Page 9

OverviewVersionsHelp

Here you can see all page revisions and compare the changes have been made in each revision. Left column shows the page title and transcription in the selected revision, right column shows what have been changed. Unchanged text is highlighted in white, deleted text is highlighted in red, and inserted text is highlighted in green color.

3 revisions
rstew160 at Oct 31, 2020 03:07 AM

Page 9

EVENING CHRONICLE.

VIRGINIA CITY, NEV.

MONDAY..........APRIL 26, 1880

THE DE YOUNG TRAGEDY

Further Particulars of the
Assassination.

Descriptions of the Scene by
Eye-Witnesses.

The Murderer Lying in Wait for His Victim.

Pitiful Grief of De Young's
Aged Mother.

A Plot Between the Kallochs
Alleged.

The funeral of the Murdered
Man Yesterday

The San Francisco Post of Saturday evening gives the most complete account of the murder of Charles De Young by Rev. I. M. Kalloch yet published. The following is its substance, which differs in several points from the report sent by telegraph:

A few minutes before 8 o'clock Charles de Young entered the business office of the Chronicle and engaged in conversation with Edward Spear and E. B. Read, who had entered the office on business. A few minutes prior to Kalloch's entrance, De Young was standing in front of the counter, near the door leading out into Bush and Kearny streets, leaning on the counter, near the door leading out into Bush and Kearny streets, leaning on the counter, with his face turned in the direction of the Kearny street entrance. Messrs. Spear and Read were within a few feet of him. The trio were engaged in an animated conversation when the Kearny street door was swiftly pushed open and a moment later Kalloch entered, at the same time drawing a Smith & Wesson five shooter and pointing it at De Young. The latter, simultaneously with the entrance of Kalloch and the drawing of the pistol, ran toward the gate at the lower end of the counter, evidently intending to place the counter between himself and his assailant. As he started to run Kalloch fired the first shot, and as he reached the gate the second was fired, neither of which took effect. The first shot went crashing through the plate glass window of the door leading into the entrance of the editorial rooms, the second was imbedded in the wall near the window sill. As De Young passed the gate to the left, closely pursued all the while, Kalloch fired the third shot, which passed through De Young's hat, close to his head. De Young dropped behind the counter and was creeping along close to it, at the same time making an effort to draw his pistol, which his overcoat rendered difficult. He was in the act of glancing upward to ascertain where Kalloch was when the latter reached over the counter, and holding his pistol within a foot of De Young's face, fired the fourth and fatal shot. It struck De Young in the mouth. De Young rose to his feet, staggered to the desk two or three feet distant, managed to draw his pistol, and as he did so Kalloch fired the fifth shot. This last shot went through the window of the private office of M. H. De Young, through a six-inch wall and lodged in the staircase. De Young, bleeding at the mouth and nose, staggered over to the cashier's desk, his pistol fell from his nerveless grasp, and, with his arms resting upon the desk, he sank, and was caught in the arms of an eye-witness to the shooting before falling to the floor. his half-brother, Elias De Young, who was in the office, ran to him and asked him if he was shot, but the dying man returned no answer. The blood gushed in a torrent from the wound in his mouth. Medical assistance was summoned promptly but it was of no avail, and in a few minutes, De Young was dead. The whole affair occurred so quickly that those in the office scarcely comprehended what was going on until it was all over. After the shooting Kalloch went rapidly towards the door, and he was about to escape, when he encountered officers Peckinpah and Ward, who had been attracted to the spot by the shots, and taken into custody. He held the pistol, still smoking, in his hand.

Had De Young not raised his head behind the counter to discern the location of Kalloch, he would probably have escaped serious injury, as Kalloch would not have been able to get aim at a vital part. It was the merest chance that De Young should have put his face right in front of the muzzle of his opponent's deadly weapon.

KALLOCH LYING IN WAIT,

Detective Officer Leonard W. Noyes states that he was in the Chronicle business office on Friday evening before the shooting engaged in conversation with one of the clerks in charge. Happening to glance through the first window from Kearny street, on Bush, he saw a man, who was then a stranger to him, crouching down close to the window-sill and peering furtively through, as though endeavoring to catch a glimpse of some one in the office. Noyes was about to call the clerk's attention to the fact, when the entrance of some person prevented it. A few minutes afterwards Noyes left and slowly wended his way towards the Central Station. He had gone but a few blocks when his attention was drawn to crowds of people running in the direction of the Chronicle office. Retracing his steps he met Officers Peckinpah and Walsh, having in custody the murderer, whom he (Noyes) at once recognized as the person he had previously seen looking through the window.

