The herald. [microfilm reel], September 12, 1895, Image 1

About The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900

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THE HERALD It la BvtdeneeEverywhere /
yyor ONL V ON SUNDA V
THE HERALD does business ever? d»»
in tho week. c«»t your eye on the want
ade In any Issue.
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
](you did not see it in The Herald It did not happen
VOL. XEIV. NO. 154
MURDER, RAPINE AND DISASTER PERMEATED THE VERY ATMOSPHERE YESTERDAY
TOXICOLOGICAL TRAGEDY
Thompson and Martin
Drank and Are Dead
THERE WHS DEATH 111 IKE WINE
A Colored Coward Compounds
a Cruel Cup
INTENDED VICTIM ESCAPES
The Negro Evidently Wished to Kill
Another Negro, But Failed
His Bottle of Doctored Wine Falls Into the
Hands of Two White Men
Thompson Died Half an Hour After Drinking,
While Martin Survived Him Less Than
Three Hours, Both Suffering;
Greatly Before Dls.
solution
A most terrible tragedy occurred last
evening in which two innocent men fell
victims to the unsuccessful uttompt of a
fiend to wreak vengeance on an unsus
pecting onemy.
The method taken to be rid of this
enemy was one ol tbe most cruel and
barbarous known, and consisted of send
ing a token of friendship in wliicn was
ecreted poison auflicient to have ended
the lives of scores of mortals.
Through some unforseen accident the
plan of revenge failed Ot success in the
direction intended, hut two men now lie
cold in death as a result of tho attempt.
Their names are W. J. Thompson and O.
1.. Martin. Both wero railroad men and
both drank from the fatal bottle ot wine,
and within half an hour the first was
dead, while the other survived him less
than three hours.
Both of these men were the unsuspect
ing and unintended victims of a scoun
drel who had desired apparently to use
one of them as a means to convey the
bottle of poisoned wine to the individual
who bad aroused bis enmity.
The name of the dastard who sent tbe
liquor to the men ia unknown, but be is
a colored man and the object ot his con
senting hatred is another colored man
i uined Gardner, who is employed as n
porter on the Santa Fe road.
What aroused tne enmity cannot be
stated. In all probability it was the re
sult of a quarrel over a woman, but bo
that as it may, the crime is probably tbe
most monstrous that has ever come to
the notice of the local police department.
A clue has already been secured as to
the perpetrator of the double crime, and
it is expected that the murderer will soon
oe apprehended.
The tragedy occurred last evening, be
tween tl and 7 o'clock, at the Downey av
enue depot of the Santa Fe railroad.
There were only four people there at the
time of the unfortunate aff ifr, but Mar
tin lived long enough to relate all of the
circumstances.
Thompson wns employed as the station
agent, and Martin was superintendent of
the cars that ht ttled gravel from the bot
tom of the riser. Both men nad been
living at tho depot building for the past
few months, their families being absent.
The builuing consists of four rooms,
waiting room, ticket otliee, store room
and baggage room. The store room wits
in the middle of tho building, and
there tho men slept and prepared their
meals.
Shortly after 0 o'clock little Frank Ec
cles, a boy about 111 years of age, walked
up to Mr. Thompson and handed him a
bottle and told him to give it to Gardner,
tbe negro porter who ran on a chair car.
The station agent took the package and
tho boy went away. As all the trains
had passed, the two men started to get
their supper in the storeroom. While
tqey were eating Thompson suggested to
Martin that they take a drink out of tho
bottle, and to this the latter assented.
Thompson removed the label and stopper
and took a big drink of the stuff, nearly
half a pint, and without a word passed it
to Martin. The latter then took a mouth
ful and at once said:
"That tastes as if it had quinine in it."
Thonipion replied: "No. I guess it's
poison," and almost immediately after
fell upon tbe lloor and began writhing in
agony.
Martin was also seized with pains but
bad strength lo walk to the door in the
rear antl call for help. There were two
ladies at the depot, one the wife of a con
ductor and the other her friend. The
name of neither was obtained. They
ran around ami saw that Martin, who had
come out on the porch, needed aid, while
through the partially opened door they
noticed Thompson lying on his back and
writhing in agony. The ladies ran out
screaming and hurried up on the viaduct
calling loudly for help.
Heated on a pile of lumber under ttie
bridge were Ed Kccles and Dennis
Sheedy, who at once ran to the depot, a
distance of about ten yards and went to
Martin.s; "Give mo a drink, I've been
poisoned." he gasped and the men forced
some liquor down his throat, after which
they laid him on the lioor and began
working on liim.
