The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-29

~ ONE light has broken through the
~ dense mystery that clouded the
" stabbing OF William Melon
~ nell, the marine fireman. That
the case is not one OF attempted
suicide IS now certain. and but little doubt
remains that II was a deliberate and bru-
tai attempt at murder. The motive FOR
the crime is still unexplained, but the sur
rounding circumstances would indicate
that IL was an attempt 70 wipe out an old
grUdge or an effort 70 block Mcdonnell in
his endeavors 20 secure a position as a
fireman on the steamer NoyO.
Mcdonnell is still firm in his determina-
tiou TO shield his assaiiant. He has kept
from the police any clew that might lead
10 the arrest OF the guilty party. He has
confided portion OF his secret however,
10 his sister-in-law. Mrs. Lizzie McDOn-
nell OF % Second street. The information
he impaired 10 her was given shortly
after ne was taken 10 the Receiving Hos
pitai at time when he did not expect 10
survive the horrible wounds that had
been inflicted upon him. There vas no
object for him 10 deceive his sister-in-law.
and she believes that the story he told her
is the true version Of his terrible expert
ences.
He stated 70 her that the man who cut
him was named Larry" and was a ma
rine fireman who frequented the saloon at
the corner Of Second and Tehama streets.
He had met this mysterious Larry dur
ing his recent voyage 10 Alaska They
had had some trouble up north, but when
they met again in this city the difficulty
was apparently forgotten. and they were
frequently seen in each others company.
Last Sunday night Mcdonnell went
about the neighborhood OF Second and
Tehama streets. paying a number OF bills.
and displayed considerable money. In his
rounds he met Larry" who went with
him TO the Welcome saloon. The pair
stayed there until after midnight, when
they wandered out into the darkness. Ac-
cording 10 the statements made by Nc
Donnell 10 his sfster-in-law, he and
Larry" continued their carousal at vari-
Gus resorts until after daylight, when they
reached the vicinity OF Sixth and Berry
streets Mcdonnell remembered that he
had an appointment on board the NOyO,
where he had been promised employment
as a fireman.
He started for the vessel through the
lumber piles in the vicinity, and Larry
followed. When they were hidden from
the view OF people passing along the
streets Larry" mentioned the trouble
they had had up north. one word brought
on another until the men clinched, and
during the tussle Larry" whipped out a
GlEk hLllt anu iALlEtiA II A4AlD NAt-tA4ArAA =
throat and body. The latter fell 10 the
ground, and his assailant disappeared
among the piles OF lumber.
Mcdonnell regained consciousness some
time later and managed 10 sum up
strength enough 10 drag himself through
the lumber yards 20 where he was found
by Special officer Ryan.
MY brother-in-law returned from the
north about a week ago" said Mrs. Nc
Donneu yesterday. and has been stop
ping at my house most OF the time since
his arrival I visited him at the Receiv-
ing Hospital within an hour after he had
been taken there Monday. AT that time
he thought that his wounds would prove
fatal, and told me the story OF the assault
as best he could in his condition. be men
toned man whom he called Larry as
the one who had stabbed him. I asked
him for the mans last name. and under
stood him TO say something that sounded
like Porter or Potter. but as 10 this 1 am
not very positive. 1 am sure, however,
chat what William told me was the truth
I asked him IL he had told everything 10
the detectives. and he replied that he had
Il was very much surprised when
learned that the police had reached the
conclusion that Williams wounds were
self-inhicted. He had no reason for wish
ing 70 commit suicide. He was OF a