The San Francisco call., 1896-02-21
The Victim Was Joking Witt
the Proprietor Of the Place
at the Time.
DIED WITHOUT A STRUGGLE.
The Murderer Is Captured and Mar.
rowly Escapes Being
Lynched.

REDDING, CAL, Feb. 2o.-This evening
at o'clock a murder was committed at
the Tiger saloon on California street, in
which Johnny Ward was killed and man
named Ryan is his slayer.
Ryan is a fat Irishman, weighing about
210 pounds. About two months ago he
ame'here from Oregon, and since that
time he has been dealing faro and other
games at the Tiger saloon, owned by John
Neail. At times he would tend the bar
during the absence of the regular bar
keeper. He is a quarrelsome fellow and
about 40 years old.
The victim, Ward, is a young man not
over 26 years of age and has always been
known as quiet fellow. He was en-
ployed in bridgegang on the Iron Mount
ain Railroad and was hard worker. To-
day he had been drinking around at vari-
Gus saloons and was in the habit of joking
with She barkeeper about paying for the
drinks, but he invariably put up the cash.
AT 6:15 o'clock this evening he sauntered
into the Tiger saloon. He was perfectly
sober and, stepping up to the bar, called
for the drinks for himself and three of his
friends. Ryan was standing near by, but
not drinking.
John Neail, the proprietor, was tending
bar, and after serving the drinks asked,
We'll, who's to pay for these drinks?"
Young Ward remarked in iocular way,
"Why, you're going to pay for them, " ad-
dressing Neail, at the same time reaching
his hand in his pocket for the cash.
At this Ryan, who was standing about
four feet away, pulled a pistol from his
pocket, walked straight up in front Of
Ward, placed the muzzle at Wards face
and deliberately fired, remarking as he did
so: "You - don't you treat
the old man So"
Ward fell to the floor with a bullet
hole through his cheek and the jugulal
vein severed. A great pool of blood lay al
his head. He died without struggle.
The murderer, after firing the shot broke
and ran through the rear door of the sa.
loon and escaped in the darkness. The
officers were notified, and in ten minutes
the murderer was found hiding on the
roof of the Welcome Restaurant, on Te-
hama street. He was taken down, placed
under arrest and Immediately conveyed to
the County Jail.
A great mob followed him to the jail,
eager to get hold of him, but the officers
carefully guarded the prisoner.
Ward and Ryan are said to have been
perfect strangers. 1t is said by some that
Ward whipped Ryan year ago, but no
credence is given to the rumor, as Ryan
is twice the size of his victim.
The pistol with which Ryan did the
shooting belonged to Neail and was taken
from behind the bar by Ryan some time
during the day. This afternoon Ryan was
seen to step from the sidewalk in front OF
the saloon, pick up couple of rocks and
put them in his pocket. What this action
meant no one knows.
There are hundreds OF Iron Mountain
workmen in town tonight and the feeling
among them runs high against the mur-
derer. Should he fall into their hands il
would go hard with him.
| The body of the murdered man was re-
moved to the Morgue at o'clock and an
inquest is now being held.
Ryan says he pointed the pistol at Ward
simply to intimidate him. He says he
did not know the pistol was q self-cockel
and is sorry for the killing.
Wards father is drayman, living al
Red Bluff. He has been notified and the
remains Will probably be taken there fol-
burial,