CAYOLO-L Archives

From: Betty <>
Subject: Sac Union July 2 1886
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 14:35:17 -0700

The Daily Record-Union
Sacramento, Cal.
Friday, July 2, 1886

THE HARLAN CASE
Further Testimony as to Threats by Deceased - S.J. Sill's Evidence
In the HARLAN case at Woodland yesterday W.R. POND's testimony was
continued. He said: I reside in Woodland; am a member of the firm of Pond &
Lawson, dealers in drugs and medicines; knew CRAFT prior to his death; have
known him since 1877; know S.J. SILL, also T.S. SPAULDING, R.H. BEAMER, the
Sheriff, also defendant, J.H. HARLAN, and his family, F.J. BARNES and F.B.
NELSON; Craft and Nelson were acquaintances; Craft was also acquainted with
William PROVOST and F.C. WIDKOFF. At the time of the homicide I was at the
store. I am a druggist; I received a dispatch from Sacramento from Craft to
meet him at the Byrns Hotel; I met him there. We went into the parlor; the
deceased closed the door and window shutters. We then conversed about the
marriage of Sill and Miss Harlan. Saw him again at the store about 5 o'clock
with Sig DAVIS, Sill and R.H. BEAMER. They went into Dr. KIER's office ( a
back room in my store). I saw him again Wednesday evening about 6 o'clock.
He came into the back room of my store. He took me by the overcoat, saying
he wanted to talk to me. We went out of the back door of the store. I had
just put on my coat to go to supper. Our conversation was short. He began
the conversation by saying: "Do you know that I would be justified in going
out on the street and shooting Steve Sill down like a dog? My friends advise
me to do it, and are surprised that I don't do it. I have money and friends
to back me, and no harm can come to me if I do do it. I haven't done it, but
if that ó ó ó (referring to Miss Harlan) don't exonerate me soon I will" -
and he placed his hand in his hip pocket menacingly. Witness said, "That
sounds like lives would be sacrificed; I hope nothing of this kind will come
of this little matter between you and Vic (Miss Harlan)." To which Craft
replied, "That's about what it has come to. I am heeled and don't intend to
be killed."
Witness was subjected to a long cross-examination, but his testimony was
unchanged.
T.S. Spaulding testified: Am a grocer; am a brother of R.S. Spaulding, a
son-in-law of defendant. Saw Craft in Sacramento on the Tuesday before the
homicide. Craft said: "So Steve and Vic are married?" I said, "Yes." Craft
said, "I go to Woodland by the 11:15 train. Somebody is going to die when I
get there, but don't know who it will be. Revenge is sweet, and I am going
to have it. I am going to carry my point if I have to sacrifice life and
honor, and if that ó ó (Miss Harlan) don't exonerate me, I will" - making a
threatening gesture to his hip pocket. I saw him afterward on that day, on
the 11:15 train to Woodland, and conversed with him most of the way. At
Davisville I saw that he had a pistol in his pocket.
In the afternoon the cross-examination was concluded, but nothing had been
developed beyond what was brought out in the forenoon.
S.J Sill was then sworn, and testified that he was born in Sacramento in
1856; had lived in Yolo county since he was two months old; was married to
Miss Harlan on February 1st; saw deceased in October, 1885 in Woodland, and
drove in a buggy with him; Craft spoke to him about Miss Harlan, and
appeared to be rather nervous; deceased called on witness in the latter's
store about the middle of December and said that Harlan had circulated
reports about him, and had told around that he was living with a woman in
Sacramento, and he would be even with him for that yet; his manner was very
violent and threatening; he said he would see Miss Harlan dead in her coffin
before he would see her another man's wife; that he had a bombshell fixed,
which he would throw into her camp before long, which would make her wish
she had never been born; said he was too smart for her, and that she had
scared up the wrong man when she tackled him; he also said: "You may ask her
to marry you, you may get all ready, she may accept, but the wedding will
never come off; I will prevent it." About two weeks before that I walked
with Craft, and he talked about Miss Harlan and said he would talk with me
later on a very unpleasant subject. At one of these times he said Miss
Harlan was a ó ó liar, and that she had lied to him about everything, and
that he would give her a taste of hell before he got through with her. He
said that he wanted witness to tell Miss Harlan what he had said and witness
afterwards told a portion of it. At that particular time she was in Butte
county. He next saw Craft on the day after his marriage, in the parlor of
Byrnes Hotel. Deceased invited him up there, and closed the doors and
windows. During the interview deceased put his hand behind him, and at one
time partially drew his pistol from his pocket. His manner was then
threatening, and he had his hand on his pistol during the greater portion of
the interview. At the time he partially drew his pistol out he was talking
about defendant. Deceased said: "If you do not furnish me that paper, ó ó
you, I will make you," referring to witness and his wife, and he referred to
a paper he wished Mrs. Sill to sign. He demanded that she sign the paper
before the following Sunday. He said if he did not get a definite answer
that night he would take proofs and papers which he then held in his hand
and go to old Harlan and force him to make his daughter sign it. At that
time he had his hand on his pistol. Witness said, "Very well, you go to
Harlan, and see what kind of a reception he will give you." He said, ""I
will force him to do it; and I have got an instrument here to do it with,"
and he partially pulled his pistol out. He said if he did not get the paper
he would blacken the characters of witness and wife until they could not
walk upon the streets and hold up their heads and he would make them so
afraid of him that they would not dare appear on the streets. Witness was
then unarmed. Witness then got Sheriff BEAMER to go with him to see Craft,
and they went in the back room of POND's drug store. Witness said to Craft,
"I have come to give you your answer." Craft said, "Now I have your answer,
I shall proceed to act. If the paper had been furnished me which I desired
no trouble would have come from me, but, as it is not, I intend to see the
thing through to the end.." Craft was very much excited and threatening.
Witness was armed, and there was a collision between him and Craft. Witness
and his wife saw defendant on Thursday next, and communicated to him all
that Craft had said to him.
A question was then asked what statement he then made to defendant, and
the prosecution objected, unless it was simply confined to threats
concerning defendant or a member of his family. The defense claimed the
right to prove the entire conversation, and pending argument the Court
adjourned. To-morrow evening an adjournment will be had until Tuesday.



Stealing At Woodland - A woman named Maud SILVERSTEIN, said by the police to
be a panel thief, was arrested in this city yesterday by officer YAGER on a
telephonic message from Woodland, accusing her of having robbed a man there,
on the previous evening, of $30. She came over to Sacramento yesterday
morning. When searched at the station house she had only one dollar in her
possession, which she said she intended to use to purchase a return ticket
to Woodland in the evening.


MARRIED

Woodland, June 28 - Wife of Wm. VOORHEES, a son.
Woodland, June 28 - Wife of Edward HART, a son.

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• Sac Union July 2 1886 by Betty <>