The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 6, 1898, Page 1

The Call VOLUME LXXXIII— SAN FRANCISZO, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1898—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. PRICE FIVE CENTS. FRANK BELEW IN HIS LONELY CELL WITH A CALL REPORTER THE FIEND BREAKS DOWN Cries Aloud That He Killed His Brother and Sister. flis Friends Fall Away From Him, and in His Despair He Turns to Strangers to Ease His Conscience. ; FAIRFIELD JAIL, Feb. 5, 1898. To The Call Reporter: ““I killed my brother and sister. did it. In the presence Under heriff, signed prisoner 1 don’t know why 1 FRANK BELEW.” “l will. It’s in me and| has to come out. I killed them!” T pears His pencil, is he signed the paper which ap- t the head of this column. ngers did not readily grasp the nor hold it firmly, b the name legible and distinct. The character- | scrawl of an unpracticed writer. 0| There was nothing left to save Belew | istic he hac | from the hangman. | den wa “Now, Frank, what is your motive | He tott t now he has| in telling this?” | in a me: | “It’s just in me and has to come out. | I can’t eat or sleep. I am miserable. | will make me feel better. I know it But I am sorry I killed them.” What was your reason for doing | he will) a great it? “I had no reason. I cannot under- | stand it myself. I don’t knew. I would | tell you if I could.” | “Were you jealous of their pros- perity?” | “No, I had nothing against them.” “Were you dissatisfied about the di- vision of the estate?” “T was not. I had no reason. I jusf did it, that's all. Now I have no| friends and no hope and I am telling everything. There is nothing to hide any more.” “Where did you get the poison?” | “I got it in Dixon about five years | ago.” ‘At what store?” “It was so long ago that I forget. have had it all the time.” e an absolute | most a cer- 0 Teason- | iecline to go farther, as es he had reached al mpressive. er was glad before | hts he | rope | i greeted me more “You didn’t get it to kill anybody?” | been his wont. “ Never had such an idea. It was rat ow you were | poison.” | oon to tell me And you put it in the kettle?” | er and sis- “I put it in the kettle, the tea kettle.” | “Had there been a quarrel or any- 1se, and again came | thing unpleasant?” eep chest of ' the wretched| “No. ering sigh. Then he “You just put it in the kettle for the and covered his face| sake of killing somebody?” “] did it! Oh, I did it!” he moaned. “Will you sign a state-| ment saying so?”’ | “I can't tell.” “Had you been drinking?” “I do not drink. Nobody ever saw me drink.” ““How did you feel when | | your sister was dying and | i 2 Z Jail at Fairficld in Which Frank Bele plain about that.” 00600 10600 50 00 00108 000 00 0 X0 0000 K OROK X 0 0 0 I O RGN E X SO F 0 HIS RELATIVES APPALLED. now. [s¥eXeRagaBuuTaRaPulnPuFata you held her hand?”’ For a time Belew could not answer. “I was sorry for her. 1 had nothing against her.”” “Didn’t you feel like & hypocrite?” “L was very sorry. I felt as bad as any one could have felt.” “How did you get a chance to use the poison?” “Well, some of the folks had gone out to the gate and I dropped it in while they were out there.” “You stayed in the house for hourt afterward. How did you feel? Wasn't there a period of terrible suspense?”’ “Yes, there was.” “But you left the poisoned water there just the same?” “Did you have the conversations with Bird which were printed in The Call the other day?” e “You made all those admissions him?” Fess “Thinking he wouldn't tell “But I'm telling now, when I know the whole world will find it out. Bird told the truth. You know ‘that now.” “You do not feel hard toward the pa- pers, do you?” “Not toward The treated me right.” ‘s “Did anybody know of your crime until you told Bird?” “Nobody.” “Were you caught?” “Well, I've been caught. I can't com- to o Call. It has not afraid of being “You still claim not to be able-to ay why you committed these mur- ders?” | “I had no reason.” Belew broke down and sobbed uncontrollably. He| made no effort to check himself and the spasm passed “Would you sign ments?” “I've signed a statement that covers | | | all these state- | | | everything. There’s no use in signing | | again. I'm guilty of the murders. I've| signed that.” The point was not preésed. “Do you wish to add more?” he was asked. “I am willing to tell all, but I'm| tired. I haven't slept. I think I have | told it all. T've tried to. If I can| think of anything more T'll tell that,| too. I've nothing to hold back now. | It's no use. I will be glad to see you | to-morrow.” | “Don’t you feel relieved since you are | rid of this secret?” | “I do; you told me I would.” | The man had partly risen from his | couch, and he sank back again, but | anylhing! w Is Confined. DIXON, Feb. 5.—Arthur and Thomas Belew have decided that their brother is guilty and not entitled to their financial or moral support. “I thought you were wrong until now,” said Arthur to Constable Newby to-night, “but his doom is sealed. will not spend our money to help Frank, as it will do no good. has murdered the two who were the main spokes in the wheel.” This conversation was in a saloon where Belew had invited Newby to have a social chat, though he had been bitter toward Newby until It is awful. Tommy and I He fugegegagegagagagaiugegegyate] £ [=R=Rcg-F-F8 R -FoFugeFoFaFeFuFaFaaicFaFoPegagaFeoRaF-RugeTuBuRoFuP ot P along the lonely cortidor his broken sobs echoed until drowned in the clat- ter of the iron door. : District Attorney Devlin, who had worked hard on the case, felt a thrill of professional delight upon learning the result of the interview. He had not been over sanguine about it, but realizes now that his anxiety is over. The man forfeit to the law has surren- dered to the relentless clutch in which it held him. He can struggle no more. FRANK HAS - CONFE Sheriff Rush is equally elated, and Un- | that it would incite a judge to clem- | LR 1 Xf 1 £f X6-0F X6 06 0 10 06 108 08 106 108 108 10F O 108 308 108 S0F 0¥ X0% 108 0f 1% 308 10F £ 30% F £0RCH der Sheriff Robigson yfeels that }?;SL;;_ ency. He has not the quality oficour- | PRIB O N UV A GO A QOO OO QRO QLD O OO0 0000000t bors have been rewarded. | age. He lies on a cot now with his | 2% o Robinson was the man who on the Bl e R col-: gg SIGNED STATEMENTS NOT SIGNED. §§ ranch placed handcuffs about the wrists | [2PS¢ that be folifes Wuen hetteles cto L8 of Belew, and yet from that moment the :.‘:Z;:g; h‘i\m sl:)l(!)ibznpgr‘;%:s!:es;;;g be;xz i gg gg prisoner has regarded him as a friend. | day he wanted a razor, but the officers | O%F SUISUN, Feb. 5.—Everybody here is laughing at the Examiner's &% The specific causes of the confession | thought it was for his throat instead | X% “signed statements,” which, for the most part, were not signed. OG are not hard to name.” The man was |of his beard and refused the request. 1‘ £ The method of getting them was to ask a man questions, answer OO fairly bursting with a sense of guilt,| To-day he tried to secure some mor- | ¢ them as seemed to yellow journalism to be fitting, and then forward O%F and yet the fear of the gallows haunted | phine, but the trusties to whom he ap- | % them as signed statements. Sheriff Rush was amused. fals] him. While he thought that he had |Pealed told the jailer and a closer‘ uced “I knew those fellows would put something in my mouth,” he OO friends, that his brothers intended to watch than ever was placed over him. | Ufi sald, “but it doesn’'t make any real dlfleren?