MR. READ'S ACCOUNT,

Mr. Read says he had been talking in the office with De Young but a few moments when the door was opened and I. M. Kalloch walked, or rather rushed, in. He apparently took but a stride when he was abreast of De Young, the pistol gleaming in his hand, and placing the weapon within two feet of his face, fired. De Young at once sprang behind Mr. Read, and grasping him by the arm endeavored to use him as a shield. At this point Kallach reached over Mr. Read's right shoulder and fired the second shot. SO close was the fire that Mr. Read's eye was bloodshot, the side of his face begrimed with powder, and the hair on that side of his head badly singed. After the discharge of a second shot De Young released his hold upon Read and made a dash for the further end of the room.

Most of the eye-witnesses say that Kalloch fled toward the door when he saw the pistol in De Young's hand.

THE AUTOPSY.

An autopsy was held at the Morgue on Saturday morning. It was discovered that the fatal bullet had entered the mouth, carrying away to teeth, and passed down on the left side of the mouth, finally embedding itself in the jugular vein. The brain weighed 44 ounces. Over half a gallon of blood was found in the stomach. The face of the deceased was stained with powder marks, showing how close the pistol must have been held to his head. The wound is a very small one, scarcely the size of a pea, and hardly discernible, except on close examination. Two bullets pierced De Young's hat. The inquest will be held on Tuesday.

HUMANITY DISGRACED.

The shooting attracted a tremendous crowd to the neighborhood of the Chronicle office. The Coroner was notified and took charge of the remains, which were escorted in the dead wagon to the Morgue by a dozen policemen. The body was taken out of the Chronicle office at 9 o'clock. It was met at the door and followed all the way to the Morgue by a crowd of about 1,000 people, principally half-grown men, who cheered and hooted and yelled. It was one of the most extraordinary spectacles ever witnessed in an American city, and it is doubtful if in any other civilized community in the world such a disgraceful scene could have occurred. The crowd around the Morgue was so great that the police found it necessary to station a squad across O'Farrell street to keep the surging crowd from forcing its way into the Morgue.

During a performance at Mayberry's Hall on Friday night, while the act of The Little Treasure was being performed by the Local Dramatic Club of the Mission, Professor Ebenezer Knowlton sprang upon the stage and announced that Charles De Young had just been shot by a son of Mayor Kalioch, and added, in a sort of stage side whispered that he "guessed he had fixed him this time." A breeze of indignation rippled over the hall, whereupon one Major Bartling, who holds some subordinate office in the City Hall, under the patronage of Kalloch, jumped to his feet and shouted: "I am glad of it. He deserved shooting, and I hope he has killed him!" A gentleman then arose and declared it in bad taste make such an announcement in an audience mostly composed of peaceable citizens, and a large majority ladies and children. Great excitement prevailed, and Major Bartling declared he would take his wife and childen from the hall, which he did, evidently fearing the storm which he himself had raised. After quiet was restored Professor Knowlton made an apology to the audience.

Dr. George Reich, a Workingman's Ward President, cheered for Kalloch last night on Kearny street and was arrested on a charge of drunkenness.

Thomas Duggan harangued a crowd in front of the Morgue, and wanted the shooting applauded, when he was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace and using vulgar and profane language.

The five men who were arrested on Friday night while hurrahing in front of the Chronicle building were dealt with as follows in the Police Court on Saturday, viz: Dr. George A. Reich, 178 Post street, Thomas Jones and Henry Woods were fined $5 each for drunkenness. Thomas Duggan was convicted of disturbing the peace and using vulgar language while Charles Smith was found guilty of disturbing the peace.

There is sentiment of horror expressed everywhere on the streets over the insults offered by remains of De Young by the hooting, yelling mob that followed the hearse and lingered around the Morgue.

THE SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THE MURDER.

A Post reporter had an interview on Saturday with M.H. De Young, brother of the deceased. He denied emphatically that Charles or himself had anything to do with the pamphlet giving a report of Kalloch's trial in Boston on the charge of adultery, the circulation of which in San Francisco is generally believed to have been the immediate inspiration of young Kalloch's murderous deed.

