The San Francisco call., 1904-04-13
TRIES TO TAKE
BROTHER LIFE
Frank Easement May Die as
the Result of Argument
Over Small Sum in Dispute
VICTIM WOULD FORGIVE
Wounded Man Begs That He
Not Be Asked to Make Any
Charges Against Assailant
VICTIM WOULD FORGIVE

! After a heated argument last night
rier, shot his brother Frank, who may
not recover. The assailant was drink
ing and smafting under fancied griev-
ances, and the shooting took place in
the heat of passion.
The shooting occurred in Frank
Easements house on Valencia street
little after o'clock, when the fam
lily were at dinner. The drunken man
| rushed into the room and, brandishing
his pistol in the air, demanded that the
entire family remain seated until he
had discovered who it was that robbed
him of $40.
! A few days ago Frank Easements
wife met her brother-in-law in gro
cery on the corner Of Twenty-fifth and
Capp streets She jokingy asked him
for some money, and in reply he hand
ed her his purse. After a little jesting
the woman returned the purse, as she
says, without having opened it, and
left the store. The next day she met
William, who was slightly intoxicated.
He accused her of having taken a $40
piece out of his purse The woman
stoutly denied having taken the money
and felt hurt at the accusation. i
Easement next accused his wife of
having stolen the money, and when she
denied her guilt he brooded and was
in bad temper until last evening, when
the trouble reached a climax that may
result in one death.
officer H. N Powell and Corporal
Shanahan, who were passing the house,
heard a shot and rushed to the scene
of action. They found Frank strug-
Cling with his brother in an endeavor
to take the revolver away from him.
The blood that had steadily poured out
of the wound just above the heart had
considerably weakened the victim, and
his chances for living would have been
small had it not been for the timely
assistance of the officers.
The wounded man was Immediately
conveyed to st. Luke's Hospital, where
it was found that the ball had entered
the left side of the chest below the col
lar bone and above the heart. Dr.
Brady worked for nearly an hour in
an endeavor to locate the bullet but
was unsuccessful. 1t is feared that the
wound will prove fatal
After his arrival at the hospital the
wounded man made the following state
ment to Assistant District Attorney
Louis Ward:
My name is Frank Easement. This after
noon about $780, in my kitchen at 1880
Valencia street. Bill in, that is my
brother He was excited. He had the gun
in his hand. / tried TO get 1t away from him
thought he was fooling. In the mixup the
gun went off l shot in the neck
TEen | said You have broken, you have shot
my arm" | was bleeding and told him to get
something to strap around my neck have
had no trouble with my brother recently. This
shot was accidental. This is my brother Bill
standing at the foot of the bed. that shot
me this evening. I feel all right. sure
] will recover.
Though William tried twice to fire
the pistol. Frank was so excited at the
time, he says, that he does not know
lust what took place. He merely re-
members having seen his brother rush
in the room and having heard him ac-
cuse the family of stealing his money.
Frank Easement was employed as a
shoe cutter by the firm of Buckingham
& Hecht.
Detective Harry Reynolds was de-
tailed on the case last night and OBJ
tanned statements from all of the par
ties concerned. All were reluctant III