The San Francisco call., 1910-11-22
DEAD ROBBER HAD
CAREER OF Crime
Identified as Charles O'Neil and
Had Served Many Years
in Prison

The white masked holdup man. who
attempted to rob the saloon, of August
Warmbold. at the southeast corner of
Ellis and Polk streets late Sunday
night. and who was shot dead by the
proprietor in pistol duel. was identi-
fed as Charles O'Neil yesterday. four
time convict and son of former po-
liceman of this city.
The death of O'Neil in the act of
trying to commit robbery and even
murder, as he emptied his revolver at
Warmbold, was fitting end to re-
markable career of crime started by
ONeil before he had reached his ma
jority. On March 4, 1890, O'Neil was
sentenced to two years in the house
of correction for burglary. He was
not yet 90 years old. On July 6, 1892,
or just four months after serving his
time for his first conviction, O'Neil
was sent to San Quentin for a term
of three years for burglary. On De-
cember %. 1897, O.Neil was sentenced
to five years at Folsom for a tatutory
offense. which marked him as moral
degenerate. On April %, 1904, O'Neil
was sent back to Folsom to serve a
10 year sentence for burglary. Credits
for good behavior reduced this sentence
to six years and six months. and on
October 81 last, he was again a free
man. Just 90 days after his release.
or on Sunday night, he went to his
death while engaged with companion
in the attempted holdup of the Ellis
street saloon.
The dead bandits father. Charles
ONeil, was dismissed from the police
force for intoxication on August 20,
1894. brother, James O'Neil, died
while awaiting trial on a burglary
charge. He had served one term in
the house of correction and another
term of seven years in San Quentin for
burglary.
A pitiful feature of the Identified
tion of the dead robber took place at
the morgue yesterday when the elder
O'Neil was brought there to look at his
son. The father drew back the sheet
from the dead mans face, and while
tears coursed down his cheek, he shook
his head and said:
That is not my son. He never be-
longed to me-
In spite of the fathers denial the
bureau of Identification and score of
policemen who knew Charles ONeil in
life established his identity beyond
doubt.
The police yesterday secured the city
looking for O'Neirs companion, who
ran at the firing of the first shots. 1t
is believed that O'Neil and his com
are lH0 pair VINO nave DSen
operating throughout the city for the
last two weeks. and descriptions fur
nished by victims OF holdups during
the periods tally closely with those of
the dead man and his companion.
The presence of the cards of Solo
mon Cohn- found on the dead man. has
been satisfactorily explained. Cohn is
an elderly man who is we'll known in
the city for his philanthropic work.
Saturday night his room In a Geary
street apartment house was robbed and
a bunch of cards and some clothing
taken. The presence of the cards in
O'Neils pockets stamps him as the
burglar of Cohns room.
Late yesterday afternoon H. A Mics
ner, who conducts a grocery at 429
Cough street, called at the morgue and
identified ONeil as the man who had
visited his store one day last week, and,
claiming to be plumbing inspector,
made a thorough search of the prem
iseS. Miesner is satisfied that ONeil
had planned to rob his store.