Another theory of the motive for the murder is that Charles De Young had collected a life history of Kalloch to offer in evidence as justification at his trial, set for May 3d, and young Kalloch, to defend the family name, took it upon himself to put De Young out of the way, as, by so doing, the trial of De Young would not take place, and damaging evidence against his father would not come out. There is also a report that De Young brought a woman from the East here to testify at the Trial, paying her expenses. M.H. De Young declares that there is not a word of truth in this report. He said to the Post reporter: "There is no necessity for us to publish pamphlets or expose Kalloch's life to defend my brother's attempt to kill the elder Kalloch. We intended to conduct this defense on the grounds of justifiable assault based on moral law only. Neither my brother, our lawyers nor myself ever even intimated that we intended to rake up Kalloch's record. We considered that the defense would be an easy one. Moral law permits a man whose gray-haired mother has been dragged into a political harangue to avenge the insult, and my brother only did what any other man who had a spark of filial affection about him would have done. My mother has been here too long to be so basely maligned. Her pure and good life should be above reproach. She thought all the world of her children, and my brother fairly worshipped her. He was the most unselfish man I ever knew. He worked day and night to surround his family with comforts and to make them happy. He had no other pleasures, and expended no money on himself.

THE POOR OLD MOTHER.

As Mr. De Young spoke of his brother and of his mother the first visible sign of strong emotion became apparent. Continuing the conversation, the reporter asked the extent of the family's knowledge of the affair.

"All of the family, with the exception of my mother, know the facts of the matter. She does not know of his death; we tried to keep everything from her but could not."

Mr. De Young then related the heart-rending manner in which his mother received the first intimation that some harm had befallen the deceased. "She came down to the dining room this morning," said Mr. De Young, "and after glancing around the room and noticing some strangers present, asked for the Chronicle. She was told that it had not come. A mother's instincts are strong and acute, and from the sad faces before her and the absence of the accustomed paper, she instantly divined that something had befallen Charlie, for she threw up her hands and screamed, 'Oh, my God! my Charlie! my son!' and sank into a chair. We did all that was possible to comfort her, but on her demanding in heart-broken accents to be told the truth, we had to say that Charlie had been shot in the shoulder and was at a hotel. She is now upstairs completely prostrated with grief."

"How and when will you break the truth to her?"

"Well, it must be broken very gradually, and with the utmost caution; we must now save the living if possible, so that two lives will not be taken from us."

THE "CHRONICLE'S" FUTURE.

In response to the inquiry as to the future course of the Chronicle, Mr. De Young said that it would be conducted in the future as in the past, in as bold, fearless and able manner as possible. It would still be run as a great newspaper should be; and while the death of his brother was a loss irreparable to both the paper and his family, no efforts would be spared to obtain the very best possible editorial writers. He (the speaker) would remain the business manager of the paper, and he had no fears but what it would retain its present high position. He intended to conduct the paper and shape its course in accordance with the oft-expressed ideas of his brother.

DE YOUNG'S BIOGRAPHY.

The Chronicle of Saturday, which appeared with turned column rules in sign of mourning, gave the following biographical facts:

Charles De Young was the oldest son of Mr. M. and Mrs. Amelia De Young. He was born at Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1845, and was in the thirty-fifth year of his age at the time of his death. M. De Young, the father, was a well-known Baltimore merchant in 1847, and director of two leading banks in that city. He was also connected as proprietor with a line of packets plying between Baltimore and the West Indies, known as the "De Young line. Subsequently he removed to New Orleans, where he engaged in business as a cotton merchant, and shortly after the news of the discovery of gold in this State reached that city, he arranged to come to California, but died of apoplexy at Vicksburg about the time he was preparing to start. The mother, Mrs. Amelia De Young, now in the seventy-first year of her age, resided with her children in this city, universally beloved and respected by all who knew her. At the age of eight years Charles accompanied his widowed mother and the family of younger brothers and sisters to California, which was in 1854.Hhe was educated in the public schools of San Francisco, but did not long continue in them, owing to the straitened financial circumstances of the family. A taste for journalism induced him to become a printer. In every department of that business his knowledge was thorough, asit afterwards became in all the varied and complicated details of journalism, from the humblest to the highest. His first newspaper effort was a small paper devoted to the interests of the public schools, which was highly commended by the Board of Education. This paper he sold advantageously, and soon after started the Holiday Advertiser,. Giving this up, he started the Dramatic Chronicle, from which small beginning the San Francisco Daily Chronicle spring, his younger brother, M. H. De Young, being associated with Charles as publisher and proprietor.

THE MURDERER.

