History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 31

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 31

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of Goslaw, this time for murder. He was tried in the Superior Court at San Jose and, having no attorney, the court appointed a young man who had just been admitted to the bar. Thus handicapped, Goslaw had slim chance of es- caping conviction under testimony adduced by the prosecution, supplemented by the power- ful arguments made by the district attorney and his aids. The jury found Goslaw guilty of murder in the first degree and the death sentence was imposed. Without money and lacking powerful friends, Goslaw was unable to take further steps that might have saved his neck. His newspaper friends did what they could, but no headway against the tide of inflamed public opinion could be made. But they resolved that when the time came for marching him to the scaffold he should not be in a condition to realize his position. There- fore some of these friends stayed in the death cell all of the night preceding the execution. They plied Goslaw with liquor which he was quite willing to drink so that when the sheriff came to take him to the scaffold he was so far gone in liquor that he could neither stand on his feet nor understand what the sheriff wanted. In that maudlin condition he met his death and the persons who were responsible for this condition have never regretted their work. They felt at the time that a judicial murder was about to be committed and that it was a humane act to ameliorate if they could not deaden the victim's mental agony. In their opinion Goslaw should have been con- victed of manslaughter and it was afterwards their belief that had the trial been postponed for six months such a verdict would have been rendered.

On July 2, 1892, San Jose was visited with the most disastrous fire in its history. Half the block-the southern half-between San Fernando and Santa Clara Streets and First and Second Streets was burned. Among the fine buildings destroyed were the Lick House, the South Methodist Church, the California Theater and Krumb's Brewery.

In the early '90s a mystery case baffled the ingenuity of the city and county officers. Henry Planz was a bookkeeper at the Fred- ericksburg Brewery on the Alameda. As far as anyone knew he was without enemies. He was a tall, straight fellow, twenty-five years of age, single and lived the ordinary life of the young men of his time. On the evening of November 10, 1892, he came to San Jose and next morning his dead body was found hanging from the limb of a pepper tree on the northern side of Julian Street, not far from the bridge over the Guadalupe. When the of- ficers arrived it was at first supposed that Planz had committed suicide, but investiga-

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tions made after the body had been cut down soon dispelled this theory. It was a case of murder beyond the shadow of a doubt. An examination of the contents of the stomach of the dead man showed that he had been pois- oned and there were evidences about the clothing which denoted that the body had been dragged for some distance before it was suspended from the limb of the tree. The heels of the shoes, seat of the trousers and back of the coat were abraded and dusty and there was ground-in dust on the back of the head. When the body was cut down a scarf tied over the face was found. At the inquest the conclusion was reached that Planz was dead before the hanging and that the mur- derer or murderers had driven along the street in a wagon containing the dead body and that the body had been dragged over the dusty street to the pepper tree. A verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons un- known was rendered.

The mystery became a state-wide sensation. Detectives came from San Francisco to assist the local officers in trying to ferret out the truth, but nothing came of their efforts. A number of years afterward the pepper tree was cut down, but while it remained on Julian Street is was one of the sight-seeing (?) at- tractions of San Jose.

In 1896 a still greater sensation agitated San Jose and Central California. It was a sextuple murder committed by James C. Dun- ham, a young man who had heretofore borne an unblemished reputation. A few years be- fore he had married the stepdaughter of Colo- nel MeGlincy, an orchardist, whose home was on the Los Gatos road about six miles from San Jose. After their baby was born they separated on account of Dunham's cruelty, the wife taking refuge in the home of her mother, Mrs. McGlincy. The other inmates of the household, besides father, mother and daughter were James Wells, Mrs. Dunham's brother, a servant and two hired men. One night Dunham came to the house, for the pur- pose it was supposed, to induce his wife to again live with him. When he arrived late in the evening, McGlincy and Wells were gone, having left on hour or so earlier to attend a meeting at Campbell. Dunham entered the house, took off his shoes and ascended the stairs to the second story, where his wife's bedroom was located. What transpired in that room between husband and wife will never be known. But the fact remains that the woman was choked to death, although the babe was not harmed. There must have been a struggle for the servant coming out of her room adjoining was met by Dunham and killed. The double murderer then ascended

the stairs to find Mrs. McGliney on the first Hoor. She had heard the noise upstairs and had come out to investigate. Dunham killed her and then calmly waited for the return of MeGlincy and Wells. At last they came and as they entered the front door Dunham shot and killed MeGlincy. Wells then rushed for- ward, was shot, but despite his wound, grap- pled with Dunham and threw him to the floor. But the murderer was the stronger and soon Wells was a corpse.

