The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 23, 1902, Page 5

THY SUNDAY CALL. Crimes That Have Arolsed the Community, Plzzled the Polige, and in Some 7 Qases Been ? 2 Unsolved 2 e Ex-State Senator L. W. Buck was a frequent visitor of hers, and he was summoned from his home in Oakland to tell what he knew. Accompanied by a special officer he started for the depot in a dog cart, but on the way the horse shied and threw Buck on the pavement on his head. He was unconscious and three days later he died without regaining consciousness or without being able to utfer a syllable. The murder of young Robert C. Hislop in May, 1901, was one of the most flendish pieces of butchery ever known, especially when the youth and helplessness of the victim are taken into consideration. The murderer stole upon this 13-year- old boy and killed him as he lay In bed. From the pesition of the body it was evi~ dent that the lad had not even seen his slayer. No trace of the murderer has ever been found. Only the hatchet which struck the fatal blows was picked up in a va- cant lot opposite. It was the habit of Mrs. Hislop to walk to her husband's furniture stors each evening and accompany him home, and Robert usually went with her, but on this YSTERIOUS murders? Mys- ous is a big word,” sald ex- Lees when I asked him to the mysterions der his & almost hailf a century office. the crimes that seem most simplest when un te some -of s are the se end. of a murder is that ou one thing I am going fore I pass in my checks and step ut,” said the captain. *I in- clear up & few mysteries on which I have collected sufficient evidence. us murders there may seem but there “Ot myster on the face of it to be many, are few clewless murders. every case the murderer y convicted, but there is a ion between moral conviction and conviction. A man may stand y convicted before the court and »rid and yet there may not be legal e enough to convict him. “The State fairly reeks in bloody stench. There is the lynching case at Alturas; the case of Policeman n surder and the case of the conspirator strikers who killed Rice. The investigation of the Nora Fuller mur- nother chapter to the book ot der adds crime. “The cases that I expect soon to go East to investigate are the hitherto un- explained mysteries to the public of the reign of terror of the tenderioin. I have evidence that I hope to work up to place blame where it belongs.” The murders to which Lees referred were those which terrorized the White- chapel of San Francisco in February and March, 18%. Little May Smith, or Mag- gle McDermott, as she was known in her district, was found strangled on the early morning of February 10. May Smith was and young in crime. She She had rooms back of a There were two entrances to her one through the saloon and one , the side street, and as her apart- rthing but exclusive it was ss in particular to notice or left. and at the same time the se of her profession offer scope for undetected midnight murders. abounds in just such instances. was dome and the murderer aped and it was not until the collector 4 for Maggie McDermott’s rent that e was discovered. marks on her throat showed how come. The police closely he streets and cross-qupstioned ne they could think of, when sud- right under their supervision an- A more awful murder shocked the sbandon of On the morning of March 10, a French- sar Chebart, found Bertha Para- her rooms. She had been Geath by means of a large which had been forced hroat with the aid of & car- pencil. Although Caesar Che- been living with her, he was ob- the last man to have committed , and es in the Maggie McDer- case mo one had taken cognizance of her visitors. Chief Lees declares that the curtain has not fallen on the last of this tragedy. ““The same person who committed these crimes in San Francisco strangled three dis dead In fef, Lack of complication makes it ‘women of the same soclal status In Den- ver and one in New York.” These statements are pertinent, coming as they do in the aftermath of the awful murders whose investigation holds the public attention at present. ‘We are a restless people—a shifting city of wanderers in this Western outpost, through which the tide flows both ways, representing every tribe and condition of man. A cosmopolitan city s of necessity an unsociable city and no man knows his neighbor. Ih such a community there is always an undercurrent of degradation which gives vent to itself periodically in horrible crimes. The community fis shocked and then those who, having eyes see not, rub their sightless orbs and stare and g , “Can