NORCAL-L Archives

From: Betty <>
Subject: Sac Bee Aug 25 1905
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 13:26:55 -0700

The Evening Bee
Sacramento, Cal.
Thursday, August 24, 1905
Page 6


SHOOTS DOWN HIS VICTIM AND THEN DEMANDS MONEY OR WOUNDED MAN'S LIFE
After Getting All He Can, Assailant Conveys Helpless Man to Placer County
Hospital on the Latter's Promise Not to Betray Him
AUBURN (Placer Co.), August 24 - One of the most remarkable crimes ever
committed in this section became known here this morning when Frederick
VENZKE, Superintendent of the Bald Mountain Mine, while lying wounded and
helpless on a cot at the County Hospital, told of how John L. CASKEY, a
discharged employe and all-round bad man, had shot and robbed him on Tuesday
morning last, and then, on his promise not to betray him to the authorities,
summoned help and brought him to Auburn for treatment.
The Bald Mountain Mine is in the Canada Hill district, and there Caskey
worked under Venzke for about a year, when he was discharged for dishonesty
and general worthlessness. Recently he passed several forged checks to which
he is said to have signed Venzke's name. Two of these, for $100 each, he got
rid of at Westville, and two more - one for $44 and the other for $100 - at
Last Chance. Payment was stopped on some of the checks.
Venzke, it seems, stood in fear of the man. It was not until this morning
that he told of how Caskey had attacked and robbed him. He first told his
story to Steward J.T. WALSH, and later repeated it to a Bee representative.
In substance it is as follows:
Monday last Caskey appeared at Venzke's cabin, but left that evening,
saying he was going to Last Chance. Early Tuesday morning, however, he
reappeared and watched Venzke leave the house. He immediately slipped in and
securing the Superintendent's gun came out and fired at him. The discharge
caught Venzke in the lower part of the left leg, breaking the bone and
inflicting a dangerous and very painful wound.
Venzke fell to the ground, and Caskey ran up, gun in hand. He demanded
$1000, which he said he knew the Superintendent had concealed somewhere
about the place, and threatened to kill him at once if the money was not
forthcoming. Venzke protested, saying he had no such amount on hand. He
finally told where $140 was buried in a can. This Caskey got, and also
nuggets valued at $120. He then presented a check for $300 to the wounded
man and ordered him to sign it. Venzke pleaded, but at last was forced to
put his name to a check for $100.
Being helpless, he promised Caskey that if he would summon assistance and
have him conveyed to the County Hospital in Auburn he would not betray him
to the authorities, but would invent a story to explain his plight. To this
Caskey finally agreed, and the wounded man was brought here.
It was not until this morning, however, that Venzke aroused courage enough
to tell Steward Walsh how he came to be wounded. As soon as the Steward
realized what had happened he sent word to Sheriff KEENA, and that officer
at once placed Caskey under arrest.
Strange to say, the man had remained in town all the time, spending money
freely. Last night he called upon Venzke at the hospital and returned him
$100 in greenbacks. When arrested he had but $41 on his person. The nuggets
were located at one of the local hotels, and delivered to the officers on an
order signed by the prisoner. He says he is willing to plead guilty, but
before doing so, says he wants to read the complaint that Venzke is to swear
to. Caskey claims to be a discharged soldier, and says he served in the
Phillippines.
The news of the remarkable crime has aroused a great deal of interest
here. Venzke says, and his view is generally accepted, that Caskey meant to
kill him, and would have done so had he not pleaded so earnestly and
promised not to betray him.

BULLET WENT THROUGH HAIR
Woman Passenger On Train Narrowly Escapes Death At Hands Of Young Hunters,
Who Are Arrested
WEED (Siskiyou Co.), August 24 - A woman passenger on the north-bound Oregon
Express, which passed through here last Wednesday morning, had a miraculous
escape from death from a flying bullet fired at the passing trains by
careless hunters.
While the train was moving along at a lively rate, a shot rang out and a
the same time the window of one of the coaches crashed into splinters. The
woman passenger, whose name has not been learned and who was sitting close
to the window, felt a rifle ball pass through her hair in the back part of
her head, just grazing the skull. The passengers in the train became greatly
alarmed, and much excitement prevailed. It was some time before all realized
that the flying bullet did no serious damage.
The matter was reported to the railroad authorities and special officers
were put to work upon the case. The result was three boys, who gave their
names as William TOMPKINS, Robert TOMPKINS and Carl FOX were placed under
arrest upon a felony charge. They were taken to Yreka and given a
preliminary examination yesterday. They were all held to answer, and bail in
each case was fixed at $500.

TOWN MARSHAL JAILED
TRUCKEE (Nevada Co.), August 24 - Albert JOHNSON, former Town Marshal of
Loyalton, who, while on a drunk here a few nights ago shot and slightly
wounded "Buck" BAILEY, was fined $100 Tuesday afternoon and sentenced to
serve ninety days in the County Jail at Nevada City.

THOUGHTFUL MRS. BIRD SAVES HUSBAND $300
CHICO (Butte Co.), August 24 - An interesting incident following the fire at
Oroville, which occurred yesterday morning, came to light here to-day. It
seems that about two weeks ago Mr. and Mrs. Henry BIRD, of Oroville,
prepared to take their annual camping trip to the mountains, but before
going Mr. Bird was urged by his wife to insure several buildings which he
owns in that city. For some reason he neglected to attend the matter and
departed on his trip without giving it further attention.
In the fire yesterday one of the buildings was destroyed. Then is was that
Mr. Bird waxed exceeding wroth and admonished himself greatly for not
heeding the advice of his wife. Great was his surprise, therefore, to learn
a few hours later that his wife had, previous to their departure for the
mountains, quietly insured the property and that instead of the fire netting
him a dead loss he will recover in the neighborhood of $3000.

