The San Francisco call., 1905-05-17
Photographer Cohen's Aim
Sends Missile to Brain
of Alleged Wrecker Of
AsSailant's Domestic Life
MAD RACE AS SHOTS
ARE QUICKLY FIRED
Attempt to Take Life Made
on Golden Gate Avenue.
Wounded Man Says Black
mail Was Tried on Him

George W. o'Briens one of the pro
priefnrs of the Union-SQuare Transfer
Company, was perhaps fatally shot
about IOEs0 O'Clock Last night by Sam
ueA Cohen. a photographer at Habe-
Hicht's- Cohen chased his victim down
Van Ness avenue and hred four shots,
two OF which took effect in O'Brfen's
body. One Of the bullets imbedded it
may recover.
At the hospital O'Brien said Cohen
tried TO blackman him a few days ago,
also that Cohen demanded $500, then
= diamond ring, Just before the shoot
ing, as the men parIeyed on the steps
of the old library building. o'BrIen
says that just after he denied intimacy
with Mrs Cohen he was shot.
Mrs. Cohen's relations with O'Brien are
said 10 be the cause of the shooting
o'Brien left his mothers house 513 Van
Ness avenue. about l0:30 p. m. The aged
woman kissed him goodnight. Then she
watched him walk TO his Office and sleep
ing-room III the old Mercantile Library
building, SIS Van Ness avenue. AS he
mounted the steps she saw Cohen sud-
denly step from a passageway and fire at
her son As Cohen shot O'Brien ran. Co
hen followed him. emptying his revolver
al the victim and shooting after Brien
had fallen Two shots took effect
One was DETECTED by rib The other
pierced the skull and brain. Mrs. OBrien
ran after her son in an effort to save his
life. Then she tainted and was picked up
BY neigh5ors- Cohen fed up Golden Gate
avenue, where he WAS captured by two
witnesses Of the shooting, Henry Heaton
and August korber, who turned him over
70 Policemen Cornelius. Mitchell and
Hostetter. He was held al the City Pris-
on pending the result OF O'Brien's injury
Cohen and his wife lived with O'Brien's
mother. 4 week ago Cohen sent his wife
70 Los Angeles TO get her away from
q 'BFien. He says he knew that O'Brien
and his wife had been unduly intimate.
Yesterday afternoon he bought q revolver
and went out to hunt the alleged wrecker
OF MS household.
O'Brien refused 10 talk on the wife
trouble. He says Cohen ATTEMPTED TO
bis scEnail him. He refused TO pay and
was asked by Cohen for his diamond
ring. He refused again to pay and sought
the services Of Attorney Michael H. Her
nan Of sos California street O'Brien says
his refusal 10 pay Cohen resulted in the
shooting.
O'Brien is % years old. The bullet in
his brain pierced his forehead. No in
furious symptoms due TO its presence are
manifest and If no suppuration or hemor-
rhage sets in he has an even chance for
his lie. II he lives he will. carry the lead
en- missile in his brain for the remainder
OF his life. O'Brien was treated by DR..
Pinkham al the Central Emergency Hos
pital.
Thomas Kennedy. of the District At
torney's Office, hurried to the hospital to
get O'Brien's statement. It was to the
effect that Cohen again tried blackmaiI
just before the shooting.
He met me on tie steps Of the Library
building said O'Brien, and demanded
800, which I refused, saying I did not
possess SO much. He then demanded my
diamond ring, and when I refused it he
charged me with criminal relations with
Mrs. Cohen. This denied. after which
he began TO fire"