Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-17
HARRY B. TEETSEL MAY DIE
OF INJURY
CLAIMS ROBBERY; PROPERTY
FOUND WITH FRIENDS
Police Doubt Story-Vlctlm, Uncon-
scIous, Discovered at DaWn-Bul-
let Breaks, One Fragment
Entering Brain

BACK or his head, Harry Il. TeetSel,
prominent and wealthy real estate man.
was found yesterday morning between
two piles of ties, where he had crawled
to die near Macy and Alameda streets.
To the police he declared that he had
been shot after a desperate struggle with
a robber, The jewelry and money which
he said was stolen has been found by the
police in the care of friends with whom
1t had been left.
The identity of Teetsels assailant. his
purpose and the incidents leading UP to
the shooting the police are now trying to
learn. In the victims explanation they
place little credence.
The bullet, which was fired from
32-caliber pistol found near Teetsel, broke
in three pieces. Two of the fragments
plowed courses under the scalp the other
penetrated the brain.
In the hospital Teetsel asserted that
the man who did the shooting took a
diamond ring valued at $780, a gold band
ring, a gold watch and chain and s17 in
money. Five dollars in scrip was found
In Teetsers pocket.
These statements, however. are refuted
by the police. They say a diamond ring
belonging to Teetsel had been given by
him for safekeeping to clerk In the
First National bank, and that other
articles of jewelry and sums of money
ldu Deen leIt Wlll JULIET lllcuuo w OO
returned later. These articles, the police
say are the ones of which he claims to
have been robbed. The authorities ad-
nit they are mystified by the statements
of Teetsel and the evidence showing
them to be wrong.
Accosted by Stranger
According to Teetsel's story, he had
been down town with friends up to a
late hour Friday night. He started for
home, alone. and was accosted by q
stranger, who asked him to accompany
him Teetsel said he agreed. They
reached the neighborhood of Macy and
Alameda streets about o'clock.
! Suddenly according to Teetsers story.
| IL flashed across his mind that he was
the victim of a plan to rob him, but as
he turned to run he was grasped. A
desperate struggle followed, in which
T'eetsel managed to draw his revolver
The footpad. he says, wrenched the
weapon from his grasp and shot him In
the back of the head.
Teetsel was rendered unconscious by
the shot, but recovering slightly dragged
himself between two piles of railroad
ties, where he was found about o'clock
by the driver of a Cudahy Packing COM
pany's wagon. He was taken to the
receiving hospital and later to the Clara
Barton hospital. where an operation was
performed.
The bullet entered the mans head at
the back and near the right side, frac-
turing the skull and splitting into three
pieces, two of which were extracted
from under the scalp. The other
plowed through the brain and may cause
death.
Late last night the police announced
that they had found all the articles
Teetsel claimed to have been taken from
a
saw. had been given to friends of the
wounded man Friday night for safe
keeping.
While the position of the wound ap-
parently makes the theory of self-in-
Fiction untenable, the police are unable
to account for the many discrepancies
in Teetsels statements.
Teetsel is married. living with his wife
at the Seattle flats, S12 West Fourth
street.
Visited Opium Den
The detectives who have been employed
in investigating the case made report
last night in which every movement or
the man from early in the afternoon until
the time his body was found is accounted
for.
According to the report Teetsel called
at the Casino saloon on South Spring
street in the afternoon, where he cashed
a check for SIS. Later he appeared at the
Bristol cafe in company with w. b.
Stringfellow of the Cecil and H. H. Rouse
of the Guarantee Title and Trust com
pany.
Teetsel took luncheon with these men,
and during the course of the meal gave
Stringfellow his diamond ring and asked
him to keep 1t for him.
He left the two men and within short
time appeared at the Saddle Rock res
taurant and gave to w. G. Knapp, a
waiter employed there, his watch, an
other diamond ring and a scarf pin, which
he asked him to keep. At the same time
he asked Knapp for a revolver which he
had left with him the night before.
Teetsel then hired an automobile and
was driven to Chinatown. There he went
through the town with a regular guide
and finally entered an opium Joint. Half
an hour later he was seen to leave this
place and walk toward Alameda and
Macy streets.
Thursday night he quarreled with his
wife and threatened to kill her and him
self She appealed to the police for pro-
lection and an officer was detailed to
find Teetsel. but was unable to get any
trace of him.