The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-14
STORIES OF THOSE WHO
WITNESSED THE CRIME
All Agree That the Deed Was a
Cold -Blooded, Deliberate


Sam Cosel. butcher in the employ Of
Hammond & Brod, who have stall op-
posite the place of shooting, supported
the dying mans head. Cosel said his at
tention was attracted by the soldiers
wild actions. He saw him with a pistol
in his hand but thought nothing of it un-
til he heard the fatal shot. The soldier
then ran out. Cosel said Hilderbrand was
a quiet fellow and very popular He was
In charge of the stand during the alb
sence of the proprietor, A. w. Fink
w. M. Morris. manager for the Revere
Rubber Company, was dining with his
wife and child In the upper apartments of
the Spreckels Market Cafe when the shot
was fired He said he heard no harsh
words The soldier first fired at Hilder-
brand and then pointed his pistol at a
boy who was near his victim and again
fired. The soldier then walked out and
started to run down the stairs and fell
Nelse Johnson, a waiter in the cafe
was standing near the door when the
first shot was fired. He said: THE SOL
der fired again and then ran down the
street. and I tried to catch him. He
turned and pointed his pistol threaten
ingly at me, and, thinking he was going
to shoot, l ducked out of the way
Sam e. Hammond one of the proprie-
tors of the butcher stall directly opposite
the scene of the shooting, said: AFTER
the first shot looked out of my office
again."
Officer Charles NJ James, who arrested
the murderer, made the following state
ment directly after the affair: II was
walking slowly up Third street, near Ste
yenson, when my attention was attracted
to soldier who came running breath
1essly down Stevenson street with a pis-
tol In his hand. l grabbed him and asked
him what he was doing with the gun. He
replied that 1t was none of my business
Immediately q crowd began to coll .ct
and shouts were raised of Lynch him
He has murdered two menr / arrested
him and walked him back up Stevenson
turned him over to Officer Mcnamara. !
While was turning him over to the 9TH
er officer the prisoner seemed greatly ex-
cited and commenced shouting. Tennes-
see boys, where are syou?
Edward Varney, residing at 421 Ellis
street, saw the tragedy. He said the SOL
der was standing in front of Fink's stall
for ten or perhaps fifteen minutes before
the shooting.
HE was eating pie at the time" said
Varney, land what attracted my atten-
in his right hand. At one time some few
moments before he fired he placed the
weapon up to Mr.. Hilderbrands face The
latter lodged behind the, counter and the
soldier leaned over and shot him. I
could not hear what led up to the shoot
Ing There seemed to be no quarrel nor
angry words Willie Walsh was standing
beside the soldier when he fired. and af-
ter the shot ran toward me. The soldier
fired at him. The soldier then ran out on
to Stevenson street..
William Walsh, at whom the soldier
fired the second shot, works for Hammond
e Brod and lives at 8161a Dolores street
His story of the shooting Is as follows: II
him for telephone number. He had
given it to me and l started away when
the soldier, whom had noticed standing
grabbed me by the right arm, Saying. I
want to talk to YOU / told him that
had my work to do and was. too busy to
talk to him. He held me and said that
had more time than he. Still aholding me
by the arm he turned to Mr.. Hiiderbrand
and asked him, Are YOU going to welt on