The San Francisco call., 1910-10-03
MASKED ROBBER
WOUNDS THREE
But IS CAUGHT
Intoxicated Teamster Holds Up
IA Men in Saloon at
RevOIver's Point
WOman's Cries for Help Brighten
Bandit, Who Is Captured
After Auto Pursuit

Crazed with liquor and bent on rob-
berry, George Smith. teamster, masked
and armed, reeled into the saloon of
Giovanni Ghiotto at 45S4 Mission street
a 4-3O o'clock yesterday morning and
commanded the "A men in the place
10 throw up their hands. His attempt
10 rob the till and the patrons of the
place was foiled by the wife of the
proprietor. who, hearing shots in the
saloon, rushed down stairs from the
apartments above, and glaring into the
barrel Of Smiths smoking revolver
which he had discharged at three of his
intended victims. rushed into the street
calling for the police
After a chase in an automobile by
Policemen A. ". Hextrum and NJ E.
Mitchell, Smith. who had thrown his
mask and revolver aside. was captured
while endeavoring TO catch an owl Mis-
sion street car and was booked at the
lngleside station on one charge of at
tempted robbery and three charges of
assault with intent TO commit murder.
FIRES INTO CROWD
IN giving his command to the in
mates Of the saloon 10 Line up" Smith
discharged his pistol at Ghiotto. who
sustained a scalp wound; Salvador Bas-
50 OF sos Edin burgh street. who was
wounded over the right eye, and Frank
sullivan, who was slightly cut across
the chest by a 3S caliber bullet. 1t was
Al this juncture that Mrs. Ghiotto came
upon the scene and frightened Smith
into flight.
The would be holdup man dashed
ont Of the place. up Mission street to
Onondag ga street. and was closely pur-
sued by q number Of his intended vic
Tins i'm an automobile. The policemen
jumped into the auto and, sighting
Smith. ordered him to stop. He cast
aside his handkerchief mask and his
pistol. and made a final effort TO catch
q car but was overtaken and placed
under arrest.
All three Of Smiths victims were
taken to the Mission emergency hos
pitaI, where their slight flesh wounds
were dressed That none Of the wounds
was fatal was not the fault Of the
man now in custody, for he shot de-
liberately at the lire Of IA men as they
stood before him.
RUSHEs INTO SALOON
According 10 the story told to the
police, GhiOttO was behind the bar at
the time and was serving drinks to a
were in the place. With no attempt
TO take a preliminary survey of the
interior, Smith rushed through the
swinging doors and, with pistol drawn
and his face shielded behind a large
white handkerchief. commanded all in
the place TO hold up their hands. There
was Immediate confusion and 10 empha-
size his command Smith fired deliber-
ateiy at Ghiotto and turned the weapon
on the group Of patrons. AS soon as
IL was clear that a holdup was taking
place all present put their hands above |
their heads and waited for the search. |
With Ghiotto bleeding and Basson also |
wounded Smith completely cowed the |
group and was moving forward to take |
their valuables and money when the |
woman appeared from a, rear doorway. |
Smith turned his pistol on her, but |
she turned and fed. He then discharged |
the revolver at the group, cursing as
he did so, and dashed back through |
the front door Of the saloon.
His third shot. fired as he left the /
place, struck Sullivan.
PLEADS INToxICATIoN
At the central station Smith declared |
that he knew nothing of the matter |
other than that he entered the saloon |
and discharged his pistol while under
the influence of liquor. He insists that /
he was not sober and knew little of /
what he was doing at the time.
The witnesses who were commanded 4
70 stand up by Smith were Leo Don
dero, Gus Maria and Tony Pochela Of
276 Bartlett street; c. Faboroni, Pet
tito Fortini and Shelf Macs Of 43 Har-
rington street; J. ". Murray of 234
Paris street, Elizi Mario Of 276 Bartlett
street, II. E. Bovert OF 437 Lisbon
street, Tortill A1usanu of 81 Paris
street, and those injured by Smiths
wild firing. All declared that Smith
was intoxicated at the time