The San Francisco call., 1895-07-20
HENDERSON'S DEFENSE,
He Makes a Statement About
the Killing OF Clarence
Barr.
A Claim That the Dead Man Both
Assaulted and Abused
Him.

"If the whole earth and its treasures
were mine would give them to recall that
mans life"
1t was in these words that G. B. Henoer-
son, who is locked up in the City prison,
expressed himself regarding the fatal
meeting of Clarence Barr, the Chinatown
guide, in the Baldwin Hotel bar on the
morning of Saturday, the 18th inst.
Ever since the affair occurred and the
arrest of Henderson, the prisoner, acting
under the advice of his attorney, has re-
fused to make any statement as to how the
cutting came about. Although it was rep
resented to him that everything connected
with the affair had been seen by several
other parties he still refused to say any
thing.
Yesterday, however, he came to the con-
clusion that the circumstances connected
with the case required him to say some
thing in his defense, and he consented to
make a statement for publication.
Prison life has not agreed with Hender-
son, and he has become somewhat nervous
over the desperate situation in which he
finds himself. According to his state
ment as above made he feels keenly the
serious aspect of the trouble.
II came here" he said in making his
statement last evening, ION the 18th OF
July, arriving about 10 A. NJ. After locat-
ing my room and leaving my baggage, |
went out to Golden Gate Park, and spent
the afternoon in that vicinity. l drank
whisky in several saloons, and came back
to town about IL O'Clock. l laid down until
3 A. NJ, and then got up and dressed. l
was suffering from severe headache.
II walked down to the Cafe Royal, cor
| ner of Fourth and Market streets, and had
several drinks. Then 1 walked down to
Kearny street and back again to the Bald
win Hotel. From there ! went to the cor
ner of Powell and Ellis streets and had
another drink. From there l went to the
Baldwin Hotel bar and called for whisky,
laying the money on the counter for it.
II stood half way down the bar, and
while / was drinking man came next 20
me and said, Will you have drink?'
No, thank you,' L replied. L have
! Just had one.'
"sWell, let's have mother, he said, and
it was then the barkeeper took in my
money.
"'Oh, 1 guess you're one of these pretty
-- who are too proud to drink with
any one
You're from the East, amt your he
continued.
'"sYes'
well, I'm Chinatown guide, and I
will show you the sights the man went on.
ooh, don't need any guide, | replied.
We'll, let's have drink he said.
GAS | saw that be was in rather ugly
mood 1 fell in with his humor and said
all right Then there were some other
words said. and there was question raised
as to who had paid for the drinks.
81 didn't want any trouble with the
man, and said so to the barkeeper, who
told me that he would see that 1 could get
out the back way. He said he would get
me out Then the question of paying for
the drinks came up, and the barkeeper
asked if they were mine. / said no.
"'You're - liar Barr responded,
and told him that the drinks were not on
me. He then struck me in the face, and
retreated to the end of the bar in the direc-
| ton where the barkeeper had told me |
could get out.
81 saw then there was going to be
trouble, and l think the barkeeper realized
! it, too. He stood beside me until Barr
made rush. / had no weapon of defense
| except small pocket-knife, and | drew it
| out when | saw Barr reach over the bar
counter. | did not know what he was try
ing to get, but judged it was a weapon.
AS he rushed for me held out the pen
knife to frighten him if / could,
but his rush carried him right on
against me, and the first intimation
l had that he was cut was when he bent
over, saying that he was cut. l jumped on
the other side of him and went out the
door. 1t was the only way of escape l
knew of after the barkeeper deserted me.
| did not know the ins and outs of the
house. Being excited when some one
called police l ran, but when l met the
| officer | handed him the knife and sur
rendered myself. God knows no one re-
grets this affair more than [ do. These
are the facts as / know them"
Henderson said that he represented
Rochester IN. Y, boot and shoe firm, but
he declined to give the name of the same.
He has wife and daughter in Buffalo.
His defense will be that he simply en-
deavored to protect himself from assault.
and that it was not his intention to iniure
Barr, much less kill him.