The herald., 1896-09-15
j. E. DoId Probably Fatally
Wounded
DOUBT CAST ON HIS STORY
Suspicious That He Made an Attempt on
Ills Life
While Out Walking lie Claims to Have Besn
Held Up-DsscrIption Of His Asssilsnt.
His Story Of the Shooting

last evening out in Elysian park, when
j. Il. Dold, a German 90 years OF age
received bullet through his BODY from
a revolver in the hands OF footpad.
The injured man now lies in the receive
ing hospital in precarious condltloh'
while the police are securing the vic1n-
ity for some trace of the murderous
highwayman.
Dold resides in South Riverside,
where he has a wife and family, but
came to this city few months ago in
search of employment. He did not
succeed in getting steady work, but did
q little around the premises or Anton
Pabst, a friend of his, with whom he
was stopping. Pabst runs dairy just
across the river from Elysian park,
about mile from the Buena Vista
street bridge, and as he and Dold have
been friends for the past thirteen years
the latter took up his residence with
Pabst while loking for something to do
From statements made by the wound-
ed man to the officers in the receiving
hospital it was gathered that he had
left Pabst's ranch at about 4:30 in the
afternoon and had gone for a walk
about the hills of Elysian park. He had
wandered about for some time, climbing
the hills and sauntering around, and
was thinking of starting for home. The
sun was sinking in the west, and Dold
was walking along occupied with his
own thoughts when, as he passed a
clump of trees. man jumped out and
called out to him to stop and throw up
his hands, at the same time producing
a pistol.
His assailant was close to him, and
Dold made a grab for the weapon. A
scuffie followed during which the re-
volver was discharged, the bullet strik-
ing Dold in the left side about six
inches below the nipple. He staggered
and released his hold on the robber,
who Immediately ran away. The high
wayman is described as below medium
height, rather stout in build, weighing
perhaps $50 pounds. His hair and mus
tache were dark, and he appeared to
be about 30 or 40 years old. He wore
blue overalls, gray coat and dark soft
hat and his whole appearance was un-
kempt and dirty, like tramp. The
whole affair occurred so quickly that
Dold hardly realized that he was shot
before the man was out of sight.
Dazed and weak from his wound, the
old man managed to painfully stagger
along until he reached the car line on
Buena Vista street, where he hailed
car bound downtown, said he was shot,
and asked to be taken where he could
I have medical treatment. The conductor
looked after him. and at the corner Of
First and Spring streets turned Dold
over to Under Sheriff Clements, who
was standing near talking to friend.
Clements telephoned for the patrol wa
gon, and Dold was taken to the hospital,
where he arrived shortly after o'clock.
Dr. kannon happened to be near at hand
and gave immediate attention to the SUI
ferer.
The victim was laid upon the operat-
Ing table and his wound examined. 1t
was found that the ball, evidently from
large sized revolver, had entered the
| abdominal wall just under the ribs and
1yItQ RI at ho Ia
the spine there was plainly percepti-
ble lump, which showed where the bullet
had lodged. The physician gave it as his
opinion that the ball had gone below
the lung, but perforated the stomach
and other vital organs, and that the case
was probably hopeless. The shirt and
undershirt were badly powder burned,
showing that the muzzle of the weapon
had been held close to the body when
discharged. There was no hole through
the vest, but this was explained by
Dold, who said that the garment had
been unbuttoned and thrown back, as
he was warm from climbing over the
hills.
When first brought In Dold seemed
averse to talking. and his story was
drawn from him bit by bit by repeated
questioning. He said that he had been
sick, and without money and work, and
the suspicion found ground in the minds
VI IiotcHSIS L1dl lne Ola man was not
telling the truth, but that he had made
an attempt at suicide. After his wound
had been dressed he was propped up on
couch and again piled with interroga-
tories In an endeavor to get a correct
description of his alleged assailant He
was told of the serious character of his
wound and pressed to tell the whole
truth in regard to the matter. Asked
the direct question whether or not he
mad shot himself, he said no, that he
mad no revolver with him.
DR.. Bryant, the police surgeon, having
arrived, examined the patient and for
bade his talking longer. The lights were
turned down and the sufferer left in
care of nurse. Chief Glass. who had
been present, and closely questioned
Dold himself, was of the opinion that if
was an attempt at suicide and took
very little stock in the robber story
That nothing might be left undone, how.
ever, he sent several officers out to make
an investigation of the scene of the
shooting and to look for the murderous
highWayman. The East Side station
was notified. and officers detailed from
there to work on the case
1t is possible that Dold may live three
or four days, perhaps recover although
such instances are rare. There was
very little hemorrhage from the wound
externally and apparently but little in
ternally. After the victim had some
what recovered from the shock TODAY
ne will be able to give better descrip
tlon or his asSailant and of his move
ments Immediately before and after the
shooting. At late hour this morning
ne was resting comfortably and suffer-
ing little pain.
About - o'clock Officer Robbins re-
| turned from search of the vicinity
Wnefe the affray was reported to have
occurred. With him came Pabst, who
mad been routed out and told of his
friends misfortune. Pabst said that
Dold had been at his house about four
months, and of late had seemed to he
somewhat demented. He imagined ho
was going to engage in large farming
schemes, and projected all sorts of viz
lonary ideas. At times he was morose
and would go for days at a time with
out speaking to anybody, wandering
around with his head in the air mur-
tering to himself
Yesterday morning he left the premis-
es about o'clock and was not seen untii
ABOUT D in the evening, when he came
PACK ana went into the house for about
Tfteen minutes. No one knows what
he did there, but he finally went out and
disappeared off up the road in the di :
rection of Tropico This was the last
seen of him. Pabst had no revolver
about his place, but thinks Dold NAV
nave had one in his trunk He was in
cilned to the suicide theory and uues-
TONED his friend closely At one time
Dold seemed about to tell him some
thing, but changed his mind and stuck
TO MS original story, from which he
could not be changed.
Pabst said that Dold's wife, who is a +