& I did not make the L5 aid him, that a lawyer would hurry to‘ There is some thought of statlonmgi L8 statement Brin(ed in the Examiner, and I did not sign anything for & his rescue, he withstood the impulse to | ® WAtehman so the prisoner shall be | L% that paper. pated ot £ under constant surveillance. =3 * Another entertaining topic is the frantic endeavor of the Exam- 5 throw aside the sorr.y»sham‘oi INO- e S S hin cell (hRt abont nlteen‘\ O%¥ iner to show that it knew all about the Belew business anyway, %% cence. But, left to his conscience, his | years ago a murderer named Keith | %% even if it did not think to print it. faist memory, and hearingsunly the voice of | committed suicide on the day before | 9 s strangers, his fortitude forsook him.|the_one set for his official hanging, PO G H U B U PP S U UU U PO VI U UV RN DD GO OO U o0 To-night he has company. Near him | but7it is not the ghost of Keith which | XSS ROV GV GOV OOV UL UV VOO OO LADR OGO OO0 sits James T. Wells, a man who for twenty years has been a trusted Deputy | 1080 £ £ £ X8 10F 306 108 106 X0F 06 30 108 108 106 308 J0¥ Y06 306 108 306 0¥ 300 308 £0F 08 0¥ X0F 308 106 6 00 ¥ £8GF | but his alr of deflance had vanished. Sheriff. Well« t, guard him from igg):Q!:U:!Qn):t(iflHfifififinnfififlfinflfifififififififinfig l’Even physically the strong man has suicide. If Bi e 7' kill himself he < 3 ecome weak. Yesterday he would would; of thil tuére is no reasonable | g ALL SOLANO COUNTY SMILES. ©9 | deny the crime. To-day he would be doubt, and Sheriff Rush will see that he o . Q8| questioned and make mo response. 15 deniediehe oppbriunity: =33 L | Once he said: “What is the use of tell- 5 % | ing you.: You would not believe me.” The prisoner's statements as to par- ticulars are not all credible. For in- stance, his explanation of having had the poison for years and then used it without knowing why. He has unbur- dened himself to several people to- night, and nobody can begrudge thisl poor boon, but to each he tried to give the impression that the statement then being made was the sole one ob- tdained or obtainable. HENRY JAMES. READY TO CONFESS AS THE NIGHT CAME. Belew Cast Down by the Gloom of the Day and the Desertion of His Friends. SUISUN, Feb. 65.—This has been a dreary day in Fairfield and Suisun. The clouds hung to the ground, and at times dissolved into a penetrating rain produce signed by the murderer. heartily glad that it has been obtained. will materially assist the prosecution in the case. - the case until December 1. §39838REETRegaaRRRRERT02 night of November 9. the food made at the high school rest. DIXON, Cal, Feb. 5.—The Examiner’s false statement that it was the first paper to have a reporter here after the Belew mur- der is laughed at by everybody in Dixon. cade Hotel shows that Leigh H. Irvine, of The Call staff, registered here at 10 o’clock on the night of November 9, Moran, of the Examiner, arrived at the Palace thirty-six hours later. John F. Connors arrived forty-eight hours after Irvine. The Examiner withdrew its representaive from the field about November 20, while The Call kept Irvine on the ground studying The first newspaper account filed here by any special spondent ias: that sent by Leigh H. Irvine at 11 o'clock on the It ran as follows: “My private tip to you is that the Belews were murdered by their brother Frank. Full story coming.” Twenty-four hours later Moran filed for the Examiner a rehash of what The Call had printed the day before. The Call published from day to day exclusive news. first account of the finding of poison in the food, of the analysis of crowning its efforts with the excluSive story of Frank Belew’s ar- The register at the Ar- while Edward corre- It gave the , and of other features of the case, REBA3RB2R3RRRRARARAIRAAR Then ‘the thought of Bird flashed across his mind and he showed a mo- mentary animation. “I want you to tell the world,” he said, “that for four years I supported Bird; that he used my horse