Across the back yard was the barn where the two hired inen were. One of them heard the shots and rushed out to ascertain the cause. A bullet from Dunham's pistol ended his lfe. The other hired man, fearing for his own life, retreated to the loft of the barn and covered himself up in the hay. Dunham rushed over to the barn for the purpose of making a clean sweep, but failed to find his man. His murderous work over, he mounted a horse, and still in his stocking feet, rode toward San Jose. Next day he was seen on Smith Creek by Elmer Snell and Oscar Parker, the last named the keeper for the Morrow ranch. Dunham appeared on horse- back at Parker's cabin, about a mile south of the hotel, asked for something to eat and hav- ing been accommodated rode on up the can- von toward Indian Gulch. Next day Sheriff Lyndon of Santa Clara County, Sheriff Phil- lips of Santa Barbara County, a force of dep- uties and a large body of citizens. arrived at Smith Creek. Phillips brought two blood- hounds and near Indian Gulch, pieces of sack- ing which had been used to cover Dunham's feet, were found. Nearby the horse he had ridden was also found. Nothing else was ever discovered. The officers spent days in the search without result. As Dunham was with- out money and without food, had no shoes and had left his horse, the officers concluded that he had found some wild place in the hills and had there committed suicide. For years afterwards the papers chronicled the arrest of suspects, but in every case the man arrested proved not to be the MeGlincy murderer.

In 1897 a new charter for the city was adopted. By a concerted resolution of the Legislature it became the organic law of the city on March 2 of that year. Under the old charter the mayor held office for one year. The new charter extended his term to two years. The first election for city officers took place on the second Monday in April, 1898. The charter provided that all elections subse- quent to the first should be held biennially on the third Monday in May. Mayor Koch, who had been elected in 1896, held over until 1898.

In 1897 a Grand Army veteran named Scho- field was killed at his ranch on the Llagas, a

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few miles west of Madrone. His wife and Dan Dutcher, a hired man, were arrested for the crime. Before his trial Dutcher confessed that he had killed Schofield to protect Mrs. Schofield, who was being threatened with a shotgun when the fatal shot was fired. There was an acquittal in each case.

On April 18, 1906, a severe earthquake shook up Central California. San Jose suf- fered considerably. A number of frame houses in the business section were wrecked. but the real center of destruction was reached in the business district. The big three-story Phelan building, corner of First and Post Streets, fell flat and three persons were buried in the ruins. At the corner of Santa Clara Street and Lightston Alley, the large three story building occupied by stores and the Elks' Hall became a shapeless pile of brick and mortar. Outside of the business district several large edifices suffered. The handsome and massive brick Catholic Church of St. Pat- rick at the corner of North and Santa Clara Streets was a picturesque ruin, its solid tower and front wall lying across the street, its rear and side walls thrown down into the audito- rium. The fine high school on Normal Square crumbled and the large wooden Grant school on Empire Street was twisted out of shape to fall a mass of ruins a few days after the quake. Further down town the tower and spire of the First Presbyterian Church on Second Street, near St. John, lay across the thoroughfare, its shattered walls telling the story of ruin. Im- mediately after the earthquake fire broke out on Second Stret near San Fernando. The three-story brick Martin building had been hurled to the ground and instantly flames burst from the wreckage. The Lieber build- ing next north was on fire in a few minutes and then the conflagration enveloped the five- story Dougherty building, spreading thence to the three-story Louise building on the cor- ner of San Fernando Street. There was but one other fire. It broke out in the El Monte lodging house on Locust Street and seven people were roasted to death. Material in- jury was done to the new Hall of Records, the Dougherty residence, a wing of the Hotel Vendome, the First Methodist Church, the Fifth Street and Golden Gate canneries, the Rucker building, St. Mary's Church, and many other structures. Following the quake mar- tial law was declared and kept in force for several days. The total loss by earthquake and fire was $3,000,000. Killed, sixteen.

The recovery from the dreadful visitation was rapid. Inside of a week repairs were be- ing started and soon the debris disappeared and building operations were commenced. Two years later there was nothing to indicate

that destruction had ever visited the Garden City.

