The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-06
NOBMANN IS
GLAD He IS
STILL ALIVE
Dodged a Shot Aimed
at His Heart.
HE WAS LUCKY AND PLUCKY
TIMOTHY DUGAN GUNNED FOR
THE GROCER.
A MONDAY Encounter in the Whole
sale District Which Resulted
in Nothing More Serious
Than Powder Burns.
TIMOTHY DUGAN GUNNED FOR
THE GROCER.

Timothy Dugan, a porter in the employ
of Spruance, Stanley & Co., 410 Front
street, failed yesterday to murder his old
time friend, John c. Nobmann, secretary
of the Retail Grocers' Association,
through no fault of his own. The rare
pluck and presence of mind of Nobmann
were all that averted the tragedy. AS it
was, while he lodged the bullet, which
lodged in the woodwork, he was neither
quick nor lucky enough TO escape the
charge of burning powder that followed
the pulling of the trigger. He received
the blazing particles in his face, which is
deeply pitted with little black marks from
the center of his forehead to the. tip of
his left ear. He also received couple of
the burning grains in his left eye, but
otherwise is uninjured. Dugan is in the
City Prison charged with assault to COM
nit murder.
The shooting occurred shortly before
noon in the store of the Retail Grocers'
Association, lis Clay street, and every
thing goes to show that Dugan went there
worked at Spruance, Stanley & Co.'S until
II o'clock in the morning. Before leaving
he distracted from one of the drawers in
an office desk a revolver belonging to
revolver was the one with which he did
the shooting, and it had not long been in
his possession before he used it.
At the time Dugan entered the Office of
the Crocers' Association he was under the
influence of liquor. There were present
Nobmann and ]. NJ. Sullivan, another
grocer The dispute between the secre-
tary of the association and Dugan began
at once, about money matters they both
say, although it is supposed that deeper
seated motive existed for the disagree
ment. At any rate, it was not long before
the disputants were ndulging in high
words, which ended when Nobmann called
the porter Henry Hoenng. and requested
him to eject Dugan; Hoennig took hold
of Dugan's arm and sought to lead him
to the sidewalk, while Nobmann, to get
out of the way, started through an alley
way of boxes for the rear of the store.
For some reason that / cannot ex-
plain said Nobmann after the shooting,
II turned and looked back and saw Du-
gan, within three feet of me, extend his
hand containing revolver ! Jumped
for him and grabbed his arm just as the
face and thought for a moment l was
shot | grappled with Dugan for fear he
would repeat the dose and soon had him
After Dugan had been disarmed az, and
mann, The said, I did what I intended to
do ! said, Did your, and he replied,
Yes, I did what | intended to do.
The report Of the revolver gathered a
large crowd in no time and it was with
difficulty that Patrolmen McGlynn and
Shaw OF the HarDor ponce station mace
their way to Dugan, who had already
been disarmed by Nobmann and Hoennig,
the former receiving a badly cut finger
from a second snap of the trigger. He
was driven to the Harbor Hospital, where
his injuries were dressed by DR.. Himmels-
bach
Dugan was taken to the Harbor police
station. where he received a call from
his wife, for whom he had sent to his
residence, 2044 Jones street. He refused
to make any statement for publication.
but told several Of his friends that Mob
mann had bounded him for settlement of
pecuniary obligations. He said he had
no fear of prosecution, which gave ground
for the belief sthat there was more behind
the shooting than mere dispute about
money.
Nobmann and Dugan have been friends
from boyhood and their families have
maintained close social relations. Only
recently they occupied the same ark at
Tiburon for weeks.