and the
7austache sandy.
In an interview with a reporter Mr..
Dowdigan gave the following account OF
lis desperate encounter:
As usual, IcIosed my store at 10 O'Clock Sat
urday night, and Immediately started east
along Santa Clara street for North Eleventh
street, where live. accompanied Miss Bas-
ham, who is employed in the store, to Ninth
street, where she lives. Just after she crossed
the street and went into her gate resumed my
walk nome. About this time 3 man passed
me going quite fast-almost on q run. He
looked at me rather sharply in passing.
kept on my way, and when 1 reached Elev-
enth street saw three persons coming down
the street toward Santa Clara, on the west side
of the street where hsd to pass. It was quite
dark, there being no electric lights near, and
at first 1 though the parties might be man
and two ladies, but Wiz SAW there we're three
men, ard noticed that nobody else was in
sight, began to SIT nly knife ready for use in
case should haytsto dsAfsndl m.self. We met
At ar 'Et on the hf1fheAe 81 ssA east side oi
Ssv~s rect, sbous iors sg-HTe feet above the
,.ah ~ street psverf t. made motion
80 ge. past ther1 hat Just then one Of the men
iut his HANDS on my shoulders and began to
rip meand force me down.
As quick as I could gave the man thrust
with my knife. am quite sure / struck him
My once, but it seems that several more flesh
nts have been found on the body. After
struck l did not realize that I had hurt the
oan much, as he did not let go of me. Al
slmost the same instant another man grabbed
ne by the neck from behind, and the two OF
hem forced me on my back on the ground.
The men did not say anything TO me, but
perhaps, as 1 am somewhat deaf, I did not hear
what they said. They might have told me to
throw up my hands. After they had got me
down the man that l had stabbed sat upon my
stomach while the other man kept such grip
upon my throat that 1 was afraid he would
choke me to death. He also wrenched my neck
so that it hurt me considerably afterward.
could not yell on account of the pressure on
my throat. As fell down dropped my knife
in the grass, thinking that if they saw it in my
hand they might take it from me and cut me
with it.
Ny pocket in which carried the sack con-
tanning the SI5 was cat completely out and
they disappeared with my money. I suppose
the wounded man ran till he came TO that
vacant lot, when he tainted from the loss of
blood or his companions dragged him into the
lot TO get him out of the way.
Last Friday the dead robber went to a
pawnshp and sold lot of carpenter tools
he had stolen. He signed the register with
the name w. Cadmyer.