The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25
Ray Connell, Aged n, Now Very
Ill From Cold and
Fright
STRANGE CAST OF THE AFFAIR
Chief Crowley Inves tigating the Mat
ter-It May Go Before the
Commissioners.

Policeman Steve Bonner has distin-
guished himself, but he IS FAR from happy
thereat 1t is the manner by which he
Iured tickle fame that is worrying the
august bluecoat.
Last Saturday morning Policeman Steve
Bonner overzealously pulled his embryo
howitzer from its receptacle in his hip
pocket and sent bullet whizzing over the
heads of Ray ConnelI, aged IL, and his sis
ter, still younger. Bonner says he mis-
took the children for burglars, but Chief
Crowley shakes his head as obviously as
an audience listening to one OF Judge
Campbell's fish stories.
So the matter will probably be brought
before the Police Com missioners, and Mr..
Bonner, so handy with his little gun, may
have chance to don civilians clothes for
the rest of his life.
The facts of the case, as CLEANED from
the boy Ray and his sister, are as follows /:
Raw is a student in the Boys High
School. Last Friday evening was the oc-
casion of the senior class dance of the
Boys High School, but the function took
place in the Girls High School building.
Both Ray and his sister attended the
dance. 1t held rather late, and when they
left the building, shortly after 1 A. NJ, they
found that they had missed the last car,
and were obliged to walk home.
So they set out for home, talking and
laughing in high Spirits. All went well
till they reached the corner OF Oak and
Baker streets.
When they reached this point they were
suddenly startled by a gruff voice COM
manding them to halt. The night was
rather foggy, and they were unable to dis
Germ the fact that the voice enanated
nf ha 10 W q
frightened and started to run. The girl
started TO screaming, but soon ceased and
saved her breath for the race.
Up Baker they sped, closely pursued by
Bonner, for he it was. They never
glanced back to see who was in pursuit,
but ran for dear life, Bonner after them.
When the two frightened children
reached Page street they darted up that
thoroughfare, with Bonner still in active
pursuit, until they reached their residence
at 1920. Then they rushed up the steps
and through the doorway, the door hav-
ing been left unlocked for them.
Just as they started MP the steps it was
that policeman Steve Bonner, who had
managed to draw his revolver while
heads. He then slowed up and with the
mien of one who is conscious of a duty
well performed, leisnrely sauntered back
to his beat.
The boy Ray had become so overheated
from the unusual exertion that he con-
tracted a severe cold. which has since de-
veloped into rheumatism, and he now
lies in a very precarious condition. In
fact, his case is so serious that his mother,
Mrs. Charlotte Cornell, declined to have
him interviewed directly.
The girl is none the worse for her excit-
ing experience with the exception OF be-
ing in an extremely nervous state of mind.
at first she was inclined to be hysterical,
but this soon wore off.
Mrs. Cornell is a widow in well-to-do
circumstances and is very indignant at
what has occurred. She is totally unable
to understand why Bonner should have
found it necessary to fire st the children
when he saw them ascending the steps OF
their residence.
AS for Policeman Steve, he hasn't done
much talking. He doubtless was con-
vinced that the boy and his sister contem-
plated burglarious raid upon the dwell
ing under his very nose.
Another strange fact is that he did not
perceive that he was pursuing two fright.
ened children when they passed under
the rays cast by the gas lamps.
As has been mentioned the Chief is now
investigating the occurrence, and the
matter will probably go into the hands oi
the Commissioner.