Thomas Eccles and his brother Robert
were standing at the walk acor6s the
street at the end of„the viaduct, but were
attracted by the cries of the two women
and they also hurried to the scene of the
tragedy. The boys at once saw that Mar
tin was undergoing great suffering and
while one started to assist the others in
rubbing him his brother ran after a doc
tor.
Thomas Eccles went into the room
wbere Thompson lay, for the purpose of
The Specter of Desolation Was Abroad in Our Land and Found Many Unsuspecting Victims
in Various Parts of the Country, Some of Them in Los Angeles,
Others in Cities of Middle West and East
beating some water and getting anything
that would have relieved the suffering
man. By this time a largo number of
persons had arrived and while some
worked over Thompson the rest did whnt
they possibly could for Matin. Both of
the dying men hail heated water to make
tea or coffee for their meal, and Kccles
took tbis and put salt into it and tried to
force sonio down the throats of the men,
but they did not seem to be able to take
any, or else did not wish to. Old Mr.
Kccles and Mr. Sheedy took a tin cup of
hot water and poured a little down the
throat of Martin, but finully be asked
them to stop and said, "JJow 1 feel bet
ter. Send for my wife and children, as 1
want the.v to be oy my side." Between
the throes of torture he succeeded In tell
ing all of the circumstances of getting
the bottle of wine and how they had
opened it and drank some of the con
tents. He bad not, to judge from his
talk, seen the boy hand the bottle to
Thompson, and the first he knew of it
was when the latter suggested that tney
di ink.
The men kept rubbing Martin until the
flesh was broken. He complained eon•
tinunr.sly of the cramps in the calves of
bis legs and urged tbem to redouble their
efforts.
Thonision nas too fur gone lo be able
to talk or throw any lignt on the affair.
And try as much as possible, the men
were unable to revive hini and he grad
ually sank into a comatose condition,
ami by the time Dr. Hancock arrived
was breathing his last. The physician
gave hint a hypodermic injection, but
the man was doomed and almost within
half a minute after he said "Pull my
legs apart." and then rolled over dead.
Kvery effort was made to save tho life
of Martin and tor a snort while it appear*
eJ as though they would be successful.
Dr. Wing, tbe physician of the railroad,
arrived shortly after Dr. Hancock and to
gether they did all that, was possible for
Martin, Sweet oil was poured down his
throat and eager hands rubbc.l and beat
his tlesh in the desire to see him saved.
But it was not lo be.
Martin drank the poisoned wine about
6:15, About a o'clock ttie spasms began
to abate ana ins twitching hr-enme less,
and the physicians expressed tbe hope
that there was a chance for him to pull
through. He gradually calmed down, but
at 6:20 o'clock Martin breathed his lust
and had gone with his companion as a
sacritice to the fiendish work of a black
coward.
The news of tins most horrible affair
caused a large crowd to gather. .Shortly
after ttie two men fW discovered the
police department was notified, antl De
tectives Goodman and Steele were detailed
on the case. It was not long before tbe
lirst nnd one of the most important clues
as to the identity of the fiend was dis
covered. At tho foot of the viaduct and
about lifty yards from the depot is a
saloon called the First Chance, run by
Anton Cordano. From him were learned
facts tbat will in all probability land the
murderer in the nanda of the law. (Jo»
--dano stated that shortly after b' o'clock a
colored man entered the saloon carrying
a bottle in his hand and asked for a piece
of string to secure the piece of paper that
was around the glass. Cordano produced
I lie string, wherepon the fellow said:
"You tie it forme." The latter held
the bottle while Cordano put the string
around the paper. The darkey then
asked for a card, saying lie wanted to put
the address on the package. Curdano
handed him one of his business cards.
Taking a pencil in his left hand the negro
wrote tho following: "Mr. Gardner,
chair car porter, Santa Fe."
He then handed the card to Cordano
and asked if he could read it. Cordano
looked and replied in the negative. Tbe
chirogrophy is ve.y illegible and requires
considerable study before ono is able to
decipher the words. The negro took
a short piece of string and tied tbe card
to the neck of the bottle and walked out
of tbe saloon. He went down San Fer
nando street towards the Southern I'acilic
depot, but crossed the street about two
ulocks below the saloon at the apex of
the junction willi a small street. Here
lie found young Kccles, and going up to
tlie hoy asked bitu if he would not like
to make lo cents. The boy Baid yes, and
was told that he could earn it by carry
ing the package to the station master at
the Santa Fe depot.
