The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-26
CONFESSION OF
ANTHONY AZOFF.
The CONVICTED MURDERER OF LEN
HARRIS CONTENDS He WAS
TRICKED.
HIS STORY OF THE KILLING.
SAYS HIS NAME Is WRIGHT, AND
THAT He Is AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN.


the murder of Len Harris at Boulder Creek
last May, has made confession of the
part he took in the tragedy He admits
the attempt to rob the station agent, but
claims that he did not shoot Len Harris
4 large number of prominent citizens of
Santa Cruz County, including the county
officials, have signed petition to Governor
Budd; and Frank NJ Stone. who has re-
Gently become Azoff's attorney, has hopes
of securing at least life sentence for his
client. so that he may be able to prove his
innocence. Otherwise Azoff will be hanged
on May 10.
On the advice of his attorney who repre-
sented him at the time of his trial Azoff
did not make any statement. He now
alleges that George Sprague, who was his
accomplice in the attempted robbery,
planned the crime for the purpose of be-
traying Azoff, in order that he might Sc
cure. employment from the Southern Pa
cific Company. There are several Santa
Crnzans who believe Azoffs story, espe-
ciaily as 1T has been proved that Sprague
took Azoff to Boulder Creek, paying his
way there. Frank NJ. Stone, his attorney,
has also secured an important piece of evi-
dence. When Sprague was arrested warm
revolver with one chamber empty was
found on him. Azoff says he believes that
Sprague fired the shot which killed Len
Harris.
In opening his statement AZoff says he
is not Russian Nihilist. as charged, but
that his true name is William Wright,
and that he is an American, and was born
of American parents in the southern part
of West Virginia on April 5, 1862. After
knocking around Texas without lettering
his condition he says he enlisted in the
United States Army in ST. Louis, Mo-, be-
coming private in Company D of the
Ninth Infantry Regiment. He was at
Columbus barracks, and then went to Fort
Thomas, Arizona. He tired of army life
and deserted, and for this reason took the
name OF Azoff to avoid detection. He came
TO California. He met Sprague, and after
quite an acquaintance of some time Sprague
met him one day and told him friend
OF his was station agent at Boulder Creek
and that his friend was short in his ac-
counts. Sprague proposed to Azoff,
according TO the latter's story, that they
go to Boulder Creek and pretend to rob
the station. Sprague told him the agent
would agree TO the robbery as it would
cover up his shortage, and Azoff and
Sprague could divide the proceeds. Azoff
says he agreed to this, as he was without
work and without money and had a family
dependent on him. After stating how
Sprague took Azoff to Boulder Creek one
afternoon and spent the night at Perry s
Mill, the details of the confession continue
as follows:
We went TO Boulder Creek at about noon and
mad dinner at the Foster House, Sprague pay
ing for himself and for me, and after dinner
we went up by the schoolhouse and sat down
under n shade tree, when Sprague said he
would go down and see the agent and make
all the arrangements, so that there would be
no trouble when we should go down after dark
10 carry out the plan he had suggested. We
waited in the woods until about quarter past
that night, when we left for the railway sta
uon-house. We walked along slowly and when
we reached the station-house it had become
quite dark. AS we approached the railroad I
could see that there were three large lamps
burning in the station-house. Sprague gave
me the piece OF gunnysack and I approached
the station from the rear. l noticed a boxcar
standing on the track. walked right up TO the
station-house and stepped into the door, while
Sprague, stepping to one side OF the door, re-
manned outside.
Almost Immediately 10 the left of the door
was the opening into the office of the station
agent, and stepping up 10 the opening looked
in The agent sat there, and when l laid the
pistol down near the opening, and looked in
he smiled and seemed to understand Just what
was there for and seemed well pleased. I
threw the guny sack in through the opening
and on TO the floor OF the agents Office. He
eemed TO understand everything that WAS
being done, and, carrying out the programme,
l said, using if l remember correctly
the Irish brogue, "Put all this money you
have got into that sack" Then Sprague
who was standing by the door said to me, ave
will fire and then run over to my brothers."
stood there for moment to see how the agent
was acting, as / did not understand why
Sprague had stepped outside. The agent SAID
nothing and only made me think from his &C.
ton that everything was just as Sprague had
stated, when iust at that moment heard
pistol-shot, which came from the place where
Sprsgue stood, just outside the door. Think
ing that he was carrying out his part of the
programme stood in the door and fired two
shots in rapid succession and into the air.
Almost before the noise of the last shot had
died away heard a whole yoliey ring out, and
one bullet passed right near my head. did
not understand this for a moment, for II did
not seem possible that Sprague could fire so
many shots so suddenly, so | looked back into
the agents Office and he was erouched down
in one corner. j then stepped out and fired
two more shots. All OF this would hardly take
that he had disappeared, and then, another
shot being fired which broke the glass in the
window and came near me, knew instantly
that something was wrong; that Sprague had
put me in this trap for the purpose of benefit
ing himself, and that If / remained there
other instant should be killed. l stood in the
light while all outside was dark.
Realizing that moment the position was in,
l fed
Had known at first, or had / imagined at
nrst that any one was firing at me OF course
should not have stayed there in the light when
could have so easily run out in the darkness,
as old thereafter. / heard no one call To me
and saw no one at or near the station except
ing the agent and Sprague, and it was only
while was running that ] knew there were
many other people there from the fact that so
many shots were fred in rapid succession
fired but four shots. When | found so
many people were firing at me ran as rapidly
as possible, and it being in the dark / tripped
ana Tell and remained almost unconscious for
some time. Finally gathered myself together
ana everything being quiet fastened along
the road
desire to say here that if any one shot Len
Harrls on that night it must have been Sprague
ior me purpose OF carrying out his scheme OF
Denentlng himself even at the loss of my life.
de testified that man arrested him and that
when arrested he had pistol in his hand, and
beleve II the truth shall ever appear it viii
tnen be known that that pistol mad been fired
by Sprague, who knew where the officers were
In concealment.
Azoff then tells of his trips about the
country In hiding. He said he came to San
francisco on foot. He then learned that
Harris had been killed. He then says:
Had believed ii was by my act could have
escaped, but instead, being without money, I
started upon my return to Santa Cruz on foot,
and when captured was heading for Santa Cruz
and not away from that place. This is shown
by the testimony of all the witnesses Nv pis-
tol was on me and loaded, and had | been the
desperate criminal that have been pictured /
doubt If l should have been captured under the
circumstances detailed in court and which