The herald., 1897-02-02
A Would.be Robber Takes a
Shot at w. II. Walker
INFLICTS A SLIGHT WOUND
One Drink Out Of q Strangers Flask
Mixes Things Up
Peculiar Tale Related by the Victim.
How He Went Sight Seeing With
Chance Acquaintance.

back OF the right ear, w. ii. walker,
car repairer employed by the Southern
Pacific company, was found shortly be-
fore midnight last night wandering
about In the vicinity of Washington
Gardens by Officer. Fl. G. Vigres and
sent to the receiving hospital in the pa
troll wagon. The man seemed to be un-
der the influence of some drug and told
a disconnected story of assault and at
tempted robbery, which presents some
strange incongrulties.
He resides at No. 237 North Anderson
street, Boyle Heights, and yesterday
morning at 7:15 boarded First street
electric car and came over to town,
transferring to the Downey-avenue line
and going to the!San Fernando street de-
pot. Owing to the rain, the men at
work on repairing were laid off for the
day, but as the pay car was in, Walker
waited around several hours and finally
received his months wages, amounting
to $42 and some cents.
Coming over to the center of the city,
he claims to have met young fellow on
the car. who apparently knew his name,
and struck up a conversation with him.
remarking on the vile condition of the
streets and the necessity for @ better
drainage system. Walker describes the
fellow as smooth -shaven, sallow COM
plexion, brown eyes, and wearing o
white cowboy hat and light suit Of
clothes.
He loft his quondam acquaintance
when they reached the business section
and went to pawnshop, where he re-
deemed his gold watch and a ring. which
he had hypothecated to secure money to
pay for medical attendance for his wife,
who has been very i'll. He remembers
,that his acquaintance of the morndn e
had seen him receive his money, and
says he Is sure the same man stood
across the street and watched him while
he was In the pawnbrokers establish.
ment. At any rate, he fell in with the
same party short time afterward and
the stranger proposed street car ride
toward the suburbs to inspect the dam
age and flooding by the storm.
To this he acquiesced) and they finally
landed away out where houses were few
and far apart, just where Walker could
not say UP to this time Walker claims
he had not touched a drop OF liquor be-
ing an abstemious person ardi not ad-
dicted to drinking. 1t had begun to
rain and his companion pulled flask
from an inside pocket and proposed
dram to keep out the dampness. He
drank, but the liquor must have been
QTuRReQ, DIS IL Iffdue It'll llSsHl-Hedu0d,
and he oan remember but little of what
happened.
He knows that 1t was by this time dark
and he and his companion were walking
along street bordered by trees and Or
ange orchards. Coming to place where
the railroad crossed the street, both sat
down for awhile, but finally Walker pro-
posed that they get back into town. Get
ting up, they walked short way when
CnddanlV the n1ado a "a
at him as they stood side by side, throw
ing his right arm around his neck and
striking him back of the right ear with
q revolver he held in his hand, the wea-
pom at the same time exploding.
Walker was knocked to the ground
by the force of the blow, but quickly
arose and grappled with his assailant,
endeavoring to disarm him. In this he
was unsuccessful, for the would-be rob-
ber broke away from his grasp and ran.
off, Walker making haste in the oppo-
site direction. How long 1t was before
he was discovered by the officer Walker
did not know, nor where he went in the
meantime.
Neither could he by any manner of
means tell where he had been with his
companion during all the hours between
noon and midnight, save that they had
taken the street car ride to view the
flooded streets. He claimed not to have
entered any house during all this time,
ITO have taken only thO one drink from
the bottle, not to have engaged in any
games of cards, billiards or the like, and,
in fact, his mind was blank.
When searched at the station he had
his watch, ring and $325 so in money on
his person, claiming that the would-be
robber did not get cent. Allowing for
the money he claims to have expended
for redeeIning his jewelry and what he
paid for lunch, cigars, etc, he was still
unable to account for about So, and had
no idea of how he had spent it. but still
positively asserted that he had used
none Of 1t for drink. Walker was ques-
toned and cross-questionedb by the offic-
erS while his wound was being dressed,
the substance of his story being given
although he several times contraddcted
himself In minor particulars.
DR.. Hagan pronounced the wound
have been inflicted not by a bullet, but
barrel or hammer of the revolver. He
was of the opinion that Walker had been
drugged, but allowed the patient to go
home in cab after bandaging his head.
Detectives have been detailed on the
case and Will thoroughly investigate the
scene of the ARRAY today. AS soon as
word OF the shooting reached police
headquarters all the officers in that dis
thict were warned to be on the lookout
for a man answering the description of
the assailant but UP to the hour of 60
ing to press no prisoner had been brought
in.
ON THE TURF.