With these words the boy was given the
fatal bottle and lie started toward the
bridge. The neero followed closely be
hind. Young F.ccles went and handed
the bottle to Thompson and the latter
said thnt it was nil right. The boy re
turned to the negro, who was standing at
the south end of the viaduct and told
him that ho hud given the package to the
station master. The negro thereupon
handed him 20 cents and immediately
turned and walked rapidly dow.i San Fer
nando street toward the sotiih. Young
Kccles then went his way little thinking
of the awful tragedy tbat was soon to bo
enacted.
After the polico arrived on tho scene of
the tragedy they took Immediate charge
of the bottle, the paper that had been
around it, the card, the label and the tin
foil cap over the stopper.
Tho bottle is an ordinary quart one and
had been tilled to tbe muzzle with the
poisoned wine. It is a bottle similar to
the kind that contains blue ribbon beer,
starting at a large bottom and tapering
gradually to a small neck. Around it
was a label marked ".Sherry Wine." The
cap over the stopper bore the print of the
Cucamonga winery.
No test was made hst night of the con
tents of the bottle, but it is supposed to
contain sherry wine mixed with a laree
quantity of either strychnine or arsenic.
The color is slightly greenish, but to an
ordinary observer would not bo taken for
other than what it was labeled.
The name of the man lor whom the
fatal bottle had been Intended is Gard
ner. He lias run on the Itedlauds flyer
for the past few months, but about Hires
or four days ago was changed to the San
Diego route, where he had since been.
No doubt the intended murderer had
nut been aware of tbis change and sup
posed that his intended victim was still
on the run, and by leaving tlie bottle at
the small station lie would be more apt
to receive it. than at La Grande depot,
an i besides it would not attract so much
attention.
' Even bad Gardner still been on the
Redlandl run yesterday he would not
have been banded the bottle, for tho rea
ssert tbat it was not given to Thompson
until about an hour and fifteen minutes
after the train for Redlandl had gone uy.
The bodies were removed to the under
taking parlors of Kregelo A Uresee,where
the coroner will probably hold an inquest
today or tomorrow.
Both of tho murdered men had fam
ilies, that of Thompson having just re
turned from the seashore, while tbat of
Martin is at tilendora.
At 11:1)0 this morning Detective Good
man arrested a negro named W. Bugbee
on suspicion of having been the man who
sent tne bottle, lie was caught in the
vicinity of Rosedale.
THE HERALD
LOS ANGELES, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 12, 1895.-TEN PAGES.
POISON FIEND, RAPIST, MURDERER AND ROBBER AT WORK
Many Killed and Injured by Railroad Accidents, While Two Men Die in Los
Angeles From Drinking Poisoned Wine
MORE OF THE TESTIMONY
Blanche Lamont's Sister Maud
Testifies
CROSS-EXAMINE MRS. NOBLE
Never Sought Durrant's Attentions for
Her Niece
Durrant Said Blanche Had Confidence In
All and Believed I vi , on
to Be Gjod
Associated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11.—The trial
of Theodore Durrant is becoming moro
interesting. The district attorney has
proved the death of Blanche Lainont and
has established that the body of the girl
iv Emanuel church was her corpse and
that the clothing hidden in tbo rafters of
the edifice was worn by the girl on the
day she disappeared.
The prosecution is now putting in evi
dence connecting the prisoner with the
crime. The witnesses for tne people
will be called in chronological order, the
intention being to form a chain, the
links of which will be testimony show
ing the movements ot the murdered girl
and the defendant on that fateful third
of April.
Tbe district attorney tried by various
pretexts to ascertain the weight of
Blanche Lamoutat tbe time of her death,
the object being to show that she was
not too heavy to be carried by one man
up into the church belfry. All questions
looking to this will lie objected to by the
defense as heresay and overruled. Final
ly, however, when Maud Lamont, sister
of the murdered girl, was on tbe stand,
the fact was elicited that last September
Blanche was weighed and her weight
found to be 110 pounds. Her sister said
thnt she had gained about seven pound.,.
Tbis was a point for tbe prosecution. The
autopsy surgeon had testified on cross
examination tbat althouggh tbe corpse
had not been weighed he considered the
weight to bs about 140 pounds. The
prosecution will now show that when the
surgeon viewed the corpse tne girl had
been dead ten days, and tbat with morti
lication the corpse bad become swollen
so as to appear heavier than was actually
the case. The defense fought the intro
duction of this evidence hard, but it was
allowed by the court.
