The San Francisco call., 1897-12-17
INSANE UHL
TRIES TO MURDER
A Desperate Attempt to
Kill Two Men at
Temescal.
He Is Now Believed to Be the
Slayer of Patrick
Murphy.
The Homicidal Maniac Escaped and
Is Now Pursued by Many
Officers.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, !

9Jo Broadway, Dec. 16.
Ferdinand Uhl, homicidal maniac, at
tempted to murder Consta BILE Gus Ko ch
ard Edward Kearney at TemescAl to-
night. Alter shooting at Kearney he fired
at the constable at such close range that
the officers face was powder burned. The
dangerous maniac then made his escape,
though posse of officers were soon alter
him.
1t is now generally believed that it was
Uni WHO slew Patrick Murphy last night.
though his family think he was home at
the time of the fatal shot. Uhl has been
insane for some years, and was confined
in an asylum until a few months ago,
when he was set free and pronounced well.
The shooting last night is the sensation
OF the ghUorhood. As the insane man
is still al large there is great terror, espe-
clalIy among the women, who have barred
themselves in their homes. The shooting
occurred under the following circum-
stances:
Ed kearney was passing the Uhl resi-
dence shortly before Z o'clock, when he
saw Ferdinand Uni appear in the door
and ire a pistol. He ran up the street
and notified Constable Koch that he had
house and rang the bell. AS the door was
opened a shot was fired IN his face blind
ing him. He rolled off the steps as three
more shots were fired.
The door closed as he jumped over the
fence anu ran to &. w. Moore's grocery
store and telephoned 20 the police at Oak.
land LOT re-entJrce ments. Koch S face was
badly powder-marked and blood was
oozing out OF it, which caused every one
to believe that he was shot An exami-
nalon showed that the only bullet that
struck him cut hole through his coat.
collar. He soon Joined in the hunt for
the insane man.
Ferdinand Uni who did the shooting
escaped from the house by the back door,
aIt,r reloadlng his revolver. The empty
shells picked up in The house were Smith
d Wesson make OF 3S-calIber. A year ago
last August lie was committed TO Ukiah
for insanity. Early In January last year
he was released as cured. He has acted
queerIY at times, but never caused alarai
20 ms family until the latter part of Ucto-
Der when he went 10 Redwood City to
visit brother.
The day alter his arrival be threatened
to kill fruit vender. He entered a doc
tors office and a Ked for something that
would Kill the man easily The physician
notified the Sheriff, ana Uhl was taken
into custody ana delivered TO his family
for roper care.
Warden Heating and Others declared
that he should have been committed from
Redwood City, but as the father took
charge of him nothing more was thought
OF il. In speaking OF to-nighrs affair,
UhPs father said:
81 sat here by the table reading. All
OF sudden Ferdinand ran through lie
two rooms TO the front daor and ran across
the street. He came back quickly and sat
down in the corner by me. 1 dropped my
paper, and, standing up, said: 'Ferdi-
nand, have you pisto| He replied,
Yes, have l asked him to give it to
me. He replied, No, WON'T
and ran back to has room
Just then the doorbell rang and
Annie started to answer it. He ran past
her, opened the door and fired at the
consta bic. He shut the door and ran up
stairs and as he came down / heard shells
dropping. The girls begged ME 10 keep
away from him and ran TO a neightor's
HE called 10 the girls from the back
door to come and stay in the house with
him. We have not seen him since and do
not know which way he went when he
left"
Mrs. Uhl was badly frightened and
begged for an officer TO remain in the
house. Sac said she was AFRAID he would
Kill them all. Il never knew he had a
pistol, she said, "but have always been
afraid he would get one. We have
searcned ms clothes ana room closely and
never found anything that would lead US
to believe he had one"
Miss Annie Uhl declared that her
brother could not have been the slayer of
Murphy, as he was home when Murphy
was killed. Others are by no means so
certain that Ferd nand was in the house
Several claim 10 have seen him at Forty
seventh and Grove streets, half a block
from the scene of last nights tragedy
shortly after 1t happened. Tonight it
was reported that man was seen running
through Lockley square, half mile
northeast OF the Uni residence, shortly
after the shooting.
Chief of Police Lloyd, Sergeant Morri-
son. Officer Stahl and several constables
and deputies hurried to the locality and
thorough search was made for UhI
Every man and boy in the neighborhood
who could get out joined in the hunt,
while the women locked the toors and
huddled together in inner rooms fearing
that he madman mig ht come in on them,
Deputy Sheriff Wlll White and Officers
Stahl and Sherry were detailed to remain
in the house tonight to protect the fam
lily and capture the son should he return
before morning.
Uhl is well prepared to get away. His
mother states that IN her searches for q
revolver she discovered that he had Sl10
in gold besides silver