The San Francisco call., 1910-05-09
FICKERT IN HIS
MIGHTY 'DASHES
ALONG AVENUE
Lawyer Admits 1t, but Supposed
Fugitive Denies He Ran With
Bullet in Thigh
Tales of Early Morning Shoot
ing Give Detectives Some
thing to Worry Over

District Attorney Charles NJ Fickert
his knee length nightshirt tossed to
the cool winds Of Van Ness avenue
at about daybreak yesterday. pursued a
wounded man from the Euclid apart
ments. where Fickert resides, for some
distance aIong the street. captured him,
returned him TO the apartments and
sent for the police. All this happened.
according 10 Fickert
The wounded man. George A. McCrea,
waiter, dlsagrees with Fickert as to
the early morning sprint along the
avenue. bat admits having the wound
and seeing the police.
William +. BRIGHAM, janitor at the
Euclid apartments. who shot McCrea,
disagrees with Fickert as 10 the chase
and with McCrea as 10 the cause Of
the shooting.
AIcCrea was shot by Brigham in the
basement Of the Euclid apartments
after both had returned there from a
visit 10 downtown saloons, where they
had partaken freely.
AROUSED BY SHOT
Crea, came TO the door OF my apartment
about 4 o'clock in the morning" said
the district attorney. "Bridgham, who
is janitor of the house. said that Nc
Crea wanted TO see me. I looked at
the man told him that I did not know
him and told the janitor TO put him
out. I went back TO bed and a few
minutes later heard a pistol shot. 1
put on my slippers and rushed into the
hail. Bridgham was coming toward
me carrying smoking revolver. He
said:
II had TO shoot that fellow. and
want 10 surrender. Here is my gun.
He handed me the revolver. but 1
gave II back to him and rushed down
stairs. Looking out the front door 1
saw this man (AIcCrea) running down
Van Ness avenue ! gave chase and
after coming up with him. he battled
10 get away. With the assistance of
Elmore Brigham, the Is year old son
OF the janiuOr, I threw him TO the
ground. and as ] did so, he remarked:
You are Z strong --, aren't your
we took him back TO the house and
telephoned for the police. When they
arrived, I turned him over"
McCrea. who was shot in the left
thigh was taken to the central emer-
gency hospital He stated that he was
employed as a waiter at Tait-Zinkand's.
Although 5 feet 10 he was very thin,
weighing not more than l35 pounds.
McCREA'S VERSION
Il met Bridgham down town" said
AIcCrea, and after we had had num-
Der Of drinks we walked out TO Van
Ness avenue. We were talking to a
watchman at A place across from the
Euclid apartments. and Brigham left
me there. Later on I saw a light and
went over 10 the basement and saw a
man and woman inside. I put my
head in the door and asked where
BRIGHAM was. He stepped out the
door and shot me.
I did not try to run away. 1 could
not Il l had wanted TO with the bullet
in me. AS for putting up d fight, why,
the district attorney is about feet 6
inches tail. and weighs about 800
pounds All be would have TO do would
be to fall on me.
"Bridgham was pretty drunk and SO
was I. but I did not abuse him and
he had no reason for shooting me-"
Bridgham. who was arrested on a
charge Of assault with a deadly
weapon. was taken 10 the city prison.
4 met McCrea down town." he said,
and we struck up an acquaintance.
We only had few drinks and then
started out toward Van Ness avenue.
We had talked of the Euclid apart
rnents and 7 had mentioned that it was
a fine place Among other things ]
mentioned that District Attorney Flick
ert lived there. McCrea then said he
wanted 10 see the district attorney. I
tried to talk him out Of il, but he in
sisted. and I took him up to the apart
ment-
7 came down stairs and q few min
utes later heard McCrea cursing and
swearing In the hall He was threat
ening to kill me, and had a beer bottle
in his hand. I had taken the revolver
from a bureau drawer and told him not
TO come near me or I would be forced
70 defend myself. He jumped at me-
and I shot.
Immediately after 1 fred the shot
went upstairs to District Attorney
Fickert. turned over the gun and then
went down stairs again"
Further investigation into the details
Of the shooting will be made today by
detectives assigned to the case by Cap
tain of Detectives Eugene r. Wall
McCrea states that he had no special
purpose in desiring 10 call upon Fickert
1T the unusual hour.