Tbe lirst witness today was Mrs. Noble,
aunt of Blanche Lamont. On cross-ex
amination stic denied that she had said
to Durrant. wnen her niece first came
here from Montana: "Now, Theodore, I
wish you would make it as pleasant and
agreeable as you can for these girls of
mine." The witness an id the only oc
casion when Durarnt had taken Blanche
out alone wns in the afternoon. Then
they had been to the park and had re
mained awny so long that Durrant vol
untarily apologized, although the wit
ness had not been anxious at their ab
sence. "After Blanche disappeared," the
witness continued, "Durrant came to my
house with Dr. Vogel to consult übout
her absence. He turned to me and said:
"Blanche was such a good girl; believed
veryone else was as goad as herself, ami
in that Way she might have been carried
off." Maude Lamont told about Durront's
attentions to her sister, corroborating
her aunt's testimony on that point.
Maud positively indentified the ring with
a chip diamond as hers. She said sho
had exchanged with Blanche, each wear
ing tho otner's ring This was one of
the rings returned to Mrs. Noble wrapped
up in a newspaper on tho edge of which
were printed the names of George King,
the church organist, an I Prof. Scherstein,
the elderly music teacher. This same
ring wus positively identified at the
preliminary examination by a second
hand dealer named Oppenheim as one
ottered to him for sale by Durrant after
Blanche disappeared.
The witness identified the clothing
found in the belfry as worn by her sister
on tho morning of ber disappearance.
Adjourned until tomorrow.
DRAOGED TO HIS DEATH
James L. Lynch's Neck Broken and Skull
Crushed
PHOENIX, Ariz., Sept. 11.-James L.
Lynch, a beekeeper living sixteen miles
west of Phoenix,was dragged to his death
this morning. He, with a Mexican, cor
nered a horse by tbe fence and threw a
rope over his head. The horse ran, and
the loose rope forming a balf hitch over
the man's wrist, ho was dragged for half
a mile. His neck was broken, iiis left eye
knocked out and bis skull crushed. The
coroner's jury summoned found as above.
They also censure the parties very severe
ly for removing the body before tbe jury
arrived.
This is the seoend time within a week
that a body has been moved without au
thority. Miller, who was tound shot last
Saturday night, was hurried off to the
undertaker's before the coroner arrived.
HIS RIBS SHOT AWAY
A Gush in the Side Exposing Heart and
Lungs
WILCOX. Ariz.. Sept. 11.—A serious
and pcrahps fatal accident befell two
citizens, Joe Screbl and Joe Nennhu
ben, this afternoon about 1 o'clock. Thoy
had been out duck-shooting on the lake
about eight miles west of town and were
returning across the edge of the lake,
when the horse they were driving became
balky and refused to go. Strehl, who
was driving, took the hammerless shot
gun, whicb had both barrels loaded, hy
tho muzzle ami strung tiio horse a heavy
blow, shattering the gun to atoms and
discharging; the contents of
which they received,
Strehl received the principal injury, re
sulting in a gash in b s leit«sida of about
ten inches in length and exposing his
heart and tunas. Nennhuber, who re
ceived part uf the double charge in his
right arm , side and tbigo, earned his
companion for about two miles, hut had
to abandon him and come to town for
assistance. Both are now restiiiK com
paratively comioriabie,their wounds hav
ing been d'essed by the surgeon, but the
belief is general that Strehl cannot pos
silby live. Ahout four inches of three
ribs were copmletely shot away and bis
lungs are injured, as is shown by the es
cape of breatn through the opening in
his side.
RAILROAD ACCIDENT
Ex-senator Washburn Injured—Narrow Es
cape From a Terrible Disaster
GLEXWOOD, Minn., Sept, 11.—Train
No. 107 on the Minneapolis, Sault Ste.
Marie and Pacific railroad had a narrow
escape from a terrible disaster between
Belgrade and Brooten. Miss Mary Brand
of Cassclton N. D., it is feared, was fa
tally injured, and ex-Senator Washburn
received a seveie wound in the head.
The three real coaches of the train were
derailed, two rf ilieni rolling down an
embankment into a ditch. The accident
>v:is piecipitated by the breaking of the
forward axle of the dining car. Although
Mr. Washburn's wound is an ugly one.
he will recover. Miss Brand's arm is
broken and it is believed she has internal
injuries of a serious nature. The colored
norter on tbe sleeper had his band
crushed, and several others were injured,
though not seriously. On the arrival of
the train here Senator Washburn and
Miss Brand were taken to the Parker
house, wnere Physicians are attending
them. The train had passed only four
feet beyond a high bridgo when the acci
dent occurred.
DEATH TRAVELS ON THE RAIL
Two Passenger Trains Collide at a High
Speed
Four "Xfe' (filled ~oiiTrlght'iri3" Five InJu'redT
It Was a Head.End Collision -I ha
Names of the Dead
ST. CLOUD, Minn., Sept. 11 Passen
ger trains Nos. 2 and 3 on the Great
Northern had a head end collision 'at
Meloy this mcrning. Both were run
ning at. a high speed and came together
wdtli terriiic force. Tho deaa are: J.
