Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-04
REFUSES TO MAKE
ANY STATEMENT
DYING MAN SAYS HE WILL SUR.
VIVE WOUND
Shot ns Abdomen by Negro Tramps
Near Saugus-TWo of the Men
Now In Toils-Wanted Man at
Large

With his hands pressed to his side to
keep back the fearful pain, and his
voice lowered to a hoarse whisper,
Frank Erickson, a brakeman of the
Southern Pacific, who was shot through
the body by negro tramps at Saugus
yesterday morning, refused absolutely
to make an ante-morten statement at
the Sisters hospital, declaring that he
would survive the wound.
The pain from the wound and shock
was so fearful that at times Erickson
became rigid while his eyes nearly
closed and his voice scarcely rose above
a whisper.
Dispute his suffering he gritted his
teeth and shook his head when asked
to make an ante-mortem statement re-
garding the shooting.
DO you know that you have been
shot through the liver and that death
will probably result?" asked Deputy
District Attorney Donnell, who leaned
over the injured man to catch the
whispered reply.
Knows All, He Says
Eyes, 1 know where and how 1 an
shot" came the unsteady answer. 81
cannot feel exactly where the bultet en-
tered and L know what chances L am
taking. L have much to live for and
i
am going to survive this wound"
The man sank back with a sob and
the attorney left him.
Just prior to the investigation by the
attorney, two negroes had been taken
before Erickson for examination. Both
were tramps and both had been on the
train during the shooting. The smaller
named Webb, shook and trembled until
his teeth chartered. Into the quiet
ward he was marched with an officer
on either side of him. He was accom-
panied by another negro named Bill
Long, who had been captured near the
scene of the murder.
The two suspects were taken to the
side of the cot occupied by the wound
ed man. For a moment Erickson looked
at the tall negro and then his eyes
gradually moved and rested on the little
one Erickson failed to Identify either
of them as the man who shot him. He
stated that he had gone back to order
three negroes from the train and that
after having asked them for their fare
he told them to jump off. He further
stated that the tallest of the trio, q
light negro dressed in blue overalls, a
dark overcoat and black slouch hat
had drawn a revolver and shot him ano
had then leaped from the train.
EyewItnesses Tell story
Leonard Wood, one of the trio ol
negroes on the train, told the following
story of the shooting:
1--WE met the long fellow up the road
from Saugus during the night and ht
stayed with us i'm one of the cars unit
daylight. He said his name was WilcoS
and that he was from the south. JUS
before we got to Saugus the brakeman
came back and asked us If we had =
pass or If we would pay our fares. We
told him that we had neither and ther
he ordered us to jump Off
"Wilcox said he would not jump of
as the train was going forty miles ar
hour Erickson said he would throw
Wilcox off and then the brakeman
reached for his club. Wilcox drew Z
revolver and shot him and then leapet
off the train. l picked up the revolver
which he dropped in his flight"
Long, the other suspect under arrest
was not on the same ear but on q
car ahead of the one on which the shoot.
ing occurred. He was arrested al
Saugus.
Erickson was hurried to Los Angeles
on special train and taken TO the
Sisters hospital. He was operated
upon. Physicians stated that he may
die as peritonitis has set in, A posse
Is searching the brush country neal
saugus in pursuit of Wilcox.