The San Francisco call., 1903-01-07
BELLBOY TELLS
THRILLING TALE
Claims to Have Been
Shot by Masked Men
at Ocean Beach.
Says He Was Also Fired At
by Unseen Man at the
Colonial Hotel.

Walter Smith. bellboy at the Colonial
5oicl. told a story TO The police yester-
ay that resembles the weird tales to be
'gllud in dime novels. Although Smith
iclys to his story. the police believe that
q is romancing, ana that he attempted
. take his own life, but his courage fail
L him at the critical moment.
Smith is q resident of Los Angeles, but
y FIVE months was employed as a bell
~ al the Langham Hotel here. Three
avs ago he went 10 the Colonial Hotel
D. the same capacity He says he ate his
nner at tho hotel about 2:39 o'clock
, on6ay afternoon and while in one Of
le passaS Seways some one he could not
e fired q shot at him. He told Ed
roUn. an employe at the hotel. who
ughed at him, as no one had heard the
Yort Of a shot He should have re-
.-ned 10 the hotel that night. as he had
e late watch. but says he was afraid
I'd went 10 his room at the Auditorium,
ddy and Mason streets. He walked the
reefs and retired about o'clock.
TELLS OF SHOOTING.
Yesterday morning about 3 O'Clock he
larded an EliS-street car for the ocean
Zach. When he arrived there he took
-lnk at the Cliff House and walked along
10 beach backward ana forward in front
r the Seal Rock House. As he began 10
.el the cold he started back TO the car
hon De says. a man with a black hand
Tchief ever his face came UP to him
C stuck two of his fingers in his eyes,
loc6ing him over.
II am going 70 shoot YOU through the
ad. Smith claims the masked man
id. as he pointed revolver at his head.
'Hl hy shorld You want TO Kill me?"
-1irh says be asked his alleged assailant.
.,r..F-- H-..r1-
am going 10 shoot you through the
arr SO that she can recognize your
ICE
Smith SAYS he threw up his hands AMI
. masked man fired two shots al him.
20 ~ the bullets striking him under the
n armpit. The alleged masked man.
n5-h asserts then fed. Smith went TO
re- Sutro baths and Harry Hawkins, a
To- saving attendant there. bandaged a
ssh wound under the armpit. Smiths
al and undershirt were powder-bu burned.
TAKEN BY POLICE.
Policemen Naughton and Greggains
Ok Smith from the baths to Sergeant
elns at Ihe Park police station and he
M him 70 the Park Hospital Helms
tif0d police headquarters and Detec-
e MglcaLy was detailed on the case
took Smith to Captain Martin. 10
nom Smith told the story OF the shoot
&c masked man al the beach. He could
l1 describe the alleged masked man as
caring a brown shirt and buttoned
rocs
MoiCahy learned that while Smith was
tae Langham Hotel he was always p
.'tf fer jokes He has been troubled with
heart and crank occasionally. which
ade him almost Irresponsible In his
'cEet was found a letter signed by him
1d Jennie Sullivan agreeing TO get mar
cc. and the theory of the pSlice is that
mitn went 10 the ocean beach 10 commit
Icide through some trouble with Jen-
ie and just as he pulled the trigger his
erac left him. his hand wavered and the
uliet shot him I'm the armpit instead of
20 leari. The course Of the bullet indi-
itcz ihaf Smith must have held his left
II down when the shot was fired instead
r up. IS he declares The Colonial Hotel
soWe arc satisfied that no shot was fired
s. smith there.