K. Emerson, engineer of No. 2; James
Thiibideaux. iireman of No. 2; Ira Hines,
engineer of No. 3, and both baggage
men, one of whom is thought to be H.
Hawkins.
Five are injured, including throe mail
clerks, one brakeman and one passenger
on No. 3.
W recking crews were hurried to tbe:
sceno from B.trnesville and St. Cloud and j
doctors from St. Cloud, Fergus Falls and
Alexandria.
Not since the terrible Nelson collision, j
three years ago, nas the Great Northern :
experienced so dreadful a wreck. It was
a hejd end collision and occurred at 1:40
a. m. No. 2 eastliound passenger train,
wdiile running comparatively at high
speed, met No. 3 eastbound train. The
point when l the accident occurred is on j
top of Pelican hill on a heavy grade |
Just how the wreck happened does not |
appear. That tbe death list is small is <
miraculous, as both engines, mail and
baggage cars are complete wrecks. All
tho dead are residents of St. Paul.
A Chicago Ex-Fireman a riurderer
CHICAGO, Sept. 11.—John Orun, an ex
firenian, said to be ono of tiie survivors
of the fatal cold storage lire at the i
World's Fair, shot anil killed Joseph
Conlon in front of the hitter's homo, 304
Austin avenue, about midnight last
night.
The cause of the shooting, it appeals,
was an imaginary grievance which Oran
bad against his victim. The only witness
to tlie affair was Miss Agnes Conlon. She
said her brother was sitting on the front
steps of their house when Oran and Ills
wife passed. Oran stopped to talk lo her
brother. Tne couversa:ion became loud
aftei a few minutes, when suddenly she
heard Ol mi say, "Joe, if you don't leave
me alone 1 will kill you. ' The next
moment Oran pulled a revolver, and Bred !
three shots in quick succession. Only I
one ol the bullets took dffoot, and it j
struck Conlon in the left breast. He fell i
to the ground and died in a few minutes.
Town Wiped Out by Fire
WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 11.—Word |
reached here lace tonight that a disas
trous fire is raging in Conway Springs, a
town of 1-UO inhabitants in Sumner
county. Half of tho business center, in
ending the postofflce, has been destroyed.
The town is practically without lire pro
tection and its buildings are mostly light
frame structures. A strong wind is blow
ing. If is feared that the whole town
will be swept away.
Attempt to Rob a Train
ST. LOUIS. Sept. 11.—A special from
Klnmundy, 111., to the Post-Dispatob,
says three train robbers attempted to rob
tho northbound Illinois Central.express
rain about two miles north of tills city
last nigt. They were riding on the plat
form of the express car. They cut the
nell cord and then attnekad the cai with
sledge hammers. Hearing the noise the
passengers applied the air brake and
brought the train to a stop. This fright- i
ened the robbers, who jumped off and
made far a corn field. Several shuts were
fired at them by the train crew, without
effect.
THE ACCESSORY CONFESSES
Particulars of the Oceanside
Horror at the Mussel Beds
THE CORONER INVESTIGATES
His Jury Renders a Verdict of Death
by Parties Unknown
Crime the rtotive for Another-
Stlles Was Assaulted Before Being
Associated Pross Special Wire.
SAN DIEGO, Sept. li Further de
tails of the horrible tragedy at the mussel
beds, north of Oceanside, received today,
indicate that the murder of Mrs. L»roy
R, Stiles and her father, J. B. Borden,
yesterday, was Committed by a half-breed
and a white man, strangers in the
vicinity. Stiles and Borden, the latter
SO years old, went iisbing some distance
from cam]i, where the former recollected
seeing two suspiciuus characters hanging
about the eunip. He sent Borden back
to remain with Mrs. Stiles. After fishinp
about two hours Stiles returned and
found both lying dead. The old man
was shot through tbe left s'de and also
through the head, and Mrs. Stiles was
shot through the head. It cannot be
learned whether or not Mrs. Stiles was
assaulted, but a man who gnar led the
camp last night gave tho opinion that she
was, though ho did not disturb the situ
ation of the body or anything about the
camp, pending tbe airival of the coro
ner.
After Stiles' horrible discovery be
started with a team for Oceanside to
notify the authorities. On the way he
was accosted by a half-breed, who asked
for a ride. Stiles was not armed and be
lieved ttie negro intended co kill him.
