The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 11, 1897, Page 3

A THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 897 TS OF A CONNING MURDERER Mystery Still Veils the Poisoning of the Belews. BURIAL OF BROTHER'f AND SISTER. | Business Houses All During the Last Sad Rites. Dixon’s Closed SLENDER CLEWS CLOSELY | FOLLOWED. Suspiclon Is Fastening Upon a Relatlve of the Two Untfortunates. Special Dispatch to THE CALL Fdok kR kR Xk Rk kAR Rk % DIX Susie Nov 10.—Louis and B ims of po soning, were buried to The the largest ever Au ew, vic rsenic funeral was seen here. busines: houses and schools closed, and there was a long procession of vehicles from the surrounding country. An analy is of the soup eaten ims was made at the high school this 1t large quantities of arsenic, and is bt inthe minds of the public by the vict afternoon. showed there now no that the Belews were murdered, There clew yet, :hough Sheriff Rush is on trails that may soon lead to arrests. * FRRREENE RENEEE XANRRLENNE is no open PRRTTT TR T TP TR TR ER TR RL A e de e AR AR o e ok ko e e Ao e de A e DIXON, Nov. 10.—To-day witnessed the g of an interesting chapter in the able story of the poisoning of the is no doubt in the minds of the s here that the humble little home the dead brother and sister was not swept of its inhabitants by accident, and t be an account to settle later if ons of the Sneriff and District of the county can be verified. The burial of the unfortunate dead to- ched a responsive chord in the rts of the entire population. The neral was one of the largest and most ssive ever seen in this part of the re will v after 1 o’clock the solemn ri ‘ 1d-fashioned, deep-toned churc summoned the people of the town try for miles around to the First Baptist Church to the funeral of the late 1 1sie Belew, the unfortunate sister who were poisoned on of their wedding. There were no nore ar young people in the village. pride of their 2= had been the o left them the bulk of their ars ago, so they were r fellow-men. was one of the most the halcyon days long cortege filed sol- e quiet streets, past the known, over the leaf- e Oda Fellows’ Ceme- closed all places of nools were shut for the 1 a saloon was open from nister had said the last there was an ther agonizing pic- the dreadful mys- h is a par s the | ure of the survivor of 1 writhing in pain, hovering dead man lies | hired man, who vho drank of the ate at the Belew waters of death at the Belew weil. He is the sole surviy ho dwelt in the house of mys ezolation, and as ne bodies of ad re being re- irned to elementa news spread over the village that Klein was worse and that his life trembled in the ce, with strong probabilities that th would | Belief grows that death was the result of some cunning m erer there is a pall over the litt ing ominously over the hi ers, marring the golden b The poison of plan, and hover- d the | v of the | in the | air. Itpierces the hearts of the countless friends 0! the dead and begins to assume definitestape and directior erywhere th are whispers of foul pla bardly dare trust their tho selves, for fear they may do an the living. | enff Kush bas been visited by hun- eds of earnest citizens, wWho insist tha murder has been committed — and this is his own opinion. Nothing convinces any body that death was due to | natural causes and everybody is eager to | hear the verdict of the chemist who k the stomach of Miss Belew and a sampiec | water from the well at the Belew home. | The belief here is general that death was the result of :ome miscreant’s design, tha the murder was ca!mly planned by some human fiend, whose mind was fatally bent on mischief and whose heart was wholly void of social duty. At present the death of two of Dixon’s most estimuable and popular young people s dark and terrible a mystery as was ever woven into the warp and woof of foubt and crime in this part of the State. What the solution may be depends largely ou the skill with which the criminal has covered his tracks and on the vigilsnce and acumen of those who remain to hunt for clews. In view of the suddenness of the taking off of these young people every fact con- nected with their last days and their sccial and family relations is being scru- tinized by their friends and by the suthor- itie . Succinctly told, the plain facts of their lives and surroundings