Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-28
TRIES MURDER;
KILLS HIMSELF.
BRICKLAYER COMMITS SUICIDE
WHEN CORNERED
Dispute Over Twenty-Five Cents in
Wages Leads to Tragedy
at East Main Street
Brewery

Francisco, after attempting to mur-
der Frank Linfelt, Edward Mathie and
]. F. Hoffman, committed suicide at
the Southern Pacific repair shops yes
terday afternoon shortly before 4
o'clock in order to escape capture at
the hands Of Patrolman Humphreys
Lewis Butlan, Charles Orton and Ber-
nard Middleton, employees Of the Ma
THE Brewing company.
Kane had shot Frank Linfelt, con-
tractor doing some work for the Ma
THE Brewing company, in the calf of
the right leg, and after he had seen
Edward Mathie fall and j. F. Hoff-
man dodge behind fence, walked out
to the street and reloaded his revol-
yer. Middleton procured revolver
from the office and, accompanied by
Butlan and Orton, started to run after
Kane, who headed for the car repair
shops at Antonio and East Main
streets. Patrolman Humphreys and
Sergeant McKeag heard the shooting
and started after the fleeing man. Kane
turned upon Middleton, Orton and But
Ian and shot at them four times. Then
when he saw that Humphreys, who
was riding motorcycle, was overtak-
ing him, Kane ducked behind fence
corner and placing the revolver to the
right side of his head just above his
ear pulled the trigger. The bullet was
from high power smokeless cartridge
and went entirely through the head.
The force Of the shot was terrific, for 1t
broke the skull into four pieces and
drove parts Of the bone through the
skin of the forehead.
Angry About Wages
Frank Linfelt by the greatest chance
received only a flesh wound in the leg.
The high power bullet missed all bones
and arteries.
1t seems that the trouble began by
the discharging of Kane Saturday
night by Linfelt, the contractor. Kane
was told to come back for his pay
Monday morning. He appeared at the
office of the brewing company about
II o'clock and was given 81. He claimed
that he should be paid $4.25 the union
schedule. He said he was union man
and wanted the union schedule. The
extra 25 cents was refused him and
he went away muttering.
In the afternoon Kane returned and
went upstairs into the office. On the
way he met Mr.. Whitaker, a clerk of
the company, and said It'll get that 20
cents yet"
Soon after this he went down to
where the men were working and be-
gan DOtnerlnR a DrlCkldyer.
Edward Mathie Of the company said
to him, "Ill kick you out of here if
you don't behave yourself" Then Kane
walked away about ten yards. drew
revolver, turned and began shooting,
first at Mathie, then at Linfelt, then
at Hoffman. The first and third shots
went wild, but the second struck Lin
felt.
The whole shooting seemed to have
been caused by the dispute over %
cents. The man is said by fellow
workers to have been a surly fellow.
His age was about 35, but nothing is
known of his friends or relatives.
Wagon Driver Masters Horses
When the body was searched at the
receiving hospital by Detective Zieg-
ler no money was found. The inference
is that after receiving the 81 Kane
went downtown and bought the re-
volver and cartridges. Forty-three
cartridges were found in his trousers
pocket, but there was nothing else ex-
cept a - few matches and cigarette
papers.
Jack Mart, the driver Of the patrol
wagon sent after the wounded man,
proved himself hero in a little cpl
sode that occurred soon after the sui
eide was put in the wagon. They were
rushing to the hospital at full speed
when the gray horse on the left side
became frightened at an auto and
jumped straight in the air, throwing
the wagon backward. He lit on the
pole, smashed it and started, to run.
Mart weighs about 1SO pounds and is
very strong. He stopped the team with
great difficulty and during the ex-
citement pulled his revolver, deter
mined to shoot the horse rather than
let the team run away with its freight
= H.
dying man. A second wagon in charge
of Captain Auble. went out and brought
in the wounded Kane, who died during
the trip.
The body was taken to Pierce Broth
ers' undertaking parlors.