without charge, and lived off me when I could not afford to keep him.” “Why did you tell Bird what you had done?” “He pumped me.” Here was this guilty man, near to the line of confession. derstood in an instant what he had done, and while he was keen enough to check himself hq did not seem to re- gret it. If from the outer world there had come then a relative to sustain him, a friend on whom he might lean, groping He un- | he would have unbosomed himself of every detail of his dread secret. He wanted to cry out “I am guilty! guilty! Have mercy upon me!” yet this cry “1 e g-gog-2-2=2=3=2-3-F-3-Fod-Frd St doedo g oot ge oo fegogoged would have been to man, the instrument AAGABQODORAOTAARARRADAR O QORI QAR | o punishment, not to the Giver of Life, # | who tries men’s souls. All about him COCUOVGUUUVCT NN OSSNV GO SUU RO OGO UL |a flush in the cheek of the prostrate | were strangers, who sought to know g | man. the truth, not that they might con- THE SHER‘FF NOT]FIBD- g “So I have no friends?’ He asked |sole, but that they might spread it to # P the question in the low monotone which | the world, and apply as adequate a Sl g > | seems habitual now. “It's hard.” With | penalty as the law provides. fession of the murder of his brother and sister, taken in the presence = of Under Sheriff T. L. Robinson, and have read the statements they & b= This is the first notification I have had of a confession, and I am g Ooveooes0e 600§® ynesees00 %®©®®@®®®®®®©© 962806990 NEWS OF THE DAY. NEWS OF E DAY. The work of The Call and Chronicle in obtaining this - statement 3t _THF Py o Weather forecast for San Fran- TENTH PAGE. B. F. RUSH, Sheriff. & clsco: Probably occasional showers Death of Major Stonehill. o on Sunday, ending during the day; Lecture on Education. fagegegud=FeReyaTegugetuguPugel against which an umbrella was scant protectiod. But the gloomiest spot in Solano County was the jail, and in the darkest cell of that desolate structure sat Frank Belew, sullen and silent, silent because there was no one with whom to converse even in his ordinary monosyllables. His friends have de- serted him and the truth has been borne in crushingly upon him. His brother Tom has gone, leaving no word except an expression of sorrowful | doubt as to the prisoner’'s innocence. No lawyer has seen him, and a rumor is abroad that legal acumen is waiting for some visible token of a retainer. Thus the prisoner felt alone, forsaken, his guilt his only companion. Since his incarceration Friday morning not a mouthful of food has passed Belew's lips. The plate that is handed through the door to him three times daily is returned without a crumb disturbed. He has been offered stimulants and re- fused. On the way down from the place of. arrest he had begged for whisky, but after the key had turnéd behind him he knew that he needed a clear head, and he knew that fuddled by whisky he would easily be induced to give ut- terance to the confession he longed yet did not dare to make. The first sign of a breakdown came when he realized that a belief in his guilt was general and profound. He had calculated lupon financial backing which is not forthcoming. Confinement is becoming more and more irksome. If he had a chance, the prisoner would kill himself. He is not troubled by remorse, but suffers in an agony of fear. His impulse towards confession arises partly from a theory makes Belew desperate. If there are ghosts disturbing him there they must be those of Susie and Lewis Belew, the brother and sister whom he so cruelly slew. At one stage Belew might have been characterized as a stoic, but that stage has passed. At every mention of the murdered pair he cringes, and sighs that are almost sobs shake his frame. An effort was made during the after- noon to get him: to make a definite statement. “Frank,” said his visitor. “I am