In 1906 there was very little street or other municipal improvement, except to make re- pairs in fire houses and furnish new appliances and do the city's work in repairing the dam- ages done by the earthquake. In 1908 a pro- nounced street paving movement was inau- gurated by Mayor Davison. During his in- cumbency miles upon miles of paving work was done and the program he had laid out but not finished during his term was afterward carried out by his successors, Monahan and Husted. From 1908 to 1912, bonds for $355,- 000 were used for sewers, bridges, creek alter- ations and Alum Rock Park improvements.

In December, 1911, the city, by special elec- tion, took in as new territory East San Jose, Gardner and West San Jose.

In 1912 and 1913, under Mayor Monahan's administration, the horses were taken out of the fire department and motor-drawn trucks, engines and carts were put in.

In 1914-15, while Husted was mayor, the Canoas Creek bypath was diverted so that in the rainy season the waters would not flood Cottage Grove and adjoining sections.

On October 30, 1917. the Coyote bridge col- lapsed beneath the weight of three heavy cars loaded with prunes. A boy riding on a bi- cycle was on the bridge at the time and was instantly killed. In the spring of 1918, a spe- cial election gave the city the power to use $65,000 remaining in the sewer fund for the erection of a new concrete, steel-reinforced bridge. A contract was awarded and the work was completed in the spring of 1919.

In 1915 the following freeholders prepared a new charter giving San Jose a commission form of government: Ehmer E. Chase, Robert R. Syer, W. L. Atkinson, L. E. Petree, Roy Newberry, G. M. Fontaine, John D. Crum- mey, W. J. Close, Walter L. Chrisman, H. J. B. Wright, Victor Challen, Chas. M. O'Brien, John J. Miller, Irving L. Ryder, V. Koch. The charter was filed February 15, 1915. adopted at special election April 19, 1915. and ratified by the Legislature, May 4, 1915. The charter went into effect July 1, 1916. The important provisions were: Elective officers. the city auditor, police judge and seven coun- cilmen: the initiative and referendum by which the people reserve to themselves the power to adopt or reject ordinances at the polls independently of the council ; the recall, by which any elective officer may be removed from office by the electors ; the election by the council of a city manager, who shall be the official head of the city with power to appoint a city treasurer, city engineer, city attorney, board of health, health officer, chief of police,

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chief of the fire department, board of educa- tion, board of library trustees, superintendent of parks : the election by the council of a city clerk, civil service commission and city plan- ning commission: the removal of the city manager at any time by a majority vote of the council. At the first election Elmer E. Chase, W. L. Atkinson, Chas. M. O'Brien. and Elton Shaw were chosen as councilmen. the two first named to serve for six years, the two last named for four years. Ben Sellers. J. F. McLaurin and A. C. Jayet were the hold- over councilmen under the old charter. In 1918 Sellers and MeLaurin went out and Matt Arnerich and E. S. Williams were elected in their places. In 1918 Williams resigned on account of removal from town and Dr. E. O. Pieper was chosen to fill the vacancy. At the May election in 1920, Joseph Brooks, D. M. Denegri and William Bigger were elected. Pieper, Shaw and O'Brien retiring.

When the new council organized in July. 1916. Thomas H. Reed was chosen manager. He served for three years and was succeeded by Dr. W. C. Bailey. The other officers of the city in 1920 were J. Lynch, city clerk: Roy Walter, city auditor: Louis Lightston, tax collector ; C. B. Goodwin, city engineer : N. Bell. acting health officer : John C. Black, chief of police ; H. Hobson, chief of the fire depart- ment. Dr. Bailey resigned after a three years' service and was succeeded by C. B. Goodwin. William Popp was appointed city engineer.

In 1917 immediately following the declara- tion of war the city manager appointed a committee to prepare a Loyalty Day celebra- tion which resulted in the most stirring parade ever seen in San Jose. The most striking feature of it was thousands of school chil-

dren bearing flags, who after marching through the streets, massed in front of the city hall and sang patriotic songs. The activities of San Jose during the war period-1917-18 -- will be found in another chapter.

In March, 1920, the city voted bonds in the sum of $700,000 for improvements in the high and grammar schools. The permanent prop- erties of the city as shown in the first report of the city manager are as follows: Lands, $628.250: buildings, structures and improve- ments, $2,307.142.50; equipment, $140,083.45 ; total, $3,075,475.95.

In May, 1920, at the regular city election a proposition to increase the tax rate by adding 35 cents on each $100 valuation for three years, as a temporary expedient, was carried. The withdrawal of liquor license money caused by the prohibition law shortened the city finances so that an additional tax for a short period became necessary in order to place the city government in proper working order.

