The San Francisco call., 1896-08-11
Fell Dead Before the Eyes Of
His Wife-Slain by Arthur
A. Jackson.
H1s PLEA IS sELF.DEFENsE.
Jackson urrenderS-The Parties Bad
Records-The Notorious Four.
Mile House.

at about half-paSt II O'CLOCK yesterday
noon August Florentine. the proprietor OF
the Four-mile House, at the corner of Rail-
road and Twenty-fourth avenues, was shot
in the left breast just over the heart by
Arthur A. Jackson and instantly killed.
If the story told by the widow of the
landlord be true it was a cold-blooded
crime, with no other apparent cause than
a dispute over liquor. Jackson, though,
surrendered himself into custody later in
the afternoon at the CITY Prison and ad-
mitted that he had killed Florentine, but
claims that he did so in self-defense. Fol-
lowing are the circumstances of the trag-
edy as nearly as they could be learned:
A little before noon Billy Troy, we'll
known character, was in the saloon some
what drunk, when Jackson, in company
with Charles Laydon and Cornelius Hur-
ley, two young companions of his, came
in, and, stepping up to the bar, ordered
drinks. Concerning what happened after
that there is conflict of testimony. At
the moment of the shooting Florentine
was behind the bar, and Jackson, Laydon,
Hurley and Troy were standing around
outside. There were not any other wit
nesses in the saloon, but Mrs. Forentine
was in an adjoining room short distance
from the bar.
When she heard the report of the re-
Volver she imm ediateIy opened the con-
Meeting door, saw Jackson with the smok-
ing weapon in his hand, and her husband,
with his hands uplIfted and the blood
gushing from his breast, stagger from be-
hind the bar.
With an agoniZing cry she rushed for
werd to his support, but before she could
aid him he fell heavily to the floor. Jack
son, Laydon, Hurley and Troy went hur-
riedly away. George Croskey and Charles
Schwally, an employe, were quickly in
the room. The head of Florentine was
raised and water brought and poured over
ii, but it was too late. He was stone dead
and never spoke word after he was shot.
Mrs. Florentlne says that when Jackson
and his friends came in the door of the
adjoining room, where she was sitting,
was partly open, and that in consequence
OF some vulgar language used by them
she pushed it to, but could still overhear
more or less of the conversation between
the young men and her husband. They
had some drinks, she says, and then Jack
son wished for credit for another round,
planned that as he was a poor man with a
large family to support he could not con-
slstentIy give credit. AS a sort of balm
for this refusal he then invited all hands
to take a drink with him. The invitation
was accepted and a moment later the
shooting occurred.
The widow denies that there was any
preliminary quarrel or any provocation
except the refusing of credit for the shoot
ing. Jackson, she declares, is a danger
Gus young man, who had frequently Wis
tied the house before, and whenever he
was around she was always fearful of
trouble. Her husband, she says, well
knew his dangerous character and was ac-
cordingly careful not to give him any
cause for offense. This statement is cor
roborated in the main by Croskey,
Schwally and Eugene, the murdered
mans son. They also speak in disparag.
ing terms of Jackson's companions.
''The Florentine" or "Four-mile House
bears an unenviable reputation. It is q
small wayside house, looking compare
lively well from the exterior, but within,
especially in the barroom where the kill
ing occurred, it is gloomy, squalid and
poorly furnished. There is sign posted
outside warning hoodlums that their
company is not desired, and yet, if the re-
ports be true, the house depended for its
patronage principally upon disreputable
and dangerous class.
On the afternoon of Sunday, January
20, 1884, drunken row was under way in
the bar of the "Bay View House." This
house, which was located short distance
from the scene of yesterdays tragedy, and
was subsequently burned down, was run
by Florentine. Louis Wepper and a man
named Hutchings went outside to settle
their dispute. In the fight which ensued
Hutchings was kicked and beaten to death,
Wepper being aided in the job by Floren-
tine, who kicked Hutchings in the head,
Florentine, with Wepper, was tried fol
murder in Judge Murphy's court, but was
finally acquitted upon the ground of self.
defense.
Jackson is apparently some q years OF
age and belongs to a respectable family
HIS home is at 2119B Howard street. His
father and sisters were greatly shocked
and grieved when they heard what he hao
done. he is said to have kept bad com
pany and has something of a police
record. At the South San Francisco DO
lice station he has been several times ar
rested for drunkenness, petty larceny, etc.
Sometimes he woulo give his occupation
as that of a fireman and again as that of a
tanner. In February last he assaulted
Frank Kesling and George Wood, two
street-raiIroad men, on First avenue with
butchers steel and cut them severely
about their heads. A month ago he gor
into a fight with Hutch German or
Fifteenth avenue and was cut with knife
Florentine is an Alsstian So years of age
Mrs. Wagner, one of his daughters, resides
on Seventh avenue. The remainder of the
family, comprising the widow, one bog
and four girls, live at the "Four-mile
House." which has been kept by Floren.
tine for the last two or three years
Pasted upon the wall back of the bar
where Florentine was standing when
shot, is the following inscription, the
enforcement of which may have cost him
his life: my will Is good, my price is just;
I'll use you well, but cannot trust"
When the police arrived at the house
from the South San Francisco station
Jackson and his companions had disap-
peared, but men were promptly detailed
to find them. Immediately after word
was received at police headquarters of the