The San Francisco call., 1903-12-07
Daring Robber Brought
to Earth by Game
Policeman.
Thief Holds Up Saloon Ere
quenters but Bullet Stops
His Flight.
In Running Battle on Street, Missile
Strikes George King, a Lad,
and Dangerously In
jures Him.

| After holding up six men in a saloon
on Howard street, just below Fourth,
desperate, lone robber while trying to
make his escape was brought to earth
by a brave police officer and is now
locked safely in the tanks at the City
Prison.
During a running fight with the
crook the policeman fired two shots.
One of them took effect in the robbers
leg. Another, unfortunately, seriously
wounded George King, Is years of age,
who was turning the corner of Fourth
and Howard Streets as the fusillade
was going on.
At about 1O:3O o'clock last night
man, who afterward gave his name as
Harry Howard, entered Little's saloon
on the north side of Howard street,
few doors below Fourth. and demanded
that the six men who were in the place
give up their coin. His demand was
emphasized by the flourish of a re-
volver, and his tone and manner made
such an impression on the men that
they lost no time in complying.
Howard had his face covered with
white handkerchief and as he accepted
the valuables from each Of his victims
he bade them not to make move upon
penalty of death. After coolly reliev-
ing the six men of their coin. amount
ing in all to trifle more than $2O the
daring desperate backed out of the
place after again warning them to
make no outcry.
Before entering the saloon Howard
accosted a boy named George Schroeff-
ell, who was standing in the doorway,
and, giving the lad ten cents, sent
him away.
Once on the street the robber took
to his heels and ran rapidly down How
ard street toward Third. He had gone
but a few feet when he was met by
officer Charles Skelly. Before the po-
liceman could halt him, Skelly heard
a heavy jingle of coin in the mans
pockets and, realizing that something
was wrong, gave chase. He called upon
the man to stop, but the demand only
put more speed to the fleeing thief.
Suddenly Howard fell and the police
man, who was close behind him and
going at a rapid gait, passed him.
THREATENS TO SHOOT.
Skelly turned at once, only to be con-
fronted by the PROSTATE mans threat
that he would shoot If his pursuer ap-
preached nearer. To make good his
threat Howard pointed his revolver at
the officer, and before SkeIly could
draw his weapon Howard was on his
feet and running toward the scene of
his crime. Howard lodged into a door
way and Skelly, knowing that it was
but temporary shelter for his man,
jumped into a doorway a few feet
away. Soon Howard sprang out and
made bold attempt to escape. SkeIly
called at him to halt and upon How
ards refusal fired at him. The bullet
took effect in the robbers left leg, but
he kept on running Skelly fired an
other shot. The crowd that gathered
informed the officer that a boy had
been seriously wounded by one of the
bullets.
Skelly picked up the youth who had
fallen to the sidewalk, and placing
him in the care of bystander, con-
tinued in pursuit of his game.
Policeman Tom Murphy, on turn
ing the corner of Fourth and Howard
streets, heard the shot, and ran to
the scene. AS he turned the corner
he ran into the robber, and pointing
his pistol at his head, ordered him
to surrender. The robber gave up
instantly, saying, Don't shoot; I'll
quit" and then sank to the sidewalk, a
bullet wound in his leg overcoming
him. Murohy handcuffed his man
and took him to the South Station.
BOY SERIOUSLY WOUNDED.
Skelly, after the capture, took the
wounded boy to the Central Emerg-
ency Hospital. The little fellow gave
the name of George King and his resi-
dence at 157 Clara street. He is en-
ployed at the Postal Telegraph Com
pany and is Is years of age.
DR.. Murphy, who examined the lads
wound, found that the bullet from the
policeman's pistol had struck the boy
on the right side of the abdomen, en-
tered the abdominal cavity and found
exit above the pelvis. The surgeon
says that the wound is dangerous but
not necessarily fatal.
The boys story is that he and a COM
panion, Willie Sullivan of 149 Clara
street, on hearing a shot ran to the
scene of the trouble. He had gone but
a few feet when he told his boy friend
that he had been shot and then fell to
the sidewalk.
Howard was taken to the hospital
a few minutes later to be treated for
a bullet wound of the left leg. For
while he exhibited a spirit of brav-
ado and loudly proclaimed his sorrow
for not getting the officer first
He readily admitted that he had
stood up the saloon single-handed and
said that 1t was only a piece of bad
luck that he did not make good his
escape. Howard said that the name
he gave was not his right one and
limited quite strongly that his occupa-
ton was that Of a crook and that this
hold-up was not his first one.
After awhile, he seemed to realize
that he was talking too freely and he
refused to say anything further except
to express sympathy for the wounded
boy and to declare that he was willing
to pay the penalty for his crime.
Howard was taken to the Central po-
lice station and phay with rohhorx