such things be!" “The murderer of Nora Fuller was a moral pervert,” declares Captain Lees, “another Theodore Durrant, who lured his innocent victim on with feasible prom- ises to & place where she would be help- lessly in his power and there he killed her out of lustful wantonness. The scheme had all the deep planning of a Durrant, “The Durrant case stands out in the annals of crime as being the most atro- cious on record, but the chain of circum- stantial evidence in the case was absolute- ly perfect—when they got through with it— not a link missing. Yet at first it was enveloped in mystery—as far as the pa- pers and public were concerned, but way back from the public view the detectives are oftentimes working out clews. “I am in hope that in the present case, by dint of closely following each and every clew, the perpetrator of the horri- ble crime may be discovered. “That is what ought to be done. No clew is too trivial, no hint too insignifi- cant to follow, for it may open up a fleld for other theories. Then when the detec- tives have built up their theory and they are confident it is the right one, something comes in to overthrow it all and you must start again from the beginning. “But there are no clewless murders.” A parallel case of a body being found in a vacant house occurred in the early '80's. ‘Wright Le Roy pretended thaj he wanted to buy property of Capitalist Skerret and lured him into a vacant house on Eilis street with the avowed purpose of look- ing at the house. A Mr. Dollar, an accomplice, got the key from a neighbor, and to throw off suspicion from Le Roy engaged the house himeelf. The neighbors heard the tacking down of carpets and were convinced that some one slept in the house. Buspicion was aroused when Le Roy went down ta the bank and tried to draw Ekerret’s money. Investigation brought the horrible fact to light that Skerret had been strangled in one of the closets of the Ellis-street house. Those who have visited Chinatown have probably noticed the old house on the northwest corner of California and Du- pont streets. It stands back and has a high garden fence, which is used as a signboard for Chinatown guides. Here in 1880 Miss Frederica Drell, an old woman, was strangled. She was spoken of for years afterward as “poor old Fred- erica Drell.” No one was found around the premises, but an old black cat lay curled up sound asleep on the breast of her mistréss. In- quiry could bring nothing to light. The cat must have been the only witness to the deed. Mystery has always surrounded this deed, “but,” sald Lees, “Frederica Drell was killed by Lucky Bays, who murdered her for her money."” The murder around which the most im- penetrable mystery hangs 1s that of Eu- gene Ware, a drug clerk of the St. Nich- olas pharmacy, who was found at 1:15 a. m. December 14, 1894, by Police Officer O'Day. O'Day while patrolling in the neighborlood looked across and noticed that there was no light in the drugstore, which was an unusual circumstance, for even when the store was closed the light was always burning. He crossed the street, tried the door, found it unlocked and walked in. The cash register was open and various drugs were heaped in confugion. At the end of the stone steps leading to the basement of the store lay the lifeless body of Ware. Nineteen wounds, evidently made with a sharp two-edged dagger, lacerated his body. It looked like the work of a maniac. Then the theory of robbery was advanced, but on investigation nothing was found to be missing except some small change, which might have been spent by Ware himself before he closed up. Clots of blood found at the head of the stairs gave rise to the theory that the murder was committed up stairs and that the body was taken down the steps. ‘Ware had many female admirers, who used to hover about the store and chat with him in the evenings. Among the customers who had noticed this was Miss F. Jackson, who came to the store on the fatal evening to get a headache powder. She testified that a dark-eyed Jewess, dressed in black, was engaged in conver- sation with Ware, and told him she would “‘shake” her frilend—a man who was walit- ing for her outside. Miss /Jackson saw her join her friend outside, who seemed to be very, angry. . Upon these circumstances and in default of a better theory it was thought that the man, angered by Jealousy, returned to the store later and killed the clerk. ~ Another theory tried to conmect Dur- rant with the murder when his horrible crimes came to light a few months later. It was asserted that Ware and Durrant were friends and were