The record-union., 1896-02-15

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14.-Frank ].
Miller, butler in the house of j. l..
Franklin, at 1880 California street, shot
and killed a burglar this morning, and
was himself shot and wounded by the
burglar
| Three burglars We're engaged in an
attempt to loot the house. John A An
derson, the dead burglar, was left be-
low to keep watch and the other two
went upstairs.
Miller, who sleeps in a small room in
the basement, heard Anderson moving
about the kitchen, and went after him
with a pistol. Anderson was also
armed and the men commenced firing
ct each other, each one firing four shots
The noise of the shooting caused an
officer to rush to the house, where he
found Miller unconscious and burglar
dead. Anderson was shot through the
temple, and his dead body was found
lying on top of Miller. The latter was
shot through the neck.
The other two burglars escaped.
When officer Green reached the prem
ises he found evidence of a frightful
struggle in the basement The door
near which the dead burglar lay showed
two bullet holes. On the casing of the
door above another jagged hole was
found in which one bullet from Mil
ler's pistol was imbedded. Three holes
were also discovered in the walls, and
were evidently fired at Miller by the
burglar, as he was approaching the
kitchen in which the robber stood BY
singular coincidence the two pistols
held four empty cartridge shells, and
this fact proves that eight shots were
fired, although young Franklin says he
counted five.
Several detectives were detailed on
the case by Captain Lees as soon as
he heard of the affair They found that
the robbers had entered the rear prem
ises by crossing the yard of a vacant
house adjoining, which faces on Baker
street. BY the use of a chisel they
pried off two boards of the high board
fence and stepped into the rear yard.
The kitchen door was then attacked
1t is a glass door covered by a wire
screen. The burglars cut off the screen
in one corner, broke the glass and in
serted an instrument by which the key
was turned.
On gaining entrance into the kitchen
the burglars lighted a candle and began
operation. Anderson, who was so soon
to meet his death, was left on watch
below, while the two burglars went up
stairs. The manner in which they
worked showed that they were ac-
ouainted with the surroundings. The
first thing done by them was to cut the
electric light wires, which supply the
house, and which We're fastened to the
wall on the east side OF a sort of store
room.
Here also they took the precaution to
turn off the gas at the meter The men
then ascended the stairs, along the
wainscoting of which the telephone
wires run. These were pinched off, thus
preventing an alarm from that source
This rendered subsequent operations
comparatively easy. In order to secure
ready exit, the burglars went to the
front door. and, after unlocking it, left
it slightly ajar, SO that it could be
thrown open without difficulty. They
then ascended the front stairway, lead
ing to a. corridor on which the room of
Mr.. Franklin opens ir front. Next to
this is a sitting-room, and to this the
burglars confined their attention. They
drew from their bundle white mask,
a gag, jimmy, a skeleton key bundle
of cord, a thick veil and a murderous-
looking butcher-knife.
They had just commenced operations
when the shooting downstairs began,
and, conscious that their game was
baked, they dropped everything,
rushed downstairs, threw open the
door and made their escape.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15.-At 1
o'clock this Saturday morning physi-
clans in attendance upon Frank ].
Miller, the plucky young butler who
killed the unknown burglar at the resi-
dence of ]. L. Franklin yesterday morn
ing, pronounced the young man out of
danger.
No arrests have been made, but the
police are following several promising
clews.