sorry to have to believe you guilty. I want you to tell the truth now; it can- not hart you and it may have the effect of creating sympathy for you.” So the plea went on trying to reach some ten- der spot in the man's memory. At first he made no sound except one impossible to describe. It was the suction as he gulped, vainly striving to control his convulsive lips and the throat which would vibrate. . Then he asked if his friends, his brothers, his lawyers had been heard from. It was hard to tell him that in his extremity he was friendless; that his brothers, convinced of his blood guiltiness, had cast him off; that his lawyers had sent no word. The man writhed.on his pile of blankets, his right hand fumbling the leaves of a magazine he had been vainly trying to read. “Frank,” continued the visitor, “think of the future; think how your mind would be relieved if you would tell the truth.” There was no response. The maga- zine leaves were more fiercely crum- pled. The flickering ray of the single candle standing on the floor revealed brisk southerly to westerly winds. Maximum temperatyre for the past twenty-four hours: Ban Francisco Portland .. Los Angeles . San Diego FIRST PAGE. Frank Belew Has Confessed. SECOND PAGE. Schaefer Defeats Slosson. Capture of a Wild Man. Support Trumbo for Senator. THIRD PAGE. Japanese Entitled to Vote. To Marry an Austrian Noble. Fratrictde Clark in Court. Warships on the Rocks. FOURTH PAGE. Canada Grabs American Soil Relief Starts for Dawson. An Assiduous American Envoy. Los Angeles Water Fight. New Electric Road to Pasadena. Rain Saves the Farmers. SIXTH PAGE. Editorial. That Agreement With Japan. An Official Comedy. The Signs of Prosperity. Burying the Zoo Scheme. Defective Ammunition. “Danny Foley's Goats,” Michelson. Stories From the Corridors. Answers to Correspondents. SEVENTH PAGE. School Scandal Growing. News Along the Water Front. BIGHTH PAGE. Armenians Blamed for Trouble. Portentous Calm in France. England’s Backdown Harts. Revolt in Central America. General Woodford Is Angered. The British in Africa. NINTH PAGE. Germany's Trade War. Pursuit jof an Indian Desperado. The House on Coast Defense. Kansas Pacific Sale. TENTH PAGE. Chinese Slave Dealers Beaten. Druggists Jump Their Bonds. POPPPOPL 00 OP 9000000 Q PPPOOPPPVIDP000PPP999009PP09PD 9O 9900090900099 0090000000009000990000900090P990009009000090000090 @ b4 @ (4 o & L * @ $.4 & K L. @ @ & & @ @ @ @ @ @ Ed & @ £d & bd @ R @ @ @ & & bd < & & & by Miriam & @ @ @ & @ bd & © 4 £ < & @ @ > [ > Le > ® @ @ PPP90890PPPPPIPPPPIP 2999090000 ® ELEVENTH PAGE. Trouble in the City Prison. Church Services To-day. Highwaymen on Market Street. FOURTEENTH PAGE. Racing at Ingleside. Births, Marriages and Deaths. FIFTEENTH PAGE. The Loot of San Jose. A Big Deal in Bonds. News From Across the Bay. SIXTEENTH PAGE. Children at the Fair. Supervisor Delany Retaliates. A Millionaire Drops Dead. SEVENTEENTH PAGE. An Astral Just Received by Valley Occultists. EIGHTEENTH PAGE. Views of Eminent Divines on How to Read the Bible. Love Story of Patti and Nicolinl. NINETEENTH PAGE. Death’ to the Phylloxera. Latest Act With a Horse. TWENTIETH PAGE. Adventures of a Woman Missionary in China. Plan to Preserve Fort Ticonderoga. TWENTY-FIRST PAGE. Marvelous Grafting of Insects. TWENTY-SECOND PAGE. Book Reviews. TWENTY-THIRD PAGE. Strange Institution for Raising Cats. TWENTY-FOURTH PAGE. Soclety. TWENTY-FIFTH PAGE. Fashions. TWENTY-SIXTH PAGE. For Boys and Girls. TWENTY-SEVENTH PAGE. ‘Theaters. TWENTY-EIGHTH PAGE. Schools. <Fraternal News. TWENTY-NINTH PAGE. Descriptive Story of San Diego. Missing Helr of a Vast Estate. THIRTIETH PAGE. Personal News. THIRTY-FIRST PAGE. Commercial. THIRTY-SECOND PAGE. How Hulda Johnson Died. Mines. Whist. Ross 9000000000809 000000990900090000PPPPPPLPPPV09E000000000900000 6 & 0060000900060 00000000