The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-04
WANTED MONEY,
GOT A BULLET
Probably Fatal Shooting in
a Sutter-Street Barber
Shop Last Night.
W. B. James, a Colored Barber,
Shot and Seriously Wounded
Manuel Benedict.
The Wounded Man Slashed James
With Razor Last Monday and
Since Threatened His Life.

W. B. James, a colored barber, last
night shot and, it is believed, fatally
wounded Manuel Benedict. or. as he is
better known, Manuel Gonzales. another
colored barber. The shooting took place
in the barber-shop kept by James at 2721
Suffer street, near tue terminus OF the
Sutter-street railroad, and occurred at
about 6:15 o'clock IN the evening. The
bullet from James 44caliber Smith d
Wesson struck Benedict in the left breast
Just below the shoulder.
Alter he was shot Benedict walked out
of The shop and, calling out Il am shot
through the heart" fell to the side
He was assisted 10 neighborlng store by
John Andrews, who " as in The restaurant
which adjoins the place where the shoot
ing took place at the time. a telephone
m essage was sent for an am bulance and
short time afterward Benedict was taken
to the Receiving Hospital His wound
was dressed by DR.. Tormey, who did not
attempt TO probe for the bullet, a, Bene-
dict was in great pain and the phys iclan
believed taat the wound would prove
fatal.
Immediately after the shooting Mr..
James went TO the City Prison and sur
rendered himself.
When the shooting took place there
were in the shop, besides the two, J. r. G.
Jones and two white men, who were wait
Ing TO get shaved, but their names could
not be learned. They did not wait for the
barber to shave them, but beat hasty
retreat.
Jones has been working N the shop
about two weeks. He told the following
story of the shooting:
"Gonzales came here about 5 O'Clock in
the afternoon and asked James for some
money" said Jones. James told him
that be had no money, but would see MIN
downtown. James ordered him out OF
the shop, anG Manuel went outside. He
| began 10 TAX 10 me about place where he
was going 10 work and told me that he
wanted to get 81 % to get some things or
| tools.
"A little while after 1 came in and
| Manuel came in after ne and asked me
! for O drink OF water James was stand
! ing behind he open door which leads
! into the bedroom, and as Manuel came
| over toward the washstand where l was
gong 10 get him drink James ordered
| him not 10 come over there and told him
TO 20 out. He told him twice, and then
as Gonzales didn't go lie shot him. He
stuck the pistol through the crack Of the
door and shot. Then Gonzales went out
! The TWO men who were IN the shop at the
| time got out III a hurry.
Jones stated further that he met Con-
zales on the corner of California and
Dupont streets on last Thursday night,
and Gonzales threatened 10 go out yes
| terday and do James up.
You tell James that | am coming out
after that 20 cents, and tell MN if he
don't pay me woe be unto his bacon" is
what Jones states Gonzales said.
When seen q the police station James
declared that he believed Gonzales was
going to kill him. The men had trou bic
on last Monday. Gonzales went 10 the
bar ber-snop and slashed James on the
side of the nose with a razor. For this
Gonzales was arrested but was turned
| loose on the preliminary examination.
Wnen Gonzales was searched at the R.
ceiving Hospital no weapons were found
on him. A leather knife scabbard was
discovered, but the knife could not be
found.
Gonzales made a statement last night,
when ne was told that his wound would
pro badly prove fatal to the effect that he
went to James shop TO get some money
the barber owed him. HE told me to
get out, and L said, III you pay me | will
not bother you any more l was stand
ing in front of the door. He stepped back
and shot through the back door. He
owed me 81 80"
Gonzales or Benedict is known as a
hard character. He kept the bar ber-shop
where the shooting took place UP
TO about a month ago. He had
some trouble with his vile, and on more
than one occasion attempted to kill her.
About month ago he chased her through
a neigh boring saloon with a razor.
At another time he threw rasp at her.
or late Gonzales has lived at u Miles
place.
james is spoken of by he people where
he lives as a mild, inoffensive man. Nc
charge was placed against him last ght
as the officers were awaiting the result Of
Gonzales wounds before doing so.