The San Francisco call., 1910-05-18
SLAYER OF YOUTH
IS EXONERATED
Leo Owen, Who Voluntarily
Surrendered, Is Cleared by
Coroner's Jury

OAKLAND, May 17.-Leo Owen, a
newspaperman, 26 years old, who lives
at 145S Liese avenue, Melrose, volun-
tarlly surrendered himself to Captain
of Detectives Petersen today, confess
ing that he was the man who fatally
shot Leslie Herbert at Tevis and East
Fourteenth streets early yesterday
morning and declaring that he acted
In self-defense while being attacked
by Herbert and his companions.
a coroners jury at the inquest held
tonight at 1880 o'clock exonerated
owen from the charge of murder. He
was released, and at tomorrow morn
lng's court the report of the inquest
VIII be made, following which the case
Oh owen will be stricken from the cal
endar.
Although it was not publicly known.
owen appeared before Captain Peter
sen last night and told him his story
or the shooting, his statement being
placed on record at the time. Convinced
or the truth of Owens statement, Judge
Edgar released the young man upon
ms own recognizance, with the un-
defstanding that in case Herbert's
wound proved fatal he was to give him
SELF up at once. owen was charged
with assault with a deadly weapon.
HERBERT PASSES AWAY
Herbert died at the receiving hos
pital early this morning as the result
or MS wound, and Owen, upon learning
this, Immediately appeared before the
ponce department, surrendering him
sell. lie Was then charged with mur-
der.
Owens statement which is partially
corroborated by r. A. Werner who in
company with his wife. was returning
10 ms home at 1926 Liese avenue at
the time of the shooting, is as follows:
when nearing cross street which, runs
into East Fourteenth street Just across from
the fruitvale garage 1 saw man look
around the corner of building and then
jerk his head back. He repeated this an
instant later As ! was 10 feet from the
building on the East Fourteenth street
sidewalk man suddenly came out from
around the corner of the building and ad-
vanced toward me. I moved out to the
edge of the sidewalk and tried TO keep
away from him.
DRAWS REVOLVER
The man followed me clear over to the
edge of the sidewalk and then to the edge
of the cement curbing, which is ON the
street which into East Fourteenth
street and the name of which | do not
know. At that point turned him and
asked him what he wanted and "If he
Il slickup man.
He answered: THAT'S what I am. you
- -, and you are going to get
yours
did not think he was holdup man then
for instant, but just a drunk who was
looking for trouble. | told him he had
better "beat it, He then struck at me
with something.
did not draw my gun, but struck at his
\ jaw. l hit him, but did not hurt him.
GRABBED FROM BEHIND
As l struck at the man in front of me
something struck in the back of the
head and the man in front of me yelled:
'Get the - - .' Then somebody
grabbed around the neck.
l twisted myself free and I did so
the who had first attacked me struck
at l jumped backward about four
feet and pulling my gun i shot at him from
the hip, not taking aim.
] saw the man fall, and he said; I'm
shot-get him.
| turned and ran up the street which
led toward the railroad tracks. About 80
or 30 feet up the street there were two
men in buggy / could make
them out in the darkness. One Of them
yelled, I've got him"
| ran past them and up the street.
They started to chase and | fired one
Shot over their heads and / guess they
stopped because l did not hear them com
ing L turned the corner westward on
the first cross street. l then went to my
home at lass Liese avenue In round
about way, doubling back eastward on the
S. 2. tracks When | got home L was so
sick from running that | vomited. After
had become better l cleaned my gun and
went to bed.
BELIEVES STATEMENT