The San Francisco call., 1905-08-07

Joseph Bartlett, q fruit peddler 81
years Of age. was shot yesterday al Il
a. N. by his drunken stepson, Logan
Bell. in front OF their home at 422iz
Fulton street The injured man was
hurried 10 the Emergency Hospital
where he gasped a few times and died.
Bell was booked at the Hall Of Justice
for murder.
Mrs. Minnie Bartlett. who was di-
Vorced from her husband but lived with
him, inquired in the murder. as she tried
10 prevent her son from committing the
rash act, and now she lies on cot at
the Emergency Hospital hystericai
from the shock
Although Bell says he shot his step
father because the latter struck Mrs
Bartlett, witnesses 10 the tragedy agree
that the act was unprovoked and that
the drunken condition OF the son was
accountable for the murder.
Bartlett was in the fruit peddling
business and was divorced from Mrs.
Bartlett. but made his home with her,
employing Bell as an assistant. His
former wife says Bartlett lived with
her about elghueen months before they
were married and shortly after the
wedding she learned he had a divorced
wife and two daughters living. so she
had the marriage with her annulled.
much 10 the dislike Of the son, and the
son and Bartlett Quarreled frequently.
Saturday night Bell was paid q
weeks salary and he got drunk, re-
naming away from home until yester-
day morning. He attempted TO borrow
some money on his return to the house,
but Bartlett refused, censuring him for
his bad habit.
Mrs Bartlett says that Bell ran into
the yard and grabbed an ak TO kill her
former husband. Bartlett met him in
an alleyway leading 10 the street and
the woman stood between them. An
gered because he could not reach his
victim. Bell got a 22-caliber rife from
the house and shot his victim in the
right lung.
witnesses TO the murder, attracted
b the loud quarrel. were unanimous
IN saying that there can be no valid
claim OF self-defense. Bell was drunk
when locked Up at the Hall OF Justice
station, but he says Bartlett struck his
mother and he killed him TO protect her
life. Neighbors say that Bartlett only
pushed his former wife aside TO grab
the Ak from Bell.
Small boys in the vicinity Of the
tragedy hurried after policeman, find
ing officer O'Connor, who arrested the
murderer and sent for the ambulance
70 carry Bartlett TO the hospital. De-
tectives Braig and Taylor were de-
tailed and il is their opinion that Bell
was undoubtedly guilty Of the murder.
The previous record Of the murderer
will not be in his favor. as he was ac-
cused Of assault on q woman in Oak
land five years ago. but was acquitted
on q jury trial. About a year ago he
was charged with assault or q young
girl in Golden Gate Park and was SEN
tenced for three months. Bell. who is
p years Of age. was married once, but
ne, also, was divorced. his wife living
in Stockton. II is alleged that drink
caused the separation between Bell and
his young wife.
Bartlett was 2 peaceable man, says
his wife. and did not have any use for
a drinking person. He had $4,000 in
Oakland real estate and il is said that
he had two bank accounts in San Fran
cisco. making his wealth total $3.50
HI was frugal, never allowing his wife
70 spend much money. Their home was
q squalid house, situated in the rear Of
q small alley leading of of Fulton
street