The record-union., 1898-09-14
on3 Of Its PrIgates Murders a Clerk Of a
Mercantile House.
Walter Rosser, Without Any APP
parent just Motive, Shoots
Down and Instantly Kills Henry
Place of Business in the
Spreckels Market.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13.-An-
other shadow was thrown over the
Tennessee Regiment of the United
States Volunteers this evening. The
victim of ungoverned passion was this
time white man, and the soldier
killed him outright.
Soon after 6 o'clock tonight Walter
Rosser. a private of the Tennessee Reg
1ment, entered the Spreckels Market,
which comprise a number Of stalls.
Rosser approached the stall of A. w.
Fink & Co, dealers in butter and eggs,
and leaning against the slight partition
looked in at Henry Hildebrandt, one
of the statesmen. The latter, fearing
that Rosser, who was notably under
the influence of liquor, would break
a basket of eggs near his elbow, eau
toned him
Say, are you going to wait on me?'
demanded the soldier, annoyed at the
warning. =
Hildebrandt turned to receive the
order of the prospective customer, and
as he faced Rosser the soldier whipped
out a 32-caliber Smith & Wesson le-
volver and shot Hildebrandt in the
breast. The wounded man dropped
to the floor and expired Immediately.
Not at all appalled, at the result OF
his act, Rosser shot again at his pros
trate foe, whose heart had just ceased
to beat. The second shot almost hit
a butcher boy in the adjoining stall,
who was badly frightened, but un-
hurt
RoSSer was at once taken to the city
prison where after being charged with
murder he was locked up.
Hildebrandt, the murdered man, was
% years old, married and the father OF
one child.
The members of the Tennessee regi-
ment, who had received their pay TO-
day, and who We're scattered about
town, were greatly agitated when they
heard Of their comrades act CololSl
Smith was completely upset. The SOL
diers are greatly excited, and further
trouble is feared.
A provost guard is now searching the
city for Tennessee soldiers, ordering
all to report to their Colonel within
forty minutes, although they had been
given leave of absence until o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Friends of RoSSer, the murderer,
stated that he is well connected in the
East. He was born at Mobile, Ala
bama, about twenty-three years ago.
He enlisted at Nashville, Tenn, and
his father is said to be the Superin-
tendent of a railroad running out of
that city. His record in camp, how
ever it is declared, has not been good
and he has several times been under
arrest for minor offenses.
A few moments before killing Hide
brandt, who was an entire stranger
TO him. he observed colored man in
the market where the crime was COM
mitted. Drawing his revolver Rosser
pointed it at the negro. who, with great
presence of mind or through excess of
fear, remained motionless. Thereupon
the soldier lowered his pistol and
moved on among the stalls, until the
fatal encounter with Hildebrandt oc-
CURED.
A late account of the trouble says
that it originated over a mild protest
made by the victim at the refusal Of
Rosser to pay for a mutton pie which
he had picked up from the counter and
was eating.
crowd of Tennessee soldiers, MEM
bers of Rosser's regiment, assembled
tonight around the prison where the
murderer is confined, and wild threats
of an attempt at rescue were indulged
in. A large force of police was hur-
ried to the scene, and the prisoner is
being we'll guarded. The police from
the outside districts have been ordered
to come into the center Of the city, and
the authorities do not doubt their abil-
ity to maintain order.
When Walter Rosser, the murderer
of Henry Hildebrandt, was booked at
the CITY prison he began to sober up.