MRS. CHAS. KROEGER DEAD
CHICO (Butte Co.), August 24 - Linnie KROEGER, wife of Charles KROEGER, who
is very well known in this community, died yesterday afternoon in this city.
Besides her husband she leaves several small children.

WEDS THE MAN OF HER CHOICE
Sixteen-year-old Girl By Appealing to Father's Former Wife, Her Mother, Gets
License And Marries
ORLAND (Glenn Co.), August 24 - Once again has the truth of the old saying
that "Love will find a way" been demonstrated. It required a lawyer to do
it; but one was found equal to the occasion, and now every one is happy but
the obdurate father of the bride, who refused his consent to her marriage.
When Minnie ARMSTRONG, of Newville, 16 years of age, went to her father
and told him of her love for Robert L PERRY and of her desire to wed him,
she was met with an emphatic refusal. She was entirely too young, her parent
said, and the thing she asked was out of the question. In three or four
years, if she felt then that she wanted to marry young Perry, he would
regard the matter in a different light.
It so happens that Armstrong and his wife were divorced quite a while ago,
and that the mother of his daughter married again and now lives in Redding.
When told of this State of affairs, the attorney to whom the young couple
turned in their dire perplexity at once advised them to see this woman and
ask her to go before a notary and make oath that she gave her consent to the
marriage.
It was decided to accept the advise and accordingly a trip was made to
Redding, where the girl's mother was found after some trouble. She did not
hesitate long, and with her sworn consent in their possession, the happy
young couple went to Willows and there were married.
They returned to Newville Monday afternoon, and received the
congratulations of the people of the town.

SAVED FROM 80-FOOT FALL TO PROBABLE DEATH
WILLOWS (Glenn Co.), August 24 - While painting on the grammar school
building Tuesday, Con O'HAIR had a narrow escape from death. He was
descending to the roof of the building from the tower at the eastern edge
when the ladder became loosened from its fastenings and started down with
its occupant.
The flight was checked by the outer scaffolding, but not until the ladder
had turned completely over, leaving O'Hair on the end that hung out from the
roof, eighty feet above the ground. He was hauled to a place of safety by
his fellow laborers.

DEATH CALLS A FORMER RESIDENT OF SACRAMENTO
VALLEJO (Solano Co.), August 24 - In South Vallejo last Saturday Mrs. Mary
WICKSTROM, wife of C.E. WICKSTROM, passed away. Her funeral took place
yesterday.
Mr. and Mrs. Wickstrom years ago resided in Sacramento, where they had
many friends. He was employed in the railroad shops there. She was 60 years
of age at the time of her death. The following children survive her: Carl
Wickstrom, of Oakland, and Mrs. Lillian W. ATWOOD, of Stockton.

LITIGATION OVER STEWART ESTATE
Nine Heirs Made Defendants In Suit By Four Others To Enforce An Alleged
Verbal Contract
YUBA CITY (Sutter Co.), August 24 - An important action was commenced in the
Superior Court of this county yesterday wherein a large estate is involved
in what promises to be a big lawsuit. The suit is brought by John H.
STEWART, Charles E. STEWART, Luella M. RILAY and Mabel S. KELLOGG against
Mary S. SMITH, formerly Stewart, and eight of the other children of the late
Mrs. Annie Stewart. It is brought to establish an alleged verbal contract
entered into between the plaintiffs - the last two named being daughters of
Elizabeth RILAY, now deceased - and the late Mrs. Annie Stewart.
The substance of the alleged contract, as set out in the complaint, is
that John and Charles Stewart and Mrs. Elizabeth Rilay, in consideration of
their deeding to their mother, Mrs. Annie Stewart, for her use and benefit
for life, all their interest in the estate of their father, James S.
Stewart, were to share equally with the other eight children in her estate
at her death, and that in her will she would devise to the eleven children
all her estate, share and share alike.
In August, 1904, Mrs. Annie Stewart died, and as set out in the complaint,
her will, which was admitted to probate, did not mention the plaintiffs, but
devised all her estate to the other eight children, the defendants in this
suit. At the time of her death Mrs. Steward's estate amounted to over
$32,000, all in notes and cash.
In conversation with the attorneys for the plaintiffs to-day they stated
that a fierce legal battle was anticipated; that their clients proposed to
establish by a preponderance of testimony that such an agreement was entered
into soon after the settling up of the estate of the late James S. Stewart,
and that they considered this a surer means of establishing their rights to
at two-tenths interest in their mother's estate then to undertake to break
the will.

BRIDE SAT ALONE BECAUSE HUSBAND WAS A PRISONER
NEVADA CITY (Nevada Co.), August 24 - George NEAGLE, the Wells-Fargo Express
Company agent on the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railway, was married early
yesterday morning and started for the first train immediately after the
ceremony on the wedding tour. When he had seen his bride seated on the
train, he went into the baggage-car and that was the last Mrs. Neagle saw of
him till they reached Colfax.
The train crew ironed him to his seat and he had to stand the chaffing of
everyone on board. Mrs. Neagle took the situation calmly and seemed to be
rather amused at the plight of her husband of an hour when they explained it
to her. All the same, there was a most affectionate greeting at Colfax
between the two.

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