The herald., 1896-09-01
1T WAS PURELY ACCIDENTAL
The Victim Stands Very Poor Chance
for Recovery
The Shooter Frightened at His Careless Act
Has Levanted
He Shot Off His Own Thumb Besides Sew
ering FELIX'S Windp!pe-Thc Police
Arc Unable TO Find the
Culprit in the City
"Many a shaft at random sent
Finds mark the archer little meant.

Finds mark the archer little meant.
That's what's the matter with Leon
ard Feliz. He was the mark, and an
easy one for bullet accidentally dis
charged from a pistol yesterday after
noon. The ball went through Mr.. Ne
liz's neck, severng his windppe, and
the chances are very much against his
recovery.
The shooting took place at No. lis
East First street at 4:30 p. m. The San
Francisco Loan company, l.. Rosenberg,
manager, has pawn shop at that place.
About the hour named, man whose
identity remains unknown, entered the
shop and bargained for revolver. He
paid $3.50 for small-caliber weapon,
and proceeded to load it with cartridges
which he had in his pocket. While per-
forming this act he stood with his back
toward the street, his face toward
board partition. The muzzle of the
weapon was pointed toward the wall,
few feet distant.
The revolver was discharged, presum-
ably by accident, and the ball passed
through the partition, behind which is
located a so-called club room otherwise
known as poker joint Three men We're
seated at a card table, about ten feet
from the partition wall One of them,
Leonard Feliz, had his back turned to-
ward the wall anti was in direct line
with the barrel of the pistol in the hands
of the reckless individual in the pawn
shop.
When the revolver was discharged the
bullet crashed through the thin parti-
tion, struck Feliz at the top of the left
shoulder, passed through his neck, sew
ering the windpipe, came out at the
adams apple and sped onward into
the rear wall, narrowly missing the
player who sat opposite Felz
The victim of the shot did not fall from
his chair. He simply turned pale,
clutched at his throat and gulped in
peculiar manner. His companions who
had heard the report of the pistol at first
thought Feliz was simply frightened.
presently they saw crimson thread
trickling down his neck. Then they real
ized what had happened.
An alarm was given, and as soon as
the man who held the smoking pistol in
his hand realized what he had done, he
laid the weapon on the counter and
started to leave the place.
You had better wait here a little
WHILE" said young Mr.. Rosenberg, 'the
salesman in charge. Il believe some one
has been shot. Wait till we find out"
But the gunner tarried not. He went,
and stood not on the order of his going.
During the excitement Of the moment
no one tried to stop him. Laying the
pistol, which he had paid for, down. he
quietly walked out of the place, and was
speedily lost to view.
Five minutes after the accident had
happened dozen Volcemen were on the
spot, but no clue to the identity of the
shooter could be obtained The best
description Of the man ascertainable
was given by William Neu, German
who rooms at the Santa Rosa house,
corner of Fourth and San Pedro streets,
Mr.. Neu had entered the shop, and was
trying to pawn a watch. He stood be-
side the man with the pistol and saw him
loading 1t when it was discharged Neu
says that the man shot off the tip of
his own left thumb, and that blood was
streaming from the wound when he laid
down the pistol and hurriedly left the
place. According to Neu's description,
the shooter was man about As years
old. He looked like rancher and wore
a blush suit and straw hat. He was
of medium height and slim, had sal
low complexion and heavy dark mus
tache. Mr. Rosenberg's description of
the man corresponds with this. He
also noticed that his thumb was bleeding
and a drop of blood on the counter was
further proof that the man had shot
himself.
Feliz was taken to the receiving hos
pital in the patrol wagon, where Dr.
Bryant examined his wound. Blood
was flowing down the mans trachea
into the lungs, and the doctor feared
that on this account the wound might
prove fatal. Feliz remained conscious
all the while, but was unable to talk
much or swallow anything. At II o'clock
last night he was restAg easier but
was not considered out of danger.
Feliz is Mexican who has worked
at odd Jobs for livelihood. Occasion
ally he played cards, and it has been
charged that he was a tinhorn gambler,
but this is denied by his friends. The
proprietor Of the place declares that no
poker game was running yesterday, and
says Feliz and a few frie nds were merely
playing for amusement. Feliz Is about
40 years old and is supposed to be I'M
married
The unanimous opinion of the officers
and spectators was that the shooting
was accidental, though the theory was
broached thA the mysterious stranger
who fired the shot. had lost at cards
in the poker joint, and shot through the
partition out of revenge This theory
was generally discredited, as the per.
sons who were in the poker room during
the day. declare that no such man was
there and no game was running.
The fact that the man shot Off hi6
own thumb, seems to be further proof
that the shooting was accidental.
A woman who manufactures and sells
jewelry cases, was in the shop to COL
lect bill. when the man bought the
pistol. Alarmed by. his reckless hand
ling of the weapon, she left the place
and had just reached the sidewalk
when the pistol was discharged. Mr.,
Rosenberg was busy waiting on another
customer at the time and did not notice
the mans actions No cartridges are
kept in the store, and Mr.. Rosenberg
declares the revolver was empty when
he sold it.
The shooters flight is attributed to
fright. 1t was expected he would give
himself up. but he proved too cowardly.
At late hour last night the police
were still hunting for him.
Charles Elton, the man who is figur-
ing in the Rehberg case, Is not an en-
ploye Of the Electric railway company