The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-03
WlFFfIRES FUSILLADE
AFTERFLEEING THUG.
Empties Revolver at Husbands
AssaiIant Over His Bleed
ing Body

OAKLAND, Feb. 2.-In a desperate
hand TO hand struggle with an armed
highwayman. who had just made an
unsuccessful attempt 10 hold up and
rob Won Kieferdorfs drug store. at
the corner of Twenty fourth street
and Telegraph avenue, Detective 81.
Clair Hodgkins, former chief of the
Oakland police department, was sseri-
ouslv shot twice. once in the right
shoulder and once in the neck. The
shooting took place in front OF his
home at 554 Twenty-fOurth street,
shortly after s o'clock this evening
Mrs Hodgkins, with a revolver In
her hand, was at her husbands side
when he was shot, and as his assail-
ant started TO run she fired five shots
at him. all of which few wild
Runs IN CAPTOR's ARMS
After darting through a maze of al
leyways in the rear OF the Hodgkins
home and lodging a fusillade of bull
lets fired by Policeman George Cav
eney. the robber was captured few
minutes later by Captain of Police
Charles Book and Detective Kyle in
Twenty fifth street. a block from the
scene Of the struggle. His name is
J. 3. Clifton. He is a two term con-
Vict and was released from San Quen-
tin last Thursday.
AT late hour tonight Hodgkins was
resting easily. II was found that the
bullet. which had entered the neck,
had lodged in the skull. but had not az
fected the brain. Il was removed
At a few minutes after s o'clock
Clifton, with a handkerchief mask
about the lower part of his face. en-
ley G. Cannon OF Sal Twenty ninth
street was standing IN the store. Level
ing his revolver at Cannon, Clifton or
dered him TO go behind the counter.
NO you don't" daringly shouted l.
n Psrray. a clerk and he lifted the
cash register from the counter and
hurled il at the holdup man. The
robber turned and dashed from the
store with Parry IN pursuit. AS the
fugitive reached the sidewalk he
turned and fred two shots at Parry
but neither took effect. Parry then
ran back into the store and telephoned
the news OF the hOldup TO police head
quarters.
DETECTIVE HEARS SHOTS
The sound of the shooting in front
Of the drug store attracted the atten-
ton Of Detective Hodgkins, who lives
only half block away Hurrying out
upon the sidewalk he ran almost bolt
into Clifton. who was racing down
TWenty-fourth street at full speed.
Hodgkins threw himself upon the man,
who grappled with him, at the same
time attempting to draw his re-
volver.
AS the detective was unarmed. he
called to his wife, who had followed
him to the door, TO get his gun. Mrs.
Hodgkins returned q moment later with
The weapon and fastened to her hus-
bands assistance. but the two men
were locked in such close embrace
that she did not fire for fear OF wound
ing her husband.
While she was hesitating the desper-
ado 5erked his own weapon free
damned The barrel against Hodgkins'
shoulder and fired. The detective stag
Eered back and Clifton struck him a
crushing blow over the head with the
butt of his weapon. telling him to the
sidewalk As the roeber started to run
Mrs. Hodglzins emptied her revolver at
him. but in the excitement of the mo-
ment her aim was bad and none of the
bullets struck him.
POLICE AUTO SPEEDS UP
In the meantime the police automo-
bile, containing Captain of Detectives
Petersen. Captain of Police Book. De-
tectives McSorley and Kyle and Police
man Caveney. was speeding out Grove
street toward the scene of the shoot
ing. The detectives got out at the
corner Of Twenty-fourth street and
started down toward Hodgkins' house
while the others went on another block
in the machine. AS they turned into
Twenty fifth street Clifton came run
ming down the street. Seeing the
policemen he dashed into an alley lead
ing behind the Hodgkins' house and the
two captains and Caveney leaped from
the machine and started In pursuit.
When Caveney entered the alley he
saw the fugitive attempting to scale a
fence at the other end and immediately
opened fire. Captain Book started after
Clifton. but when he reached the fence
over which he climbed, found himself
in the line OF Caveneys fire and was
Obliged TO crouch on the ground in or
der TO avoid being shot Taking ad-
vantage OF the momentary lull In the
pursuit. Clifton dashed out into Twenty
fifth street again and then ran I'D an
other block TO Twenty-siNth street
either dropping or throwing away his
revolver in his fight. Apparently con-
fused by the chase. he then returned to
Twenty fifth street and ran directly
into Captain Book and Detective KYLE
who seized him. Book Immediately
recognized him as the robber by the
handkerchief mask, which he had All
lowed 10 drop around his neck. and
took him 10 the drug store. where 30
was Identified