The Mena weekly star., 1906-05-03
ARRESTED 4 M|uT|ANAN
Bow Soldier Taken Into Custody ID San Francisco for Reck-
 less Shooting.
THE TILDER KILLING IS INVESTIGATED
Col Kelley, of the State Troops Deci-sA~ His Belief that the Sentries were Jus tiBed in Firing on the Automopiis Which was Occupied by the Red Cross officials


 San Francisco, April 2S.-The first arrest for alleged indiscriminate ano | reckless shooting by members or the state militia which 1t is asserted has made the streets in certain sections of the city controlled by the national guard unsafe after the earthquake, was made shortly before midnight when Ernest Wilder, military sentry was taken in custody and disarmed by Capt. B. F. Rittenhouse, of the unlteo States marine corps who turned him over to the police.
 Capt. Rittenhouse captured Wilder who is from Visalia and private III company E, Sixth regiment C. N. G.. with leaving his post and shooting up' the district commanded by Kit tenhouse.
 The marines patrol the best resi- dence part of the city left untouched by the fire and are extremely jealous of the splendid order maintained without unnecessary harshness or stoppage of citizens whose business requires them to be on the street af ter dark For several nights there has been considerable shooting inI the vicinity of Ellis, Eddy, Geary and Fillmore streets where the dis tricts of the militia and the marines touch. It was not uncommon for the militia sentries to stop even police officers. Policeman Barrett was re- lieved of his revolver and handcffs and at another time Lieut.. of Police Wright was held up in full uniform.
 Half dozen shots were fired about II o'clock Thursday night and halt an hour later while Capt. Kitten house, commanding officer of the fourth section was sitting on his horse in front of the central police station at Bush and Fillmore streets, making a personal inspection of his posts, the sharp crack of rife was heard again. He hastily rode in the direction of the shot and returned in few min utes with Wilder who he declared had entered the district patrolled by the marines and of having fired sew eral shots. Wilders' post was on Geary street near Fillomre street. He did not deny shooting but asserted he had fired but once. Capt. Kitten house took Wilder's rife from him and turned him over to Lieut. of Police Wright The militiaman was appar- ently badly frightened and so con- fused that 1t was with difficulty that Lieut. Wright got coherent tale from him. He said he saw move ment in the darkness which he took to be mad dog and fired. He was not certain but what 1t was man he had shot but whatever 1t was he was sure that his aim had been true.
 "If I have killed man may God bless him." exclaimed the frightened sentry. Tn very apologetic tone he assured the police that he was only 20 years of age-a mere youth-prac- tically a raw recruit in the service and had no intention of hurting any one Lieut. Wright sarcasticcally informed Wilder that he evidently was afraid of his shadow Several policemen were sent with Wilder to make an investigation and ascertain what he had shot. On Geary street near Fill more they found the victim of the sentry's bullet, small pet dog. Find ing that he had not killed a man Wild CT gave deep sigh of relief and quick ly regained his composure. Lieut.. of Police Wright arraigned Wilder in acidulous language, declaring that 1t was such racisiess shooting at every movement in the dark which had | th ost "a aff nfo ayaH advised the militiaman to go back to the farm. Wright intended to re- lease Wilder and send him back to his post but Capt. Rittenhouse remon- strated and said he did not propose to have a militia sentry shoot up" his district, alarm the neighborhood and have tho blame laid on the marines" Wilder was taken to the headquarters of his company at Cough and Sutter streets and turned over to Corporal Harms who placed him under arrest and sent him to the guard house.
 L. w Simmons, father of George w. Simmons, one of the trio of ''Citizens" patrol' under arrest for ltiE klifAk OL I1CDCl tnutHs well known merchant has declared that the three prisoners got their authority to act as patrolmen and guardians of of property from Col. Walter NJ. Kelly, commander of the First California regiment, National Guard. Col Kelly admits the charge, but makes detail ed statement justifying his own action asd that of the members of the citi-
 zen's patrol who fired into the auto mobile in which Tilden was riding. He said:
 As to the killing of Tilden I have made a thorough investigation and the facts as I get them are as follows:
 There had been report that some lootcrs were travelling around in an automobile and this report reached ths Mission. On the night in question