The San Francisco call., 1908-11-17
NIGHT WATCHMAN
SHOT BY LAWYER
Hugh 0'NeiII Seriously Injuries
Michael FaCfter in Crowded
Market Street

While hundreds of pedestrians were
passing on Market street shortly after
the noon hour yesterday. Hugh ONein.
a young attorney Of this city and chief
counsel for the Independent lumber
company. fired two shots at Nicha el
Fachter. night watchman. living at
ESQ Sixteenth street. while the two
men We're engaged in a dispute in the
corridor of the Realty building. $50
Market street Both bullets took effect.
one lodging in the heshy part of the
left shoulder and the other fracturing
the lower jaw.
The wounded man was removed to
the central emergency hospital in an
automobile driven by Claude Little
Surgeons in attepdance upon the man
declared that Fachter had an even
chance of recovery O'Neill was taken
into custody by Detective Ed Gibson.
He was locked up in the city prison
and his name placed upon the detinue
book. No charge was preferred against
O'Neill last night and Attorney T. c.
West. who has been retained by ONein.
was unable TO secure bail. During the
afternoon Mrs. O'Neill, the aged mother,
visited her son, and while in the cell
was on the verge of a collapse.
O'Neill declared at the city prison
yesterday afternoon that he acted in
self-defense when he fired at Fachter
stating that the latter struck him in
the face and threatened TO do him
more bodily harm. He also stated that
Fachter chased him into the corridor
of the building. having him in a corner
from which there was no escape. Each
ter fell after the first shot and lay
PROSTATE upon the stairway leading
upstairs when found by Detective Glib
son.
The dispute which led up to the
shooting yesterday was the outgrowth
Of a business venture which O'Neill
and Fachter engaged in more than a
year ago. According TO Fachter. O'Neill
was retained as the formers attorney
a year ago and while in that capacity
accompanied Fachter to San Mateo,
where the latter purchased high
priced lot. O'Neill purchased an ad-
joining piece of property. Fachter de-
clared that he advanced his attorney
$500. which was TO be paid as a deposit
on both lots
some time later" said Fachter. Il
called at a local real estate Office and
inquired about the lots. I found that
both were in the name of O'Nein and
that only $50 had been paid by him
as a deposit, and I naturally presumed
that the remaining $3.50 had been pock-
eted by O'Neill went to see ONeill
and could get no satisfaction. ] have
endeavored a number OF times since to
get hearing with him. but he has
treated me discourteously- This after
noon ! met him in Market street in
company with woman and asked for
a settlement. He said he would rather
spend $500 TO fight me in the courts.
1 hit him and he ran into nearby
building I followed and he fired two
shots at me-.
O'NeiI made Me statement yesterday
at the city prison that he had been
legally released by Fachter and that
at the termination of his legal services
his client declared that he was salts
fed with his services.
since that time Fachter has been
bounding me continually" said O'Neill.
Il have been compelled to ask the
police for protection, for he threatened
me- and not long ago I had him ar
rested. I was compelled TO do this be-
cause he attacked me with knife
ONeiu in company with Mrs. Z.
Gray. a client. was on his way TO the
Cosmos cafe for luncheon In the gen
eraI confusion that prevailed after the
shots had been fired Mrs. Gray disap-
peared.