The mayors of the city from 1850 down are: 1850, Josiah Belden; 1851-2-3-4. Thomas W. White: 1855, S. O. Houghton, 1856, Lawrence Archer : 1857. R. G. Moody : 1858, P. O. Minor : 1859, Thomas Fallon; 1860, R. B Buckner : 1861-2. Joseph W. Johnson : 1863-4-5-6-7. J. A. Quinby : 1868-9, Mark Leavenworth; 1870-71- 72. A. Pfister, 1873-4-5-6-7. B. D. Murphy ; 1878-9, Lawrence Archer ; 1880-1, B. D. Mur- phy; 1882-3, Chas. J. Martin; 1884-6, C. T. Settle: 1886-7. C. W. Breyfogle: 1888-9, S. W. Boring: 1890-92, S. N. Rucker : 1892-94. H. E. Schilling, 1894-96, Paul P. Austin ; 1896- 98. V. Koch ; 1898-1902, Chas J. Martin ; 1902- 1906, Geo. D. Worswick: 1906-8, H. D. Mat- thews ; 1908-12. C. W. Davison: 1912-14, Thomas Monahan ; 1914-16, F. R. Husted.

CHAPTER XVII.

San Jose and Santa Clara Activities During the Great European War- Liberty Loan, Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Belgian Relief and Other Noteworthy Drives-The Men and Women Who Did the Work.

The part played by San Jose and the other towns in Santa Clara County in the Great European War was both patriotic and self- sacrificing. During the hurry and stress of the grave and arduous responsibilities of the occasion, when even the average, easy-going citizen was called upon to bear unusual bur- dens, no one realized that the activities in which they were engaged constituted the mak- ing of history. What the city and county did

is realistically and finely told by Mrs. Edith Daley in her pamphlet written for the Santa Clara County Historical Society. From that labor of love the historian has compiled the following interesting facts :

On April 6, 1917, President Wilson signed the resolution of Congress declaring the "ex- istence of a state of war" and asking that all the resources of the United States be "directed to prosecute hostilities against the German

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Government to a successful conclusion." On April 12, 1917, San Jose inaugurated the loy- alty movement in California. On that day more than 10,000 loyal citizens led by City Manager Thomas H. Reed, marched through the city's streets while the Stars and Stripes waved above them and the bands played "Dixie" and "America" -- and the thrilling "Marseillaise." That night in a great mass meeting in the high school auditorium hundreds unanimously pledged hearts and hands to the country's cause.

On May 3, 1917, the announcement was made that the first offering of bonds under the finance law would be $2,000,000,000. Lib- erty Loan issue, open to popular subscription at par ; subscriptions to be received until June 5; bonds to be dated July ] and ready for delivery then. Santa Clara County's quota was about $2,000,000.

On May 14, 1917, the details of the Liberty Loan were telegraphed all over the country. Officers' training camps opened. Men flocked to fill them, Pacifists were abroad in the land, their voices raised in protest against the coun- try's war policy. The espionage measure was passed May 14. One began to hear the omin- ous words "slacker," "disloyalty," and "sedi- tion." The old easy settled routine of things was sadly disturbed at the time of the be- ginning of the first Liberty Loan drive.

California was divided into two districts with the Tehachapi the dividing line and Los Angeles and San Francisco headquarters. The northern district was divided into sixteen sub- districts with a competent bond seller in charge of each. Before the real campaign started voluntary local bond subscriptions be- gan to come in. The Knights Templar and Observatory Parlor of the Native Sons were the first fraternal organizations to buy bonds. Senator Frank H. Benson and Judge Urban A. Sontheimer are on record as having advo- cated the early purchase of Liberty Bonds by the Native Sons.

May 23, 1917, by telegraphic designation, the Secretary of the Treasury and A. Kains, Gov- ernor of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, appointed a local committee for handling the campaign in Santa Clara County, particularly to receive bond subscriptions. The following men were named: John Brooke, vice-president Safe Deposit Bank, chairman ; W. K. Beans, president of Bank of San Jose ; W. E. Blauer, manager local branch of Bank of Italy; W. S. Clayton, president First Na- tional Bank : T. S. Montgomery, president Gar- den City Bank and Trust Company ; Wilbur Edwards, president Security Savings Bank.

The opening of the Second Officers' Train- ing Camp preceded the first bond drive. Very

few San Joseans ever knew that the work of interviewing and examining all the applicants for shoulder straps and military titles was done by a working volunteer committee of three. W. S. Clayton, A. B. Post and V. J. LaMotte did this patriotic service, rejecting the men they considered unfit and sending the others to San Francisco for acceptance or re- jection by the "higher powers.'

