The San Francisco call., 1909-09-01
BUSINESSMAN
FATALLY SHOT!
BY ACCIDENT
I. A. creIIin Struck by Bullet
When Fish Commissioners
Pistol ExpIodes
Revolver Drops From E. NJ. Nc
MiIIan's Pocket and Ball
Strikes Companion

Thomas Arthur Crellin, secretary of
the Morgan oyster company and
prominent in San Francisco and Oak
land business circles was shot and
seriously wounded yesterday afternoon
through the accidental discharge of
a revolver owned by E. NJ Mcmillan.
deputy game and fish commissioner.
There is but little hope for Crellin's
recovery DR.. Stillman, assisted by
Drs. Fuller. Cooper. Chamberlain
and Rosencrantz. operated on CreIIin
last night and it was discovered that
the bail had lodged near the spine
and could not be extracted. Dr. Ros-
encrantz. the physician in charge. said,
however, that there was a lighting
chance for recovery and that a second
attempt to find the bullet would prob
ably prove successful
Crellin was standing behind Nc
MILAN when revolver dropped from
the latter's pocket It was discharged
as il struck the floor and the bullet,
tearing upward. struck Crellin in the
abdomen.
Mcmillan, accompanied by Deputy
Frank H. Smith. called at the ware
house Of the Morgan oyster COM
pany. e14 Third street. FOR the purpose
Of making the regular examinations in
line with their duties. President Nor
gan turned them over TO Crellin with
Instructions TO show them every at
tention. In the course OF the examin-
alton Mcmillan leaned over a shell OF
craWish and as he did so a revolver.
"a 4 IL -,
the floor Crellin was standing be-
hind him st the time.
BULLET HITS CRELLIN
There wes binding fash and re-
port and Creliin fell. He was placed
in an automobile and hurried TO Lane
hospital, where an investigation
showed that the wound was an excep-
tionally serious one. the bullet being
imbedded in the abdomen.
Mcmillan, horror stricken al the ac-
cident, surrendered himself TO the po-
lice Immediately and accompanied by
Detectives Mulcahy, MacPhee and Nc
Hugh proceeded TO the Lane hospital.
Assistant District Attorney Noon ar
rived at the hospital shortly after
Crellin had been taken there, TO OBJ
tain an ante mOrtem statement.
1T was an accident" Crellin replied
repeatedly, and 1 refuse TO prose-
cute ] was standing behind Mcmillan
when I heard a report and something
hit me. That is all I know. There
was no controversy The proceedings
were going along in the friendliest
OF fashions"
So insistent was Crellin in his dec
larstions that he would refuse to lay
the blame on Mcmillan that the police
felt satisfied that the shooting was
accidental. devoid Of negligence or in
tent
TELLS SIMILAR STORY
Mcmillan made his statement to
Captain Anderson, his story being sim
liar 10 that told by Crellin.
7 had the revolver in a scabbard
in my hip pocket" he said, and
thought il secure, such being the Gus
tomary way Of carrying one. Crellin
was standing behind me as 1 leaned
over box Of crawfish to measure
them In some way or other the re-
volver slipped from the scabbard and
fell to the floor. ] heard a report and
when I turned around / saw Crellin
lying wounded on the floor
In the face Of the statements by both
Crelln and Mcmillan Captain Ander-
son declared that the shooting was