bscome in- teresting. A Conan Doyle mignt weave a em- d a most fi | had l He | weeks ago (T 1 LA ! Home of the Belews in Dixon, Where Brother and Sister Were Poisoned. | theory from the meager threads thatare | known, remote as they mav seem. The Belew family originally consisted | of Thomas Belew, a weil-known rancher, his wife and five children, two of whom were the victims of this tragedy. Of the entire family all now left are three brothers—Thomas, Frank and Arthur. For reasons that suited them the par- ents chose to le he bulk of their estate to Lou's and Susie, who were buried to- day, and to Arthur, a surviving brother. Thomas bad boen ampiy provided for before the old folks made iheir will. | Tom Belew now lives upon and owns | the old homes-ead ranch, a few miles, from Dixon. Arthur Belew, who received about $2000 from his parents, lives on a ranch near town. He soon developed spendthrift habits, went into the saloon | business in Oakland with George Little- field, lost and spent his money, and is now prac v destitute. He frequents saloons too much for his owa good and is a heavy drinker. Frank is a quiet man, who drinks very little. 1t is well known that he is in | financial distress, that he has bad| domestic troubles and that he bitterly | opposed the marriage of his sister, was to have taken piace to-morrow Susie Belew went to Cashier J. H. Rice of the Dixon Bank two weeks azo and asked him to draw ber will. Speakiuyg of the visit to-day Mr. Rice ated that the young lady said she intended to cut off voth Frank and Arthur without any in- heritance, as Arthurhad spent his money, and for some reason she shared her par- rent’s aversion to Frank. If Frank Belew disliked bis dead brother and sister it not known to many. If he knew his sister had cut him off in the roughly drawn will that was never executed he did not complain to his friends, but kept his own counsel. If he feit bitter over his portion at lLfe's | feast he did not complain to those around which is him. 1If there were any social rows it is certain that they did not result in such | acrimony as to break family relations Tk appears from the fact that Frank Belew was a guest at hiz sister’s table at t supper she ever ate. he break- ng the supper at which Frank and Louis the bost contained | was a gu the fatal poison—or it was in the water of which the tea was made. l | | | | known enemy Louis Belew was Walter de Carlo, who is now serving an eight-year sentence in the pen- tentiary for perjury committed in a fa- mous wheat case. De Ca hailed from Woodland, where he had been arrested several occasions. The toe principal witness De Carlo. There is a “arlo was so bitter over the ew that he swore he would required ye: 1t is not Iy believed that any of De Carlo’s murdered the Belews, though the ff has been workingon that clew. The most startling facts that have yet come to light concern ¥ Belew, whose reputation has not b:en good for some time. It is known that he was in such financial straits that he resorted to methods that caused his dead brother a‘ | | { The only for stealing on dead Belew was great deal of pain and worry. It is openly charged that the dead man discovered that Frank had forged his name to seve- ral notes. This story was told to-day by Constable B. F. Newby: “Louis Belew told me that Frank had forged his name to two notes, one for $75 told me he paid both notes, but be | told Frank that 1f any more forgeries oc- curred the law would have to take its course, as no more notes ot that character would be settled.” President Little of the Dixon Bank con- firms the story that Frank Belew forged his brother’s name to the notes. He says Louis paid the notes, after repudiating the signatures and warning Frank that he must never again commit such an act and expect to escape punishment. This accusat on, coming from one of the dead man’s most intimate friends, has caused a great deal of excitement. Speak- ing of the matter last night the constable said: | “Banker Little con!tibutes a scrap of nformation regarding Frank Belew’s feeling toward his dead sister. In the course of business mnegotiations a few it became nacessary for the bank president and Belew to ride out into the country together. During the drive, says the banker, Belew complained bitter- because he had been cut off hout anything. He complained of