The herald., 1896-07-09
Well Known Real Estate Dealer
Meets With An Accident
KILLED WITH HIS OWN GUN
While Shooting Squirrels His Revolver
Is Accidentally Discharged
The Bullet Passes Completely Through MS
Body, Killing Him Instantiy-Trying to
Pry Out a Stuck Cartridge

AS the result of the careless handling
OF a loaded revolver Robert NJ. Todd.
real estate dealer and capitalist, resid-
ing at No. 1915 Figueroa street. was
yesterday afternoon accidentally shot by
his own hand. dying instantly. Mr..
Todd was about 60 years of age and con-
Quoted the California Exchange Bureau.
at No. 1884 South Broadway, being also
extensively engaged in mining enter
prises. He was a former resident OF
Michigan, where he had conducted
large lumber business.
In company with a gentleman named
Leatherdale, with whom he had business
interests, Mr.. Todd yesterday shortly
after noon drove out in buggy to what
IL known as the Plummer Square tract.
situated on Western avenue. between
what would be the extensions or FIRST
and Seventh streets. The land lies IN
the Cahuenga valley and is owned by
Todd Il Leatherdale. They took with
them shotgun, in case any doves or
rabbits should be encountered, and
<5-caliber Colt revolver for practice at
ground-squirreis.
Arriving at the tract the friends alight-
ed and made an inspection OF the SrouHu
and the plotting of lots wnlch hau re-
Gently been done. Leatherdale TOOK tne
shotgun out of the buggy and MI. Ioud
his revolver. The latter fired twice at
a couple of squirrels. when something
evidently went wrong with MS gun.
Leatherdale was walking off when Todd
called to him and asked for the loan OF
his pocketknife. which was handed over.
He began tnkering with the revolver
and Leatherdale walked off to get shot
at squirrel himself.
He had gone perhaps forty PAGES when
he heard another revolver shot ana,
turning around called out to Todd, Did
you get him." thinking of course that
he had shot at a squirrel. A glance
convinced him that something was
wrong, and running to Todd's side. who
was lying on the ground, he found him
gasping his last with a gaping bullet
wound through his body. Without being
able to speak and in very few moments
the unfortunate man expired.
Off about 500 yards. across the road,
was Woolsey Cronkhite of No. 129 West
Thirtieth street. also real estate man.
who had seen the whole affair. Mr..
Cronkhite said the two men We're separ-
ate. one walking away and the other
standing in a somewhat stopped posture
as though working at something in his
hands. He thought the parties We're
measuring land; that the one standing
still was using a note book, while the
other was pacing off the ground He
heard the shot, and, attracted by the
cries of Leatherdale, ran over. but Mr..
Todd was already dead.
From the nature and direction of the
Wound it was evident that Mr.. Todd mad
the revolver in his left hand, the nuzzle
toward his body, and was probably try
ing to pry out a cartridge which had
stuck in the chamber. when the weapon
exploded. Mr.. Leatherdale's knife lay
by his side, having undoubtedly been
used in his endeavors to dislodge the
cartridge. Mr.. Todd uttered no cry or
groan that could be heard when the ac-
cident occurred, but fell like log. dying
almost instantly.
Word of the accident was Immediately
sent to the city and the family of de-
ceased notified. Shortly after o'clock
Coroner Campbell dispatched wagon
20 bring the body into town, and Deputy
Summerfield went out to the scene of
the tragedy. The body lay where it had
fallen, in a pool of blood. Mr.. Todd S
wife and daughter were already on the
spot, and their grief was terrible to wit
ness. The remains were removed to the
parlors of Kregelo & Bresee, where they
were prepared and later on removed to
the residence on Figueroa street.
The deadly bullet had entered the right
side about four inches directly under the
nipple and passed diagonally through
the body, making its exit six inches &c
the left of the spine and just above the
pelvis. The ball was found in the dead
mans clothing, but slightly marred in
it's passage through the body. The wea-
pom was siX-shot Colt, there being ir
it's chambers three loaded and three
empty shells. Coroner Campbell Will hol6
an inquest this morning at the residence
after which the remains will be EN-
balmed and prepared for shipment tC
his former home back east.
Mr. Todd was man of imposing ap
pearance, weighing over 200 pounds. witt
a kindly, benevolent face and full gra,
beard. He had made many friends II
this city who respected him as man o.
sterling worth and integrity. He leaves
| his widow and one daughter, who are
prostrated with grief at their sudder
and terrible loss. The date of the funera
, has not yet been decided upon, but viii
| be announced after the inquest