The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27
TWO MEN SHOT
AND POSSE IS
AFTER FUGITIVE
James Jackson Fires Two Shots
in Saloon and Wounds
Occupants
Goes Home, Arms Himself and
Rushes Into the Oakland
Hills
Deputy constables Give Chase
and Expect Desperate Fight
Before Mans Capture

OAhLANO, sept. Z0.-SOmeWhere
in the hills back of Fitchburg, James
Jackson, a wheelwright, is a fugitive
from justice, hunted by posse of
deputy constables, armed in anticipa-
ton of desperate resistance when
the man is brought to bay. Shortly
after 2:30 o'clock this afternoon Jack
son stepped upon the porch of the
Hall Way saloon opposite his home
on East Fourteenth street between
Baker and Palo Vista avenues in
Fitchburg, and fired three shots from
a revolver through the glass door Two
of the shots struck John Hammer, a
carpenter. One penetrated his alb
domen. infiicting what is probably a
fatal wound, and the other lodged in
his right arm. The third shot struck
Fred Schmidt, a companion of Hammer
in the left hand and carried away the
tip of his thumb. After firing the shots
Jackson dashed across the street, stop
ping long enough at his home to secure
a supply of ammunition. Then, with
two revolvers buckled in his belt, he
darted up Baker avenue toward the
hills.
SHOTS ATTRACT CROWD
The sound of the shooting quickly at
tracted a crowd and the fugitive was
hardly out of sight when a band of
men started in pursuit. They followed
the fugitive up the bed of Mills creek.
past. the boulevard to the edge Of the
foothills, where the trail was lost At
late hour tonight no trace of the man
had been found, although six deputy
constsbles, heavily armed, are securing
the hills in search of him. Residents
of the neighborhood in which jackson
lives say that he is an extremely nerv-
Gus man, giving vent at times to fits
of rage bordering on insanity, and they
are confident that he Will not submit
tamely to arrest.
The cause of the shooting is a mys-
terry. Schmidt, whose wound was so
slight that he was able to return to the
scene of the shooting as soon as his
hand was dressed, says that Jackson
opened fife without any warning and
that he is absolutely unable to assign
any motive for the attack He was
standing at the bar with Hammer a few
minutes before the shooting occurred.
=
a bar tender, was the only other per-
son in the saloon. While the men were
drinking Schmidt says that jackson
stepped into the doorway. saying.
Which one of you fellows is looking
for it?'
QUARREL is RUMORED
Neither Hammer nor Schmidt paid
any particular attention to the re-
mark, and Jackson disappeared. A mo-
ment later Schmidt says he heard
shot, and, looking down, saw that his
hand was covered with blood. He
started out of the saloon through a
rear door and as he went heard two
more shots. When he reached the back
yard Hammer came stumbling after
him, crying, Il got it twice" Then
Schmidt started away and saw neither
Hammer nor Jackson again. Both
Schmidt and Seger, the bar tender,
deny that there was any quarrel be-
tween the men prior to the shooting,
but Jackson's stepson, George Han
sen, declares that he was told that his
stepfather had been Knocked down and
kicked in the stomach during row in
the saloon before the shooting occurred.
Seger says he was in a back room
when the shots were fired.
Hammer was removed to the county
1nf1rmary Dy Dr- IL. Is. Smith of Elm
hurst and an operation was performed
upon him this evening. Schmidt also
went to the infrmary and had his
hand dressed.
HAD BEEN DRINKING
Jackson is about 35 years of age and
with his two stepsons conducted a sec
ond hand carriage shop opposite the
scene of the shooting. Residents of the
vicinity say that lately he has been
drinking very heavily.
Hammer lives on Baker avenue
above the boulevard with his wife and
young baby. He is a competent car
penter and bears a good reputation
among his acquaintances.
Deputy Constable Tom Allen of Elm
hurst took charge of the pursuit of the
fugitive and with Deputy Constable
Frank Higuera followed Jackson in his
fight from the saloon. Failing in his
effort to overtake him he called out
six other deputies and sent them out
to take up the trail.
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