his domestic troubles and of his sister, whom he ac- cused of doing much toward prejudicing wife against him. Among other | gs he said to the banker: ‘Susie has interfered with my affairs, and she shall unever enter my house again.” ”’ Rev. F. R. Walton preached the funeral vice at the Baptist Church this after- on. The atiendance was so large that sundreds cou!d not get in the church. They stood in the street and blocked all the pa-sageways for a block. The streets were filied with vehicles. Bruno Klein, the nired man, lies vary low to-night and there is a grave question whetber he will recover. He has been breathing very hard and complaining of sreat pain all afternoon. Nothing seems to give him much relief. Constable Newby has been devoting all his time to the case. He tore up the pump at the Belew home, took out the valve and shipoed it o Fairfield with the other ex- hivits that were afierwards sent to a Sun Francisco chemist. The Sheriff sent the stomach and vaive of the pump to San Francisco to-day. He also sent salt, sugar, oatmeal and other food from the house. When Thomas Belew went to the house of the tragedy to-night for the purpose of remaining until morning and looking after things it was found that the keys had all disappeared. Nobody knows where they ure, but it is believed that they have been taken to mystify and throw the officers off the track, | Board of Highways and JOIN THE 00D ROAD MOVEMENT Sacramento County Cit- izens Want a Model Boulevard. Indications That the Bonding Proposition Will Win at the Polls. Recelves Enthuslastic Support Along the Line of the Pro- posed H'ghway. Spectal Dispatch to THE CALL. SACRAM TO, Nov. 10.—Yesterday’s | issue of THE CALL has started the good road movement in earnest. The addre-s vublished by the Bureau of Highways has been read with deep interest, and the people residing along the line of. this pro- posed boulevard are preparing to make an active canvass among the country people, with a view of gatkering such a tide of public faver that when the vote is taken an overwielming percentage will fall to ihe side of advancement and progress. The three Commissioners appointed by Governor Budd 1ocarry out the provisions of the bill were interviewed by THE CALL correspondent yesterday, and each of heartily approves the sentiments in the address of the Siate will lend bLis efforts to the carrying out of the sugges- tions therein contained. The three Com- mi-sioners are C. A. Luhrs, P. C. Cohn and M. H. Lauridsen. They are gentle- men identified with the best iuterests of Sacramento County, and can bz trusted to carry out the obiigations of their im- portant commission. C. A. Lubrs is of the firm of Hall, Luhrs & Co., wholesale dealers 1n gro- ceries, whose Louse has for many vears been one of the substantial business en- terprises of the capital city. P. C. Cohu is a prosperous merchant residing in Fol- them contained | som, the energetic little town which fur- nishes to Sacramento city her light by night and her power by day. Mr. Lau- one of Sicramento County’s ial farmers, whose large property sts and long residence here have bim a deep concern in the welfare given of the county. “I Learuly approve the plan laid down in the adaress of the Board of High- ways,” said Mr. Lulrs to THE CALL corre- spondeut. It does scem to me,’’ he continued, “that when tie proposition is presentea in such a shape there would be no doubt as to the outcome of tle vote of the peo- ple.” Said Mr. Cobn: “Iam in favor of the road first, last and all the time. I think seciional feeiings in matters of this kind should be buried. The greatest good for all should be the outcome oi such an un- dertaking. [ would be as heartily in ac- cord with the project did it emanate from Humboldt County as I am that Sacra- mento County shail produce the first model State highway.” Mr. Lauridsen is none the less enthusi- astic, and will devote much of his time this fzli in the endeavor to make Sacra- mento Couny's approval of the proposi- tion a most emphaic one. Tne three Commissioners have an office in the city, wnere their secretary, C. T. Hughes, 15 constantly employed in at- tending to the clerical duties involved, and now that tbe project is well launched and the time when the people will vote upon the matter approaches, the scene around the Commissioners’ office is one of activity. The services of election officers have been volunieered throughout the county, and the only expense to which the Board oi Supervisors will be compelled to zo is | that of the necessary supplies, that the vote may be conducted according to law, The vote will be taken on the 24 of De- cember, and irom now on the work ot a mpsign to determine a decisiye resuit for progress and advancement will be pushed (o the utmost. A Strong Chain of Evidence. VINTON, Iowa, Nov. 10.