The San Francisco call., 1896-10-16
The Fatal Bullet Pierced
the Young Detectives
Heart.
He Had Predicted That He
Would Soon Die a Violent
Death.
BAD DEBTS THE CAUSE OF THE
TRAGEDY.
A Woman Claiming TO Be the De-
ceased's Widow Causes an
Exciting Scene.

Joseph A. Mitchell, a young attorney,
shot Private Detective E. t. Hicks,
through the heart in the building 927
Market street yesterday afternoon.
Mitchell ana his partner John f. Null
len. occupy room 610 on the sixth floor of
the building, and Hicks occupied room
in the rear, the two rooms communicating
with each other Mitchell and Hicks had
business dealings, the former attending to
any legal matters that arose from the de-
tective's clients.
Hicks had grievance against Mitchell
and had threatened to kill him. Yester-
day morning about 10 o'clock Hicks and
Mitchell had a quarrel, Hicks using strong
language that shocked Mrs. Mason,
Mitchell's stenographer. An hour later
Hicks called Mitchell into his room. Hicks
closed the door and the window, which
had been open. Joseph Silva and another
client of MitchelPs and the stenographer
were in his room, Mullen having left a
few minutes before. They heard loud and
angry voices proceeding from Hicks room,
followed by noises as II struggle was go
ing on.
A. S. Grant, whose room adjoins Hicks,
heard Hicks say, LET go of my throat +"
and Mitchell reply, mo, | won't" Then
he heard gurgling sound, and quietness
followed.
Mitchell came out of Hicks room with
his face covered with blood. He said
Hicks had struck him with brass knuckles.
There was cut and big lump over his
right eye and long cut on his forehead.
Mitchell made the remark to Silva, "Tll
advertise him well for this. I'll have him
arrested Silva asked HIM what Hicks
had done with the brass knuckles and
~, +,
his pocket.
Hicks left his room by a side entrance
and Mitchell washed the blood from his
face and hands in the lavatory. The wall
of Hicks room near the door leading into
the attorneys room and the wainscoting
were spotted with blood and there was a
pool of blood on the floor where Mitchell
had been standing when struck by Hicks.
Mitchell left his Office in few moments
to go to doctor 10 get the wounds on his
face stitched an1 dressed. As the elevator
reached the ground floor Hicks was stand
ing there waiting for it to go back to his
offices. AS Mitchell stepped out of the
elevator, G. K. Farnham. who runs the
elevator, heard Hicks say to Mitchell,
'You can have some more il you want it,
Mitchell made no reply, but walked away.
Hicks shirt front was marked with blood,
and one side of his coat was covered with
dust.
About 20 minutes past o'clock Mitchell
and Hicks were alone in the office. The
quarrel of the morning was renewed, but
Mitchell had armed himself with re-
volver. They both came out into the cor
ridor, Mitchell ahead Mitchell wheeled
round, and, Just as Hicks stepped out of
the door, he fired a shot at him. Hicks
mechanically ducked his head, and the
bullet passed through his hat and lodged
IN the lamb OF the door, close to the wall.
]. B. Warren, who occupies room GA,
heard the shot and opened his door.
Hicks was facing Mitchell, who was stand
ing near the eleva tor with the revolver in
his hand, and as Warren looked out Hicks
backed toward him. Just then Mitchell
fired another shot and Hicks uttered a
yell of pain. The bullet bad taken effect.
As Hicks staggered toward Warren's door
Warren closed it as he was in almost the
direct line of fire and at that moment
Mitchell fired the third shot, the bullet
missing Hicks and striking the marble
facing on the walls. He was preparing to
fire again when Hicks threw up his hands
and fell on his face. In falling his right
hand struck the glass in Warren's door
and shattered. it in pieces.
DR.. g. L. Fitch, the occupant of room
618, heard the shots and when he opened
his door he. saw Hicks PROSTATE on the
floor. He ran to him and saw blood issu-
ing from his mouth. He turned him ON
his back. felt his pulse and found that life
was extinct.
J. T. MeCrossen and General Fried
rich heard the shots and saw Mitchell
looking at Hicks with the revolver in his
hand. Mitchell walked downstairs, and
McCrossen followed him. Mitchell had
nearly reached Fifth street when Nc
Crossen met Policeman James Cook and
told him to arrest Mitchell for shooting
Hicks. Cook arrested Mitchell, and he
quietly pulled the revolver out Of his
pocket and handed it to Cook. 1t is a
38-caIiber, and three chambers were
empty.
Cook took Mitchell back to the build
ing and left him in an office on the ground