Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-13

- ~4-N
street car bandit shot and killed by Con-
ductor ]. C. Greer while attempting to
hold up the car No. 100 on the Los An
geles- -Redondo railway late SATURDAY.
night, and whose name was supposed
to be Charles Gray
The man was positively identified by
William Rudolph of San Fernando yes
terday.
One of the revolvers carried by the
highwayman has been Identified as the
one taken from Conductor Ross Ltvin-
good during an attempted hold-up at
Eastlake park several nights ago. This
fact has proven conclusively that the
dead robber is the same man who at
tempted to rob Livingood, but was driven
off after a terrific struggle.
The first bullet of the three which
pierced the robber was fired by himself.
This bullet passed through his neck and
pierced the hand of r. o. Williams, the
veteran of the Philippine campaign VINO
had grappled with him.
The shot wa. fired by the highwayman
in a vain attempt to slay the former
soldier. A second later the bullets from
Conductor Greer's revolver passed
through the bandits body and he dropped
to the floor of the car dead.
Utters Last Words
As he fell thu words, the last he ever
uttered Mercy, l am shot, passed
through his lips.
Police of Los Angeles and sacramento
were looking for Schafer, under the name
of GRAY. at the time of his death. He
was wanted as a witness against Charles
King, in Judge Smiths department OF
the superior court.
During a fight some time ago King shot
Sehafer vice. One bullet passed through
Schafer's arm and another through ms
stomach. The hight occurred in an East
First street lodging house. Schater was
taken to the receiving hospital, Whers
an operation was performed which saVeu
his life. King was arrested While Schaler
was IN the hospital, and was taken to
the police court, where the man he shot
appeared against him.
Schafer was not held by the police as
witness, before the higher court, ana
few days later fled from the city. rms
fact was not ascertained until King ap-
reared for arraignment before Judge
Smith. When he name of the complain
ing witness was called Deputy District
Attorney North informed the court an
earnest search for the man had been
made by the police. lie stated Schafer
had been arrested in Stockton, but had
been released by the police of that city on
the ground that his first name was not
the same as that of the man wanted
Robber Identified
Gray was identified as the missing wit
ness. after being taken to the receiving
hospital, the night he was killed. The
wounds received in he fight with King
were examined by Doctors Tanner and
Cook the physicians who performed the
first operation, and affidavits We're then
made out, whicn will be presented to the
superior court stating he Is the same
man.
The fact that Schafer was the man who
ATTEMPTED to rob Conductor Livingood
was ascertained yesterday when em-
ployes of the railway company called a.
Bresee Brothers undertaking parlors
and identified the thirty-eight calioer
Harrington & Richardson revolver Whlch
had been taken from his hand
This revolver had two discharged
shells. One of the bullets had passed
through the front of the car while tne
man was struggling with Williams. Inc
second bullet had passed through his own
neck while he was endeavorng to throw
the gun over his shoulder. and XIII the
man with whom he was fighting Han
his own head not been in the way the
bullet would probably have reached its
intended mark. AS 1t is the piece OF lead
tore a ragged wound in the hand Of the
heroic former soldier.
Official Present
A report of the holdup was made to
the officials of the street car company
soon after Schafer was killed, by r. b.
Davidson, ticket agent of the Redondo
Los Angeles company, who, with MS
wife, were passengers on the car at the
time When seen yesterday Mr.. David
son said;
Nothing will ever convince me that the
dead robber did not have companion
when he attempted to hold up the car.
He had two revolvers and placed himself
In such a position l am confident ne eX-
pected his accomp1ice to do the actual
work of searching. A man in gray SUIT
was seen to leave the car by Motorman
Aiken while Schafer and Williams were
fighting The bullet from his gun, which
passed through the upper part of the
front vestibulc, came within an ace OF
killing the motorman.
MY wife was the first to notice Schafer
donning his mask, and for few seconds
she was SO surprised she could scarcely
speak Then she called by attention to
it, but before any one had time to act
the highwayman had turned and with
drawn Ievolvers compelled us all tc obey
his commands.
Woman Assists Wounded
when the fight was finished. and the
robber lay dead upon the floor, my wife
and myself went to the interior of the
car, where she assisted in binding the
wounds sustained by Williams She re-
auest / me at one time to move the body
of the dead bandit into a more comfort
able position, so the rocking of the car,
which was travelling at record breaking
speed, would not cause the man to suffer
il he were still alive
',Too much cannot be said in favor of
Mr.. Williams who so heroically grappled
with an armed highwayman and gave
Conductor Greer a chance to draw his
weapon.
Mr. Greer and the motorman are also
to be commended for their splendid ac-
tions. Greer is an exceptionally fine man,
and is known among his companions as