—The jury has been selected and witnesses are now being examined in the Novak case. The open- ing call of County Attorney Tobin shows that a strong chain of circumstantiai evi- dence will be presented. He cla.med the State would prove .the body of Murray was placed in _the coal cellar before the building was fired. The skull, which is now in his possession, he said, would show a fracture. The courtroom was crowded. RS, NACK CREATES A SENSATION Testifies for the State' Against Martin Thorn. HER STORY OF THE MURDER. . How Guldensuppe’s Body Was Mutilated and Carried Off in Parcels. SHARP QUESTIONS OF THE LAWYERS. Sickness of a Juror Causes an Ad- Journment—Thorn Wil Testify To-Day. Special Dispatch 10 THE CALL NEW YORK, Nov. 10.—There was an extraordinary turn of affairs to-day in the Chorn murder trial in Long Island City. Mrs. Augusta Nack, who was indicted, to cether with her erstwhile paramour, Mar- tin Thorn, for the murder of ber former lover, Willilam Guldensuppe, for whom she deserted her legal husband, appeared in the role of a State witness against Thorn, to the consternation of the latter’s lawyers. As soon as Martin Thorn arrived in the courtroom he was informed by his coun- selof the action that Mrs. Nack would take. Just for a moment his face flushed and, with brows contractea and lips com- pressed, he showed for the first time since his arrest that he was in any wu perturbed. He soon regained his com- posure, however, and while he leaned for- ward and spoke to his lawyers, Mrs. Nack entered the courtroom. The woman assed close to Thorn on her way to the District Attorney’s table, but she avoided looking at him. Thorn’s eyes followed her as she walked around back of the jury box and t00k a -eat in the witness chair. | For two nours and forty minutes she re- mained there, while she told the terrible story ot how she lured Guidensuppe to his death, and in tellinz the tale she knew full well that she was bringing her paramour to tne electric chair. Frequently their eyes met, but the woman was not equal to the occasion ana she always had to turn away from Thorn’s steadfast geze. When sue was asked why she had confessed she replied that she wished to clear her conscience, and then she bur<t into tears. But when Lawyer Howe began his cross-examination he handled her unsparingly and made her own up to such acts of premeditation that the majority of those who heard her admissions said that she was the greatest cuiprit, and many of those who had pre- viously evincea a decided antipathy to Thorn swerved around and pitied him. Thorn’s lawyers have decided to put | him on the stand when the proper time comes, and they promise that when he tells all he knows the court and jury, as wel! as the spectators and read:ng public, 1 be treated to another sensation. There is scarcely any doabt as to the fate which awaits the baroer, but as yet | the prosecution has not stated what im- munity shall be given to Mrs. Nack for the unlooked-for position in which she placed herself to-day. In relating what had been done with the various parts of Guldensuppe’s corpse Mrs. Nack said that when she went back to the coitage, at 5 o'clock, Thorn bad everything tied up in parceis, some of them in the oilcioth that she had pur- chased in Long Island City. - When tuey were ready to leave the cottage she took one parcel and Thorn another. Hers con- tained Guldensuppe's cloihing and in Thorn’s parcel was the dead ruan’s head, which he had incased 1n plaster of paris in the was:tub of the cottage. They went directly to a ferry—which one she did not know—and she went to the frontof the boat and Thorn stayed in the rear. Soon after the boat was in midstream Thorn joined her, and said he haa thrown the head overboard. On reaching New York she went to her house, where she burned the parcel con- taining the clothing. On June 26 they went back to the