He refused to give him a ride. Farther
down the road lie met a rancher who took
a note to Oceanside, Stiles returning to
guard the bodies. Stiles described tbe
negro as of rather light complexion, good
sizeu and dressed in blouse cluthes or
overalls. The white man wu i small and
of sandy complexion. He was not in
signt when the negro asked Stiles for a
ride. The coroner, in company with the
district attorney and Deputy Sheriff Jen
kins and a posse, went to the scene this
morning ami an inquest is now being
held.
OCEANSIDE, Cal., Sept. 11.-About 3
p. m. yesterday word was received here
from Los Flores that a murder had been
committed at ttie mussel beds, about two
miles north of this place. Mrs. Stiles and
J. G. Borden oeing the victims. The
coroner at San Diego was communicated
with and ho telegraphed that he would be
up on this morning's train and hold an
inquest. Constable Brookman started
from here about 0 u'clock to take charge
of the bo.iies. Postmaster Wentze of
this place drove up to the mussel beds
last evening and brings back some par
ticulars of the murder.
It appears that Mr. Stilos and his
father-in-law. Borden, started to go fish
ing yesterday morning about a mile from
camp at about !) o'clock. Mr. Stiles
noticed two men walking toward his
camp, and he said to Mr. Borden, "You
had better go hack to camp, as Mrs.
Stiles may he alarmed if she sees strange
men around." So the old man. who was
So years of age, went hack. On return
ing to cum]) about 11 a. m. Stiles found
the dead bodies. They had been shot.
The mussel beds aro about ten miles
north of this place and in a lonesome
place. A few people live at Los Flores.
two miles tbis side of them, where there
is a creamery.
From the disordered condition of Mrs.
Stiles' clothing it is evident that rape
was committed. Mr. Stiles farms near
Fall brook, Mrs. Stiles was (il years old.
iler spectacles were still on.
Tbe Stiles family were camped in a
tent. From the appeaarnce of the place
it seems that wticn the old mm returned
ho went through the front entrance of
the tent and stood his walking cane just
inside, and near it a can he had carried
sonic lunch in. He then must have
stumbled over the dead body of his
daughter (he was very near-sighted) as
his glasses wore found" near there, and lie
was heard ivy the party who killed Mrs.
Stiles, who "shot htm twice—once in the
head and again iv the stomach. Mrs.
Stiles was snot in the head, and may also
have been shot in tho body. If it was
the two men seen near the place who
committed the deed, they can easily bo
identified, as the section men gave them
their breakfast that morning and talked
to tbem quite a wnile. One was a man
aix feet high, d3rk complexion, might bo
a mulatto. The other was a smaller
man, light hair and had a small hand
valise. The men separated, as later in
tbe day the smaller man was seen coming
south. lioth men were respectably
dressed.
ADMITS GUILTY KNOWLEDGE
The coroner's inquest, held this after
noon, over the bodies of .1. D. Borden
and Elizabeth Stiles, murdered at the
mussel beds twelve miles north of here
yesterday, reports that they came to their
death tio.n gunshot wounds a; the hands
or parties unknown. The evidence shows
thut two suspicious characters were in
the vicinity at the time of the crime.
One of tbe men was tall and the other
short.
Later—The short man arrested at Fall
brook today admits his knowledge of the
crime, and says his companion did tbe
Killing. The bodies were takon to Fall
brook this evening.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
SAX DIEGO, Sept. 11.—Details of the
murder of Mrs. Le Roy R. Stiles and her
father, J. 15. Borden, at their camp on
the beach, twelve miles from Oceanside,
only serve to make the crime the mjre
mysterious, no possible motive bcine
known for the barbarous killing of tbe
aged couple.
k One man who is believed to know some
thing about tbe murder, if be was not
actually concerned in it, is already in
custody, anil officers are hot on the trail
of his companion, who is thought to have
been tbe actual perpetrator of tho foui
deed.
This morning several officers went to
the scene of the tragedy. They lound the
hrdies undisturbed. At the "entrance of
the tent lay the corpse ol Mrs. Stiles.
She had evidently bien killed without
warning. Her face was powder burned
and a wound in the left cheeK marked
tbe spot where ihe fatal bullet had en
tared. An examination showed that an
other bullet lind passed through her left
arm and entered her side. There was
no Indication tuat an outrage bad been
attempted. The body ol old Mr. llorden
was found in the center ot the tent. He
bad been shot through the head and ab
domen. No attempt had been made to
plunder the tent or rob the bodies.
An inquest was held. Tbe principal
witness was Le Roy B. Stiies, the bus
band of the murdered woman. He tes
tified that his father in-law, wife an,:
himself had come down to the beach an
camped. Yestedny morning Mr. Borde
und Stiles started fishing, leaving Mrs.
burden at the tent. They saw two men
on the bluff, one tall and heavy set and
the other very small. Mr. Stiles told Mr.
