The San Francisco call., 1896-07-01
DROPPED HIS GRIP
AND OPENED FIRE.
Exciting Scene at 0'Far-
rell and Taylor
Streets.
THERE WERE FOUR SHOTS
Gripman Isham Wounds His
Brother-in-Law, E. c.
Plume.
THE WOUND NOT DANGEROUS.
Isham Arrested and Booked on the
Charge of Assault to Commit
Murder.
THE WOUND NOT DANGEROUS

The strained relations which have ex-
listed for some time between W. Isham, 8
gripman on the Hyde-street line, and Ed
ward c. Plume, a conductor on the Geary-
street line, ended in shooting affray yes
terday afternoon.
1sham and Plume married sisters. Isham
and his wife did not live happily together,
and about two weeks ago they were oil
vorced. Since they separated, some
months ago, Mrs. Isham has been living
with her sister, Mrs. Plume, at 295 Parker
avenue.
Yesterday was Pluine's day off and he
went downtown with friend, Thomas ].
Blight Jr., who lives at "a Ferrie Street.
Plume made few purchases and was car
rying parcel in his hand when he and
Blight took their seats on the dummy of a
cable-car at O'Farrell and Stockton streets,
of which Isham was the gripman.
After the car started Plume made re-
mark to Blight which Isham overheard
and resented. A hot exchange of words
followed till finally Plume called lsham a
liar. Isham retorted by calling Plume a
cur. BY this time the Car had reached
Taylor street and Isham stopped it and,
grabbing Plume by the arm, told him to
get off the car.
There was brief struggle, and as Plume
was stepping off Istam pulled revolver
out of his pocket and fred shot at him:
The bullet grazed Blight's left cneek,
which was slightly powder-burned by the
discharge, and lodged in the calf OF
Plume's left leg.
Isham fired three more shots, but Plume
lodged behind an iron post in front OF a
grocery and none took effect. Ed Cum
ningham, who is connected with the Over
land Monthly, appeared on The scene at
this time, and seeing Plume staggering
around took hold of him and kept him
from falling. Isham then boarded the
car again and proceeded on his trip.
Policeman w. Coleman was standing at
Taylor and Geary streets when be heard
the shots. He ran toward O'Farrell street
and was told about the shooting. he
chased after Isham's car and. overtaking
it at Jones street, placed 1sham under ar
rest. TIE patrol wagon was summoned
and Plume, Isham, Coleman, Cunning
ham and Blight were driven to the Receiv-
ing Hospital. Later Isham was taken TO
the City Prison and charged with assault I
to murder. His revolver was booked as
evidence against him, and a revolver
which Plume had in his pocket was also
held by the police.
DIR. Thompson extracted the bullet
from Plume's leg. 1t had passed almost
clean through, and fortunately had not
Isham blamed Plume for his domestic
troubles. Plume has been looking for
trouble for long time." said Isham, land
he has got it now. Every day he was off
duty he would come on my car and nag at
me about my wife, but he went too far to-
day. 1 did not shoot at him till l saw him
put his hand behind his back and begin
pulling out his revolver.
Then 1 got mad and fired at him.
There was only one other passenger on
the car besides Plume and Blight but
don't know who he was. He could prove
that Plume attempted to pull his gun be-
fore fired"
Both Plume and Blight denied that the
former attempted to pull his revolver.
why" said Plume, 81 had the parcel on
my knees holding it with both hands,
when lsham grabbed hold of me to put
me off the car and then fired at me.
"He has no cause to blame me for his
domestic troubles. He had himself 10
blame She was good wife to him, but
he treated her brutality until she was
forced to get divorce from him. l took
his wife's part and that is why he has had
it in for me-"
Plume, after his wound was dressed,
was driven home in hack.