interested in the same girls, but it was denied as many times as it was asserted. Back In 1876 Jennie Bonnet, the French frog catcher, an eccentric young French- woman, who used to bring frogs to the restaurants, was shot and killed at the Eight-mile House down on the county road. On the night of the murder she was rooming with Blanch Buneau, another Frenchwoman, and it was thought that the shot was aimed at Blanch. A fan named Girard was arrested, but soon re- leased. “But the real murderer of Jennie Bon- net escaped to Canada,” declares Captain Lees, “murdered a man 'there and just as we had secured evidence and were mak- ing arrangements to bring him back he killed himself. But we got the whole confession out of his wife.” Henry Plans, & young man of 25, who had just been appointed manager of the Fredericksburg brewery in San Jose In November, 1892, was found hanging to a pepper tree on Jullan street, near the bridge. The body was discovered by John F. Sulllvan, a night watchman at the broad gauge depot. He was going home at 6:15 on the morning of the 12th, and on cross- ing a vacant lot looked up and saw this ghastly tragedy hanging in front of him. Evidences on the road and marks on the shoes showed that the body had been carried for some distance befors it was hanged. The first theory was the anarchist sug- gestion; there was the midnight assas- sination and the holding up of the trag- edy with its spectacular and semi-boast- ful effect to a shocked community. The anarchists at that time in San Jose were banded togetner against those who did not belong. This theory was further substantiated by the fact that Planz on his appointment discharged sev- eral men who were supposed to be anar- chists, and the 1ith of November, the night of the murder, is the anniversary ot the Haymarket riots and a day sacred to the cause of anarchy. And on such fiimsy threads as thess are theories bullt up and again torn down In the face of evidence from a different source and of a different nature. “Lost his life in discharge of duty” is the statement that halos six of our po- lice officers, and but one, John Runk, pald for his crime in the extreme penalty of the law. He shot Charles J. Coots, a substitute officer, in April, 1877, and was hanged for the crime one year later. Officer Nicholson was stabbed in the neck by an unknown Chinese burglar near the corner of Mason and Pacifio streets in February, 1834. The Chinaman got in the grocery store over a transom. When he came out he had a clock and started to run. Nicholson ran after him. A witness who had not yet reached the corner could not testify that he saw the murder, but he heard the shots from the police officer’s revolver. The Chinaman had a chisel with which he stabbed Nicholson in the jugular vein, The clock was found in an empty lot. The China- ‘man was caught, but the evidence was lacking, as the only, vrltnv-_m!yr heard the shots and did not see the mur- der. Under the head of mysterious murders in the records comes that of Edwin J. Osgood, who was found with a knife wound in the neck “inflicted by an un- known assassin.’ His body was found at 3:30 a. m, December 13, 1835, at the corner of Pacific and Dupont streets, so says the record. But ex-Chief Lees says he was stabbed by an English sallor, who after the crime boarded a ship and went to Portsmouth, England. The city at that time did not have the contingent funds to make the trip and investi- gate the affair legally, and the Mayor ordered the matter dropped. And so things go down to posterity as mysteries! - Lieutenant Willlam ¥ Burke was shot on Bernal Heights in March, 189, and Haines, his murderer, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Another mystery case that is still pend- ing is that of Officer Eugene C. Robinson, who dled from a gunshot wound received while trying to arrest a trio of foot- pads at the corner of Valencla and Six- teenth streets. “In the case of the murder of Alexan- der Grant, officer of police, M. B. Curtis was the murderer, and you can say that I said so, and I think that every fair- minded man thinks so, too,” sald Lees emphatically. ‘He stands morally con- victed before the world, and wherever he may go he is morally branded as a murderer. M. B. Curtls, alias Maurice B. Strellinger, killed Alexander Grant, but he was acquitted. “Why was he acquitted? Well, I will tell you—because he spent 380,000 on the Jury. “On the first jury one Hurley hung out and disagreed with the others on the murder decision, and when the case was appealed and Curtis bought the jury through his spokesman Hurley one