Borden he bad better return to camp and
watch the place. Before noon Mr. Stiles
returned. He found his wife and her
father dead in tho tent, having been
shot,
The officers made a careful examina
tion of the tent, but could discover no
motive for the murder. Borden's pocket
book had not been taken.
Before the inquest was concluded one
of the suspected men, the short one, was
arrested, but his companion has not been
caught.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was
simply that the deceased came to their
deaths a. Ihe hands of unknown persons.
A posse is scouring the country for the
other man.
A THIEVING BARBER
Stole Prom Ills Employers but Is Finally
Captured
A clever bit of work was done by De
tective Hawley yesterday which resulted
in the arrest of George Vatlient and tbe
recovery of a lot of stolen property. Val
lient ia a bsrber who bears a very un
savory reputation, and he has been
wanted for numerous petty crimes, but
until yesterday succeeded In evading ar
rest. He nas been stealing systematical
ly at different places in tbis city, his
practice being to hire out as a b rber and
then rob his employer.
Day before yesterday Vallient sought a
position in the barber shop of J. St Mer
rill, whose place of business is near tne
corner of Seventh street and Grand ave
nue, saying that he would like lo get
work on Sundays. Instead he was given
a chair yesterday morning. During tho
noon hour Mr. Merrill left the place in
Val lieut's charge, and upon his return
found the man missing, together with
the money from tne till, amounting to
abort,s2 and three of his best razors.
On tno previous day Vallient stole a
ladies' gold watch and chain from an
other barber. John Laidout, whoso shop
is at 329 North Main street.
Detective Hawley went to work on the
ease, but was unable to lind his man at
his residence on tho conrer of Howland
and Forrester streets. It appears that the
fellow has been skipping about from
lodging house to another. The
otlicer linally located him in a house on
L.os Angeles street, where lie lay in wait
and captured him at 10o'clock last night.
On his person and in his room were a
number of stolen articles, all of which
wore recovered. Vallient has made a con
fession of his guilt.
TRIED TO COMMIT RAPE
E. G. Toleman 'lakes a Bad Break and Is
Now in Jail
E. G. Toleman waa arrested Tuesday
■light by Detectives [[Goodman and Steele
for assault to commit rape. The lady
who was the object of his attacks is Mrs.
H. Langley, who resides on Olive, near
Fifth atreet.
A bout 10 o'clock t iat evening Mrs.
hangley was Walking along M.iin street
by the p;istotlint?, when T< leman ap
proached and asekd her to accompany
him to iiis room, ishe hurried along, go
ing up Fifth street, the man still follow
ing her. At the corner of Olive ho caugnt
up and graspij her by the waist, insist
ing that sue should accompany him. She
screamed loudly, and ex-Mayor Henry T.
Hazard, who happened to tie in thejpa
vilion, ran out, and took Toleman to the
bicycle school, where he summoned the
pattiri wagon.
Toleman was arraigned before Justice
Morrison yesterday on a charge of assault
to commit rape. Toleman does not deny
Having made improper proposals to Mr.**.
Langley. out saysthnt ha thought she
waj v stteet walker. He will be examined
tomorrow at 9 a. m.
A Father's Crime
John Martina and his duugher. a girl
about l!> years of age, were arrested at
S.m Gabriel yesterday by Humane OtHccr
Hu ten ins ami Deputy Sheriff Martin,
brought to this city and looked up on a
charge of incest. tlt is alleged that the
girl has already given birth to ono child
by her father and is again pregnant.
The details ol the case are too revolting
to be published. It is stated that the at
tention of tne officer! Nad been called to
the matter on previous occasions, but
nothing was ever proved against the
couple thai would warrant their arrest.
host Their Purse
Two young ladles came into the police
station last inght and reported to an offi
cer the loss of a pocket book containing
$11.20. They had been in an oyster 11011*0
with a couple of gentlemen, so they said,
and after leaving the place found that the
purse was missing. Retaining to Ida
restaurant they made inquiry for Ihe lost
articie, but were unable to hud it. A
detective who investigated the matter
was eaually unsuccessful. i
The Weather Is Cooler
yyQ WONDER the People Talk
About THE HERALD'S want ads. They are
growing, crowing. Compare them- Not only
on Sunday! On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The people like THE HERALD for the news
PRICE FIVE CENTS
THEIR BODIES IN SHREDS
Bits of Flesh Hanging in
the Treetops
Fill IN » 10 PIECES
A Caisson Containing Sixty
Pounds of Powder Explodes
BODIES BLOWN OVER HOUSES
Flesh and Pieces of Bloody Uaiforra
Scattered Along tbe Street
A Colored Driver Blown Three Hundred Feet
by tbe Force of tbe Explorlon
A List of the Injured and Dead—Alt
Were Members of the First Kentucky
Artllery and Louisville Legion.
