The San Francisco call., 1905-01-30

A fraction of an inch Of space be-
tween a knife blade point and the
heart is all that separated Police Cap
tain Thomas S. Duke from death early
yesterday morning. Michael O'Keefe,
20 years of age. inflicted this danger
Gus wound and followed it up with
three thrusts that made painful but
not severe injuries. O'Keefe is in the
City Prison, pending an investigation,
and Duke is at his home. 1927 Ellis
street, resting comfortably, though
weak from the loss of blood and the
reaction attendant upon his exciting
experience.
There were women in the case, but
they were innocent of being an in
centive for the attack, beyond that
which was evolved in the brain of
man crazed with excessive drink. An
imaginary wrong stirred O'Keefe to
action, but when the effects of the
alcohol wore off there was no more
repentant man than he. He told Cap
tain of Detectives Burnett that Duke
had been his best friend and that the
attack on the captain was the result
of liquor and responsibility. He had
been drinking heavily during the after
noon and evening and when he re-
turned he made trouble for an invalid
sister. Miss Mamie O'Keefe, and for a
Miss Emily Andrews. who Is a roomer
at the Ellis-street house.
Captain Duke told his story of the
affair as follows:
Saturday afternoon 1 met Zed, Kendall OF
Tonopah. who is a friend Of Mrs O'Keefes.
and her elder son, who now at the mining
camp. Kendall brought tidings from the alb
sent ones and I made up theatera party for
Saturday evening with the object of enter
tanning him There were Misses Annie and
Ella O'Keefe, Mr.. Kendall and myself in the
party. We went to a theater and afterward
to Techaus for supper 1t was about o. clock
During our absence young OKeefe came in,
much under the influence OF liquor and pro-
Andrews. roomer. and Miss Mamie. the
invalid Miss O'Keefe. When our party re-
turned found Miss Andrews in Mysteries
and Miss Mamie on the point of collapse.
They were in Miss Andrews room closed
the door and some one locked it, The women.
worked over Miss Andrews who was in a bad
way In the meantime young ,OKeefe was
making demonstration OH the outside of the
door and demanding admittance
/ suggested that we open the door and talk
with the boy. l turned the key and threw
the door open
with an open pocketknife. He struck at me
four times, each blow taking effect but three
OF them struck the ribs and did little harm.
The fourth thrust went deep and severed. a
small artery / could feel that 1 was losing
strength and, sumrnoning all of my remaining
force 1 struggled with O'Keefe toward the
bed and reached for my handcuffs. He made
several desperate passes at me with the knife
and / caught the blade with my right hand,
cutting two of my fingers TO the bone. He
tried to cut the women. but was prevented.
/ was growing faint and would have been
out of commission In few moments had not
OKeefe made break for the door and run
from the house to Ellis street. thence down
Buchanan. where he was caught by Policeman
Quarrels.
When the boy was brought back to the house
and my condition he broke down, cried
and asked my pardon sent for DR.. Shurna te
who treated my wounds and announced that
had had very narrow escape from death, as
the fourth stab had come within quarter OF
an inch Of my heart
Miss Emily Andrews, who has
roomed with the O'Keefes for a long
time, says that young O'Keefe made
himself obnoxious to her. He kept up
his attentions until the invalid Miss
O'Keefe remopstrated with him and
tried to get him to bed. The theater
party returned and Captain Duke, who
has always been a friend to the young
man, tried to quiet him, but the boy
was abusive and so overcome with
liquor that he was not aware of what
he was doing. Then followed the