of the jury up and dled. Miss Nellle Harrington, & spinster, about 45 years of age, was murdered In her room June 1, 1885. The murderer tried to cover up his traces by heaping clothes on the body, saturating them with ofl and setting it all on fire. The only person who could have fur- nished any clew to the crime was killed before he had time to make a statement to the police. Just before the crime a man was seen /to @rive up and enter the house of which Nellie Harrington was the landlady. After a time he was seen to come out azd drive awav. particular evening he said he was tired and went to bed. When they returned this horrible crime awaited them. Mrs. Sadie Carpenter was strangled in a room at the Hubbard House, 139 Fourth street, in July, 13%. Lizzie Riley, who occupied the next room to Mrs. Car- penter’s, heard a noise as if some one was groaning. She notified the night clerk. but when the room was entered Sadie Carpenter was dead. The woman was found in bed, a piece of calico tied tightly, around her throat. No theories held together strong enough to give evidence to point out the mur~ derer. George Howard, an expressman, was found stabbed near Chinatown in 1879, The murder was not cleared up, but evie dence showed that it was the work of & highbinder. About this time the body of the littls two-year-old son of Antonio Pocceridio, en Itallan gardener, was found In a po- tato patch with the throat cut from ear to ear. Father Kedrovlansk! was found about this time in a doorway. He was in a stupefled condition and died soon after— ward. The crime could not be fixed om any one. Little Pete was shot by highbinders in Chinatown, but no one was singled out or punished. The See Yup Soclety of Chinatown was at variance with the Sam Yup and one of the best-known charac~ ters of Chinatown was shot. Little Pete was wealthy and looked up to and feared by the whole of Chinatown and many of the white politiclans and bosses. Dr. J. Milton Bowers was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife. He was a man of many wives. Cecilia, his fourth wife, died under cire cumstances that pointed toward poison- ing. Investigation proved that his thres other wives had died suddenly and that in each case he won the new wife before her predecessor was dead. Cecilla Bow= ers was insured for about $14,000 in favoe of her husband. Bowers was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to death. While in jail his brother-in-law, Henry Benhayon, was found dead in a Geary street lodging- house. It was supposed to be suicide, but in letters which he left he accused his dead sister of unfaithfulness to her hus- band and confessed that he had com- mitted her murder. It developed that Ben- hayon had not committed suicide, but was the pivot of a plot to free Dr. Bowers John A. Dimmig was suspected of being an accomplice of Bowers. He had rented | the room whers Benhayon dfed and m the trial it developed that Dimmig had spent much time writing with the dead man, over whom he exercised a strong | influence. The Bowers case Involves from ome to five murders, unexplained as far as the law is concerned and unsatisfled n pun- ishment, for Bowers was finally released and Dimmig was acquitted. e —————— Recognized the King by His Image on a Coin. PART from photographs and en- gravings, the faces of most rulers are famillarized to us by thelr images on the current coins of their countries. Female vanity is supposed to have been the cause of preserving Queen Victoria’s girlish image on the coins and postage stamps of England until the last years of her reign, but hers was almost a solitary exception and the designers of coins generally aim at producing plctures of the heads of states on them as they really are. At the commencement of the present season, King Leopold was in Dieppe, &nd when stroliing along the plage there he entered, according to his custom, into conversation with the men working on it. With one of these, whose accent showed him to be a Belgian, he spoke for a considerable time, and when he had left the man turned to his companions and said proudly, “That is my King.” “He seems an old friend,” said one of the other work- men, jestingly. “No,” said the other, “T never saw him before.” “How do you know who he is then?” asked the other, who ‘was manifestly in doubt as to the truth of the Belgian's statement; but his doubts were quickly set at re ‘when the man to whom the King had spoken pro- duced. silently from his pocket and held up for his obiservation a franc bearing on it King Leopold’s counterfeit presentment.—Cor. Boston Transeript. {