The San Francisco call., 1904-03-26
THIEF SLASHES
ARMY OFFICER
James Snow, a COlored Pick
pocket, Stabs Sergeant L.
Ellis of Tenth Infantry
CROWD PURSUES ROBBER
NelS Nelson, a Miner, Is Re-
lieved of Watch by Same
Man Twice in Two Weeks

Sergeant Frank Ellis OF the Tenth
Infantry was badly slashed last night
by a fleeing pickpccket whom he sought
10 arrest. The soldier refused TO go
10 the Emergency Hospital and was
treated in a drug store, after which he
returned TO his barracks at the Pre-
sidio
Nels c. Nelson, a miner residing at
533 Sacramento street. was standing at
The corner Of Geary and Kearny streets
at 6.45 o'clock last night, when James
Snow. a negro, walked up and took
his stand beside him. Nelson immedi-
ately recognized Snow as the man who
stole his watch, valued at $25, on the
evening Of March II.
I watched him without letting him
know that / suspected what he was
going 10 do" said the miner. "All Of
q sudden he departed. Instinctively 1
felt for my watch and found it gone.
] knew where it had gone and imme-
diately gave chase 70 the vanishing col
Ored man"
There was a large crowd on the cor
rer at the time OF the robbery, and
many hearing Nelson's cry, pursued
the fleeing pickpocket up Kearny street
into Morton. Sergeant Ellis was stand
ing at the corner Of Morton and Kearny
streets and grabbed the thief as he
passed. Snow drew a large dirk and
with a vicious slash that reached the
arm Of the soldier compelled him to
release his hold. Snow continued his
fight UP Morton street TO Stockton
and thence 10 Sutter, the crowd the
while pursuing and crying stop thief"
in his flight Snow threw the watch
away and il was recovered by Nelson.
At the corner Of Sutter and Stockton
streets Snow was captured by Police
man Larkin, who had Joined in the
chase. Sncw. when caught, attempted
10 show fight, but was quickly subdued
by the patrolman.
AS Snow was placed under arrest
another negro, who was pointed out to
Policeman Lar1in as a pal of Snow,
broke and ran from the crowd He was
pursued and caught by Policeman r.
Connors in Clarence EsteIle's place, on
Barry street, a small aIleyway off
Grant avenue. near Bush street.
The police had much difficulty in get
ting their prisoners to the central sta
AlNiA may JDn-es CplDIeQ NOIQdn n
with an unsavOry reputation, interfered
and was arrested and booked for va
grancy.
The knife with which Snow had cut
Sergeant Ellis could not be found. 1t
is believed by the police that he passed
81 10 his confederate, who gave the
name Of Allen Williams. and that Will
Jams hid il in the saloon where he was
arrested Williams had nothing in the
way Of discriminating evidence on his
person. and his name was entered on
the detinue book pending an investiga-
tiOa into his record.
Snow was booked for robbery He is
an athletic appearing negro with a bad
face. He lives at 926 Washington
street. He claims he just arrived in
town from Portland, where he says he
made lot Of money. He gave his occu-
patton AS that Of a porter. Williams
denied that he was connected with
Snow in the robbery. but the police do
not believe his story. He lives at Polk
and Sutter streets.
Nelson arrived a month ago from
Knoxville. Napa County, where he
worked as a miner