The San Francisco call., 1908-12-21
JA|L[R F[NN[LL IS
SHOT BY PUG|LIST
Bullet Fractures Skull, Enter
ing Temple and Emerging
Through Back OF Head

Following an alteration which took
place in Kearny street near Post about
8 O'Clock yesterday morning, Patrick
MCGEE, an amateur pugilist and former
president of the newsboys' union, shot
and probably fatally wounded ]. P.
Fennell, chief jailer at the county iail
The assailant told contradictory stories
concerning the shooting, but the two
friends who accompanied the wounded
man We're positive that MCGEE precipi-
tated the trouble with Fennell, and as
sauited Florence o'Neill. assemblyman
elect, as we'll
kz MCGEE saw Fenneli walking along
Kearny street in company with o'NeiIl
and John j. Sullivan. He crossed the
street and, approaching Fennell, ad-
dressed him. The latter evidently did
not know the ex-pugilist and told him
to go about his business. MCGEE
stepped to one side and commenced to
abuse the men. O'Neill approached
him, telling him to desist, and MCGEE
struck him in the face. Fennell, who
was about 10 feet away, started over
| to separate the two men and at that
moment MCGEE pulled his gun and COM
menced firing. He fired two shots and
then ran.
Policemen r. C. Skain and Mcintosh
We're in charge of the central station
patrol wagon in Kearny street near
Sutter, when MCGEE rushed up to them
and held out a revolver He was pur-
sued by O'Neill, who told the policemen
that McGee had shot Fennell.
PrOvOcatiOn Is Denied
MCGEE was arrested and in a few
minutes the wounded man was also
placed in the wagon. At the central
emergency hospital an examination
showed that Fennelps skull was frac-
tured. The bullet entered the head at
the temple on the left side and came
out through the back.
When he was taken from the oper-
ating table Fenneu pointed out McGee
as the man who shot him, and charged
his assailant withNa deliberate attempt
to murder.
On the way to the hospital McGee
wore an air of bravado, but protested
that he was sorry for the shooting
when he learned that FennelI was dan
gerously wounded.
II thought the man who was walking
in back of Fennell intended to attack
him." said MCGEE after the shooting.
"and crossed the street to protect
him. I had known him, but when I
approached and spoke to him he told
me to mind my own business I was
walking away when O'NeflI attacked
me and I struck him. Fennell rushed
toward me then. and / cou1ds see the
CLEAN of gun in his hand. 1 fired
then
McGee later contradicted himself
saying that he did not see a gun in
Fennelrs hand, but thought that the
latter was going to draw one.
Two Witnesses Agree
The statements of Florence O'Neill
and John J. Sullivan of 4070 Twenty
fourth street. who were Fennell's COM
panions. are identical.
4sFennell did not know this fellow
said O'Neill, "and told him to go on
about his business He then became
abusive. and as I walked toward him
telling him to go away he suddenly
lunged forward and struck me in the
face.
..Fennell shouted for him to stop.
and had barely taken step in the di-
rection of where we were when this
man pulled the pistol and fired two
shots. He then started to run and /
followed until he went up to the police
man. There was no provocation for
the shooting, and If Fennell dies it is
case Of cold bIooded murder"
/ FenneH was removed to the st.
Francis hospital yesterday morning.
and is in a dangerous condition.
| MCGEE is held in detinue. Accord
ling to the police he has bad record.