cottage and found tune other bundles still there. When they left Thorn carried one of the bundies with him, and they again crossed the ferry, and Thorn stayed in the rear of the boat until it had nearly reached the New York side, when he came to her and <aid that he tad dropped his bundle in the water. It contained a part of the dismembered body. The woman spoke fairly intelligible English, with a strone accent. During the recital Thorn’s lawyers left their accustomed seats near the prisoner and were accommodated closer to the wit- ness. Thorn listened to every word with lips closely compressed, his hands clasped and resting on his knees. Frequently his lips became dry and parchel, and occa- sionally he would moisten them with his tongue. His face bore that same stolid look of indifference whicn it has worn all through, but his eyes were restiess, When he was not gazing at his accuser he was casting fartive glances around the court- room and up into tuhe galleries, which were crowded with men and women, During ber dire:t examination Mrs. Nack brokedown and cried. Thorn seemed to enjoy her discomfiture as the oid-time grin playel around his mouth. Attorney Weller showed Mrs. Nack four S. Commissioners Who Are to Carry Out the Provisions of the Bill for a {tate Highway M.H.LAUVIDSEN in Sacramento County. Our Introductory SALE Has been a big, growing success.g day that comes ¢ finds it more popular than on the preceding day. People are? getting what they come for—;fi and Fashionable Suits for sasrefrefrshrshrchrciasiacts Each $11.50, $12.50 s o Our hat and Fur= nishing Departments show a superb line of all the season ca- prices. NEW TO-DAY—CLOTHING. shesfesianis shaciae) tOOy handsom ¢ around g small boys. $13.50 lengths. All MIGHTY ¥ And mighty fine bargains, Coats at $2.50. e for winter wear. chinchilla or astrakhan. or pearl buttons, Our fine line of Middy Suits, in blue, brown, gray and tan mixed, are just the kind mothers want for their A line of very nobby Winter Coats to besold at this ridicu= lously small price. Box Covert Cloth Coats and Black and { Biue Kersey Coats in exceedingly dressy and good-wearing. 200-206 .0 i HEARNY ST, 5™ A0 O R T I A e foif 3 radratrrsalantaedaetasiaetontrnts g e gs HANDSOME are. our Boys’ Reefer Warm and In blue Brass, bone e aeaededs s PR N Fefesfodi s it EER R PN all photographs of Guldensuppe which s .e identified. He then asked: “Why do you make this statement ?” Mr:. Nack replied: *“I don’t want o have it on my mind.” Then she began to cry. She tossed abont the witness-chair, used her handkerchief and -obbed for some time. Her emotion affected nearly every one in the court- room. It was some minutes before she resumed her testimony. Thenshe said: “1 make this statement of my own free will. I want to get it off my con- science. No promise of mercy has been made me. 1 want to clear my mind. I don’t care what hacgs over me or what they do with me.” g Mr. Howe began his cross-examination in a very insinuating way, and soon Mrs. Nack acknowledged that the house in Woodside was rented for the sole purpose of killing Guldensuppe there; that she decoyed him there; thatshe bought the oileloth and other wrappings for the pur- pose of packing up the portions of his body afier Thora should have finished his murdarous task. Adroitly and cleverly the lawyer made the woman own up to the most damaging and cold-blooded preparations for getting rid ot her lover. “And did you cry then?’ asked the cross-examiner. “Did you cry when you hired the house?” The lawyer continued this line of in- quiry, leading up to tie moment of the murder, getting the same stolid “no” for an answer each time. “And now, may I ask, did you cry when Thorn told vou he had shot your lover, Guldensuppe ?’ asked Thorn’s counsei. Mrs. Nack’s eyes filled with tears, and she replied: “Yes, I did cry then. I could not help it.” “What did you do when you first came to this country? What was your occu- pation?” “Midwife,”” was the response. “How many children did vou kill, Mrs. Nack ?"’ was the next question. I never killed one 10 my knowiedge, and I can prove it by doctors,”” answered the woman, with emphasis, Several other questions in this vein fol- lowed, to all of which the witn'ss replied with positive denials. Mr. Howe retirea from the conrtroom for a few minutes, during which time Lawyer Moss and the prisoner held an earnest consultation. Mrs. Nack’s redirect testimony was re- sumed alter recess, but no evidence of im- portance was developed. Coroner Tuthili of New York was then called to prove that the several portions of a human body found in ths three bun- dles belongeéd- to the same person. He said the bones had marks of a saw. During her examination Mrs. Neack never mentioned a saw being used, nei- ther did Gotha in his report of Thorn’s alleged confession to him. Other wiincsses were called whose tes- timony was mainlv on the lines of identi- fying the body of Guid=nsuppe. Bernard Bonna, the owner of the Wood- side co'tage, fol'owed the bath attendants on the witness-siand. He identified Thorn and Mre. Nuck as the two persons wio, representing themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Braun, hired the coitage from him last June. Adjournment of the court for the day was hastened by the prostration of Juror Magnus Larsen. He will probably be able to resume his place in the jury box to- MOIToW. Mr. Howg, in the course of an interview to-day, declured (hat Mrs. Nack killed and cut up Guldensuppe. *Wait,” said Mr, Howe, “and I will put Thorn on the witness-stand and he will tell the jury the truth—that it was Mrs. Nack who killed Guldensuppe and who cut him upin the bath tub.” During recess District Attorney Ol- cott of New York made the following stateme! 1f it were not for the legal requirements that the coniession of an ac- complice must be corrcborated before it realizes that Mrs. Nack is telling the truth. The confession is sound and true in every particular, and amply corrolorates the evidence which we aiready have. A!lof the witnesses will be called that we ex- an accomplice’s oration of c which the law requires. testimony New Minister to China. WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.—The Star an- nounces without any reservation to-night that Charles Page Bryan of Chieago will be appointed Minister to China to succeed Denby of Indiana. NEW TO-DAY. OTHERS FAIL CO DOCTOR SWEANY 1f you are suffering from the resuits of indis- cretions of youth, or from excesses of any kind in maturer years; or if you have Shrunken Organs, Lame Back, Varicocele, Rupture, ex haustive drains, ete., you should waste no time, but consult this Great Specialist; he speedily and permanently cures all diseases of Men and Women. Call on or write him to- day. Hecan cure you. Valuable Book sent Free. Address F. L. SWEANY, M.D., 737 Market St., San Francisco, Cal. SHOES, Best in the World! MEN'5—-$2.50, $3. $4,§. Boys'-$1.75,%2, $2.50, Men’s Alaska Seal S| £hoes, $2.50, §3, & Ladles’ Misses N FRANCISCO AGENCY, R. PAHL, 3 Ky $t viste DR, JORDAN’S Gront Museum of Anatomy 1051 MABERET ST. tet. 6ib & Teh, 5.7, Cal. The Largestof its kind in the World. DR. JORDAN—Private Diseases. Covsultation free. Writa for Book Philosophy of Marriage. MAILED FREE, can go to the jury I would advise Mr. | Young to close his case at once, 30 thor- | oughly am 1 conyinced that the jury | pected to use, so as to furnish the corrob- | W.L. DOUGLAS STATEMENT ——OF THE— CONDITION AND AFFAIRS —OF THE— HANOVER FIRE Insurance Company NEW YORK. IN THE ork. on the 3ist dav of STATE OF NEW De OF, 1896 State of of sections eused as per Amount of Cay Cash.. ASSETS, £450.000 00 000 00 Real Estate owned by Company &on Bonds and Mortgaz Cash Market Value of all Stocl onds owned by f Loans ks an Premiums in due Course of Coliection.. Rents due and accrued Due from other €o insurance on losses a Total Assets LIABILITIES, Losses Adjusted and Unpaid Los of Adjn Gross Premium 3 an one year. #1,0: nee p more t insuw Comm s vecome due wnd Brokerage d Total Liabilities 1,514,870 12 Mortgages 704 10 Received for interest and dividends on all Bonds, other sourees.... Received for Renis Stocks, Loans and from Total Income.. Net amount cluding 185, years) ... : Dividends to Stockholders X allowed for (ommi etc... e, d Local ‘Txes All other payments and exvenditures.. Total Expenditure RISKS AND PREMIU Net amoun: of Risks Wwritten du Netamoun pired during Net amount in force D , 1896, !S‘Ijl‘h'cl’ll\elllgnd sworn to before me this 23d day of January, 1597. 2 & G T. REMSEN LANE, President. G.L tary. PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT, (ESAR BERTHEAU, Manager, 423 CALIFORNIA STREET, SAN FRANCISCO,