The herald., 1898-03-20
CALABASAS ONCE MORE
NEIGHBORLY AMENITIES OF A
RURAL DISTRICT
GUS KLEMAN'S TALE OF WOE
Alleged Conspirators Thrash Him
Well and Shoot at Him Twice
With a Shotgun

Calabasas has been heard of again with
another little assault to murder 1t is
somewhat ancient story, being nearly
three months old, but the complaint In the
case was only filed yesterday.
Gus Kleman, q little German rancher,
charges Bill Elliott. Joe Robinson and Fe-
lipo Cordero with having assaulted him
with a shotgun on December 22d with in
tent to kill. IIe refrained until now from
making complaint, because he had no wit
nesses, but since Bill Elliott. whom Kleman
believes to be the ringleader of the plot
to assassinate him, kindly told Just stice
Richardson the particulars of the assault,
the complaining witness believes that he
can make the case stick against his as
sailants.
On December 22d Kleman went into his
field to get horse and halooed to boy
who was passing on horseback to chase a
bunch of horses toward him. The boy, who
was Elliotts son, apparently didn't hear
as he hurried along without paying any al
tention to Kleman's request, but it seems
that he must have drawn conclusions from
the sounds emanating from the German
and communicated them to his father, as
Bill pretty soon came "sloshing" along
breathing vengeance against that = Ger
man =" At this time Felipe Cordero, who
seems to have lent moral support only in
the shindy, showed up. AS Kleman was
taking a walk toward his home, not feeling
inclined for a scrap, Joe Robinson, big
husky fellow, who was at one time hack
driver in this city, came up armed with
Bill Elliott's shotgun, effectually cutting
off Klemans retreat.
He ordered the German rancher to hold
up his hands and raped him over the head
and arms with the shotgun several times
because he wasn't quick enough about it.
Then he told kleman to draw and fight,
but Kleman says he didn't because in the
first place he had no "weepin," and. in the
second place. he didn't want to fight. Rob-
nson ascertained that the other man was
unarmed by passing his hands over his
clothes. When he was satisfied that he
was the only party present who had a
shooter, he proclaimed the fact that he was
going to polish off Mr.. Kleman to such 4
finish that his mother wouldn't know him
afterward IL she saw him. He then con-
siderately laid the shotgun out of reach and
gave Mr.. Kleman a devil Of thrashing.
But while he was thus engaged he unfor-
opportunity to run away as fast as his
short legs would permit him. His speed
was still further increased when he heard
two explosions from the gun and the bird
shot whisting uncomfortably near his
ears.
AT that time he was not very interested
to know who was doing the shooting and he
therefore did not check his speed home
ward to ascertain who was. doing all the
cannonading, but since then he has laid
awake of night in bed TO settle to his own
satisfaction which one of the trio it was
who presumed to bore daylight into his
anatomy. A few days ago Bill Elliott went
10 Justice Richardson of Calabasas and in
quired if there was a warrant out for his
arrest in connection with the above-told
episode as he had heard that Kleman was
Dragging around of what he was going to
do about it. Upon being answered in the
negative, "Bill he up and told it ALL" The
Justice in turn related the Elliott version
of the affair to Mr.. K!eman, who, putting
his version and Bilps version together,
concluded that he had a good cause of ac-
ton and obtained a warrant in Justice
Youngs court for the arrest of the three
men, after he had unburdened himself Of
all the particulars of the tragedy to Assist
ant District Attorney VIM. T. Williams.