Top cop tried to shoot messenger
June 25, 1883: For months, Maj. Horace Bell, editor of the Porcupine, had railed against Police Chief Henry King in every issue, “and one of the principal objects of the publication has been to attack the Police Department of the city,” The Times reported.
On this day, King finally had enough, the newspaper said. About 1:30 p.m., the chief went to Bell’s office “and drawing a small pistol opened the door and attempted to fire on him.”
What followed was in dispute. But what was clear was that Bell’s son Charley, hearing a commotion, arrived “and with a heavy printer’s mallet struck King twice on the head.”
“There is good reason to believe that King was under the influence of liquor at the time he made the assault, which probably accounts for his impulsive act,” The Times said. “It is true that he had great provocation, but being an officer of the law he should have let the law take its course.”
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