Graphic Details ot
the Explosion
Associated Presi Special Wire.
LOUISVILLE. Ky., Sept. 11.—A nor.
accident, resulting in the death ol
four and the wounding of several mem
bers of the Louisvide legion, occurred
shortly after 5:30 this morning by the ex
plosion of a caisson,
ibo dead are:
Corporal ft, L. ROBINSON.
Private CHARLES BIECHNER. " "
Private M'BRIDOE.
Driver W. ADAMS, colored.
The wounded are: Sergeant Fred Conn,
Private E. William Hobbs.
The accident occurred on Broadway,
between Third and Fourth streets, where
the (First Kentucky artillery were sta
tioned for,the purpose of firing a morn
ing salute. Eye witnesses say the explo
sion was caused by dropping the oaissou
on the friction primer of the piece. ;Two
bodies were blown over the housetops
and horribly mangled The wounded
nere removed to hospitals. The two
horses attached to the cannon were so
horribly mangled that they will be killed.
With the exception of the colored driver
the men were members of Bal'.e-y A,
Kentucky National guard.
The whole left side of Conn's fa :e was
blown off. Even if he should reoover b«*
will be blind and horribly dial (nreo.
Hobbs was badly burned about.t'e f;toe
and bruised. Fortunately few people were
on the street, owing to the curly hr, or
the list of killed and injured would un
doubtedly have been greatly increased.
Every window in the block was blown
out. Nearly everyone in the neighbor
hood was alsoep. and the noise created a
panic. The body of the colored driver
was mangled almost beyond recognition,
and fell on the front porch of a residence
fully 300 feet from tho place wiiere tbe
explosion occurred. Bits of flesh and
pieces of bloody uniform wero scattered
all along the street, clinging to tree-tops
and in shattered windows. A leg and
half a coat were found one block south of
where tbe explosion occurred. They had
been blown clear over a three-story and
basement house. Several mangled legs
and arms were found on the tops of ad
joining houses. It is believed that the
body of Private Hutchins was blown to
pieces, as it has not yet been found. The
body of Howard Irwin was so badly
mangled tbat it was almost impossible
to gather it up without a shovel. It was
found a block away.
g The battery was on the way to Phoenix
bill for the purpose of tiring a salute.
There were sixty-six pounds of powder
in the caisson. Ilichard Cogin, wbo was
about two blocks from the caisson when
it blew up, said the buildings, even at
that distance, were shaken and windows
shattered.
In a few minutes every one in the
THE NEWS
J3 V TELEGRAPH— Emanuel cliureb
tragedy—Mussel beds triple murder-
Sporting events —Chicago shooting—
Ex-Senator Washburn injured—Cais
son explosion at Louisville—Man
dragged to his death—Train collision
on the Great Northorn—Fire at Mer
ced— News trom Santa Monica, San
Bernardino, Santa Ana, Lijng Beach,
Pasadena, Anaheim and Pomona—
Baseball notes—The committee ac«
cords the victory to the Defender—
World's record beaten—s3,ooo,ooo gold
deposited—Ex-Congressman MeShane
charged with conspiracy to defraud—
Damaging showers in Nortbern Cali
fornia.
ABOUT THE CITY.—Real estate and
building; a review of tho week; home
builders at work—Meetng of the board
of tire commissioners—Session of the
police commissioners; Theodore
'Pimm's hearing continued until
Tuesday next—The investigating
committee has its evidence against
Rabbi A. Blum; a special meetinf
of the boatd of education to be called
at once—The newsboys given a treat
by J. H. Roller of the Los Angeles
Creamery company—Meeting of the
board of county supervisors yesterday
— l.ocb va. Blnni; hints at tho exist
ence of an immoral watch and the in
vestigation—The polite world — Meet
ing of the directors ot the chamber
of commerce—A serious joke fnr
house painter Seegar—Last night's
sacred Heart church fair- Edith Lem
mert, formerly of this city, leaves her
husband in Cincinnati—A barber
steals from his employers and is ar
rested—A toxicological tragedy; two
white men succumb to a negro's doc
tored wine.
WHERE YOU nAY 00 TODAY
3RPHEUM.—At 8 p.m.; vaudeville.
BUHBANK.-At » p.m.; The Colonel'"
Wives. S