The little old oak table in room 401 in the J'rst National Bank building could unfold an interesting tale if it had a voice. Beside it the committee of three met the embryo officers and here also the real work of the first Liberty L'ond drive had its beginning. On the evening of May 24, 1917, a few San Jose men gath- ered in this room to talk over the task that confronted the nation and the task that await- ed them.

It was a poorly attended meeting. No extra chairs had to be brought in. Around the worn old table were W. S. Clayton, Dr. W. C. Bailey, John Kuster, E. K. Johnston, H. L. Baggerly, J. D. Farwell and perhaps one or two others whose names are forgotten. No records were kept. Only the little room and the oak table can tell the whole story. It was an earnest gathering and the power gen- erated here won a smashing victory in bonds with which to back up the boys.

This office had no telephone so on May 26 these volunteers moved into rooms 701- 702. This was E. N. Richmond's office and he donated its use during the entire period of the first and second bond drives. In the new headquarters there was another small but sig- nificant meeting on the evening of "moving day," May 26, 1917. At this memorable time a complete working committee was named. John D. Kuster, manager of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company was made county chairman and Dr. W. C. Bailey secretary. The bank committee previously named by Beans and McAdoo was supplemented by other ap- pointments, making the personnel of the or- iginal bond workers as follows: John D. Kus- ter, Dr. W. C. Bailey, John F. Brooks, E. N. Richmond, J. D. Farwell, Howell D. Melvin, HI. L. Baggerly, Elton R. Shaw, Geo. N. Her- bert, Alfred B. Post, Wm. E. Blauer, E. K. Johnston, Walter Mathewson, V. J. La Motte, W. S. Clayton, G. R. Parkinson, Herbert Rob- inson, H. G. Coykendall, Chas. R. Parkinson and Wilbur J. Edwards.

Work began in earnest. Telephones and automobiles were requisitioned. The commit- tee forgot to look at the clock. On May 25, Senator James D. Phelan telegraphed from Washington "We are fighting for our liberty with the weapon nearest our hand. The Lib- erty Bond is such a weapon." Sunday, May

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27. congregations in San Jose churches, lis- tened to eloquent appeals to their loyalty and patriotism. In one church the pastor changed "Jerusalem" to "America" with telling effect, his text reading: "If I forget thee, O America, let my right hand forget its cunning."

The committee on public meetings consist- ed of Elton R. Shaw, E. K. Johnston and E. N. Richmond. On May 29, the first big lunch- eon was held at the St. James hotel. The speech of the hour was made by Max Kuhl and the spirit of the gathering was President Wilson's message: "The supreme test of the nation has come. We must all act and serve together."

On Decoration Day hundreds gathered in St. James Park to hear Rev. J. W. Kramer's wonderful tribute to his country and his dramatic appeal for every loyal citizen's loyal support in the hour of America's need. "Old Glory," said the speaker, "May it wave and wave and never be furled until it is folded over the grave ef dethroned Prussianism! May it wave and wave until war shall only be a fit inscription for the gates of hell! And wave and wave until all suffering humanity shall feel the warmth of its loving embrace!" On this Decoration Day, C. E. Kratt, the first pharmacist to enlist, left San Jose to join the colors, and J. D. Chase, Jr., secretary of the County Council of Defense since its organi- zation, enlisted as a private in the National Guard.

Every bank in the county was alive to the need and subscribing liberal)- On the night of June 6, City Manager Thomas H. Reed and Cyrus Peirce, of San Francisco, addressed a mass meeting at the \' story Theater at which Judge W. A. Beasly presided. E. N. Rich- mond acted as bond seller and $44,650 was subscribed on the spot. Only about 1000 at- tended this first mass meeting, but each of the 1000 men and women went away fully deter- mined that San Jose should do its full duty.

Music for this meeting was furnished by W. E. Johnson, assisted by Dr. Charles M. Richards and the following quartet: Mrs. Charles Braslan, Mrs. J. C. Elder, Roy Thompson and Warren French. When W. E. Johnson sang "The Battle Hymn of the Re- public," and "The Star Spangled Banner" that night in June he little thought how many times his appealing voice would wake San Jose audiences to heights of patriotism in the days to come-days that were to bring him heart-breaking news in the casualty lists from his "Mother England."

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History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 31

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928