The San Francisco call., 1897-09-21
RAIN OF LEAD ON A
MAIN STREET.
Ex-COnVict Ford Brought to
Earth After a Stubborn
Resistance.
SPECTATORS ESCAPE THE
BULLETS.
Tragic Death OF a Thug After He
Had Placed Five RobbsrIes
to His Credit.

STOCKTON, CAL, Sept. 20. - On
crowded Stockton street, in the sight of
thousands OF people who had been al
trscted by the din of combat, an ex-con-
vet named Ford was tonight riddled with
bullets by officers. A half-dozen pistols
were empted before the desperate was
brought down, and that none of the spec
1ators were killed Or wounded is almost
miraculous. For time the volIeys from
the firearms of the officers and their quarry
came as rapidly as the reports from
bunch OF giant irecrackers.
Shortly before O clock tonight the
police were notified that Japanese store
on California street, near Washington,
had been entered by rough looking man,
who stood up the occupants and took
what money they had. Detective Michael
Carroll was detailed to investigate the
case, and was on his way back to the
police station 10 report what had been
tOlG by the men who were robbed, when a
young barber named Fields rushed into
the station without hat or coat and said
that be had been held up in a waterfront
saloon by an armed man who answered
the description of the one who robbed the
japanese.
De ective Carroll, his brother, Con-
stable James Carroll, and Jonn Craig,
IHE CALL cores spondent, at once set out
IN the direction the footpad had taken.
In front of the Tivoll saloon il was learned
from. another man that he. too, had been
robbed at the point OF a pistol. and that
ne had at once notified Police Captain
Kingsbury. Kingsbury did not know at
the time that the man pointed out to him
g drnO rohhar Of
desperate men in the State, who would
not hesitate to shoo.. The countryman
pointed out the man who had robbed
him, and KingsburY at once gave chase.
He came up 10 his man just as he was
bout to enter lodging house on Center
street. and hailed him:
Il want 10 speak to you minute said
the police captain. II am an officer"
'You are, are your" said Ford, as his
name was afterward learned to be. well,
l know how to tx you. Come and take
me, drawing his six-shoo ter ana cover
ing the officer.
Kings bury was not prepared for this
anu did not have his revolver IN his
hand, so he was obliged to let the man
back away from him. He followed as
closely as was prudent up Market street
from Center. In the middle OF the block,
between Market and El Dorado streets,
the man suddenly disappeared.
in The word about the nrsl huld-up, knew
of the subsequent ones, and while they
were searching for their man the two Car
rolls and Craig wrre hot on the trail.
They learned that fifteen minutes before
he ad pointed the pistol at the police
captain the man they were looking tor
mad called at Ford's sta bic on Center
street 1t was soon noised about by the
men who had been held up that some one
was robDing pedestrians at every turn III
that part of the city, and soon crowds
were following the officers. At the COR
ner OF Center and Market streets Kings
bury ana Welsh met the CAROLS.
Constable Carroll and tie newspaper
man walked up to the corner of Hunter
and Washington streets ana then started
back toward Market Tney had noi taken
ten steps when Hugh Adkins came rum
ming up and said:
II think that man across the street is
ihe one you are looking for. He has just
been swearing a. some boys down the
street.
The stranger was then WALKING on the
east side of Hunter street, in front of the
residence of the Catholic Fathers. Craig
was sent ahead 10 see if he answered the
description of the robber, Constable Car
roll following with drawn revolver. As
Craig stepped across the street Ford
turned and with an oath exclaimed: 81
am on to you" Drawing liis pistol as
ouick as a fash he fired Luckily the bull
let missed Craig, but quickly Ford turned
his attention 10 Carroll and fired point
blank at him. Carroll was quick to return
heshot. bus the light was poor and he
vas AFRAID TO shoot high lest he should nit
some one coming from the library or west
on Market street.
Then the battle began. Ford. jun ped
behind telegraph post and began firing
at Carroll. The constable blaZed away as
best he could, as he was unprotected. The
Other officers were soon on the scene and
Kingsbury. Welsh, Gill and Kenyon
onened fire also. Detective Carroll was
another who emptied his revolver at Ford.
The whole street was filled with people
and that the bullets struck none OF them
was fortunate.
Suddenly Ford broke and ran, with
Craig officer Gill and Fire man Salbach
be hind MIN. He stopped behind the hrst
tree on Hunter street and reloaded mis-
pistol. Then the battle be an anew.
Finally he ran again, going around the
corner, closely pursued BY the officers and
crowd. He ran into Hart q McPhee's
orocerv store and into the Office, WI b the
nolice at his heels. From the office win
dow he fred again, but Detective Carroll
arrived and placed bulletin Ford s neck.
AS Ford fell, Officer Gill sent another
bullet into his head and the fugitive sank
to the floor. The police rushed in and he
was soon on his way TO the receiving hos
pital. He died al 9:l5 O'Clock.
. Tonight Ford held up the japanese
store on California street, the barber,
Police Captain Kingsbury, the ranch hand.
Grocers Hart and McPhee and ex-Mayor
Baegs. He was an ex-convict having.
served several terms for burglary from
Fresno and Stockton.