New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-12

MAN WHO SHOT SLATER IN THE GARDEN
KILLED ANOTHER IN CALIFORNIA

KILLED ANOTHER IN CALIFORNIA.
Frederick s Slater who shot in Madison
Square Garden at the close OF the six day bicycle
race on Saturday night by Walter Rosser, was
said by the surgeons at Bellevue Hospital yester-
day TO be improving. Edward Slater. his brother
called on him and remained for some time. The
wounded talked and joked and seemed In good
spirits Miss Gretta Woodruff OF Westfeld ~ j.
who is said to be engaged TO Slater, also called
but was not allowed him. Dr. Wynkoop
says the bullet is lodged behind Slater's right
lung. and It will not be safe to probe for 1t for
some time yet. The only fear the surgeons now
have OF the wound resulting fatally is through
pneumonia or blood poisoning setting In. This
Will be carefully guarded against
Rosser is still in the Jefferson Market Court
prison. His counsel Mark Alter, of No. 800 Broad
way, said yesterday that he ready
line his clients defence. Rosser comes of good
Alabama family. His father superintendent
Of the Nashville Chattanooga and St Louis Rail-
road for years He has degree Of M. D. from
Vanderbilt University and came here few weeks
ago to take a post graduate in medicine
This is not the first time Rosser has shot a man.
His former victim Henry Hildebrand, whom he
killed on September 10. 1898. in San Francisco
Rosser was then connected with the hospital
service OF Tennessee regiment, and while crazed
with drink walked into the Spreckcs Market and
fired al random into group Of men. The bullet
hit Hldebrand in the heart.
Rosser was acquitted the plea Of temporary
insanity caused by drinking too much liquor His
father died afterward. and It is thought the
disgrace and the anxiety over his sons fate while
the trial was pending brought on a fatal nervous
collapse. Rosser's counsel would admit yester-
day that a similar defence might be set up again
He did say however. that RCsser had been drink
ing heavily before he went to the Garden He said
too that when Rosser fired the shot which hit
slater he was at the bottom Of heap OF strug-
Cling men on the floor Three men were on top OF
him and he distinctly one of them reach for
his hip pocket. Thinking he was about to be shot,
he drew his own revolver and fired In self-defence.
Witnesses OF the shooting tell different story.
hut their accounts OF II are not uniform Some say
slater first hit Rosser with his fist, and that Rosser
retalated with a shot. Slater told one of the sur
eeons who attended him that Rosser shot him
Without any provocation. being full OF rage be-
cause Rosser lost bet which they had made on
the race. He had never seen Rosssr before, ana
the bet was a small one. s. TO 81. The money was
mt i'm the hands of a stakeholder, and slater says
he did not even look at Rosser again, but kept ms
owe on the stakeholder. AT the finish he was stand
ing M and yelling at the riders when suddenly ne
b@9rd the stakeholder eXclaim Look out! Hes
coming at you with revolver! slater turned
and found Rosser his eyes abaze with passion.
close beside him. dwelling revolver al MS breast
slater grabbed the revolver but too late TO prevent
the shot