The Rev. Isaac M. Kalloch, who did the shooting, came to San Francisco from Healdsburg about the time his father was shot by Charles De Young, on the 23d of August, 1879. He had a church there, of which he was pastor, but came down after the occurrence and became associated with the Fifth Baptist Church as assistant pastor. His private residence was with his father, 2314 Mission street. When the Rev. I. S. Kalloch was elected Mayor of the city, he appointed his son clerk, the salary being $3,000 per annum. He is a young man, of apparently nervous temperament, but great strength of will. In his capacity as mayor's clerk he has been uniformly urbane, quiet and apparently well disposed to everybody. In his daily intercourse with reporters he was always civil and obliging, inclined to joke, but attentive to his duties. In figure he is slighter than his father, though bearing a strong resemblance to him both in feature and voice. He is the last man that one would have supposed capable of committing this act, and those who know him will testify readily that he is apparently an inoffensive, unrevengeful young man. His age is about 26 years. He has light-blue eyes and sandy whiskers and a pleasant manner.

He acted with a cold-blooded composure after the shooting. When taken into the City Prison he submitted to the search of his person without a word, until his tobacco pouch was taken from his pocket, when he asked officer Peckinpah, who was searching his clothing, if he might retain it. The pouch was handed to him and he took out a large quantity of the weed, which he leisurely rolled into a wad and then put in his mouth. His manner was subdued and quiet. At the conclusion of the search he moved away a few steps from those surrounded him and stroked a large cat which lay dozing on the Prisonkeeper's desk, and murmured "Poor pussy!" to it several times. He then sat down until the completion of the entry in the "small book" had been made, when he was taken inside and locked up in cell No. 4 of the new prison. He declined to say anything at all regarding the shooting, and positively refused to make any statement.

THE FATHER AND SON MEET.

Early on Saturday morning Mayor Kalloch visited his son in his cell. The pair shook hands, and neither manifested the slightest emotion, though presumably both men were deeply moved. The son seemed perfectly unconcerned, and smiled and laughed as though the deed he had committed was not of the slightest importance, and one for which he felt no regret. On sending his name, a representative of the Post was at once admitted, but the murderer declined to talk of his crime, but seemed to feel keenly an article in the Alta which spoke of his crime as "a vulgar assassination," and insinuating that the death of De Young probably prevented damaging disclosures concerning the character of Mayor Kalloch, likely to have been brought to light in De Young's trial.

Young Kalloch said to the reporter" "You can state that I protest against the case being tried in the newspapers, as it was in the Alta this morning. Charles De Young was a man to whom nothing was sacred, not even the name of my mother. I protest against any paper rushing to his defense, as the Alta has done. He has reviled everything that is holy; wife, mother and sister–all that we hold dear–were objects of his slander. That is all I have to say at Present. I protest against the matter of this difficulty being prejudged and tried by any newspaper."

A QUEER INCIDENT.

The Mayor asked the Post reporter if he could recommend a good restaurant in the neighborhood, and the two left the prison together. In passing one of the cells where some drunken men were confined, one of them called out: "Mayor, Mayor, we are here for cheering for your son last night for killing De Young." Mr. Kalloch said he was sorry, and with a sad look passed out.

TO-DAY'S DISPATCHES.

THE FUNERAL.
De Young's Aged Mother Broken with
Grief–The Services and Cortege,

[Special to the Evening Chronicle]

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26–The funeral of the late Charles De Young took place yesterday afternoon from the family residence. The house was profusely and beautifully decorated with flowers. The mother of the deceased was not present during the funeral services, remaining in her room broken down with grief. She has not looked upon the face of her son since death, saying she wished to preserve her remembrance of him as he last appeared in life.

Rev. Elkan Cohn conducted the services at the house, delivering a brief sermon and offering a prayer, after which the coffin was placed in the hearse and the procession started for the cemetery in the following order: Carriage conveying Mr. Cohen; Odd Fellows and employees of the Chronicle on foot, numbering 200; the hearse, with the following pall-bearers made up from the Odd Fellows and employees of the Chronicle; Alex Campbell, R. H. Lloyd, Raphael Weill, Moses Heller, Dr. G. Holland, A. B. Henderson, Louis R. Lull, John P. Jones, B. A. Wardell, John Timmins, E. J. Andersen, Major O. Livermore, L. N. Jacobs, John McWilliams, John Laws, Henry H. Libbing and Paul Keyser. Other mourners and friends followed in some thirty carriages. On arriving at the cemetery an immense crowd was found awaiting the arrival of the procession, the street-car lines having been taxed to their utmost capacity during the morning. The coffin was placed on stretchers in front of the Odd Fellows' receiving vault, and Past Grand Alexander read the Odd Fellows' ritual, after which the coffin was removed to the vault. The relatives took a last look at the remains, and the procession returned to town and the crowd dispersed.

At the sand lot yesterday no mention was made of the Kalloch-De Young affair, the speakers, it is understood, acting under instructions from the Ward Presidents.

Mysterious Meetings of the Two Kallochs Before the Murder.

SAN FRANCISCO April 25.–The Chronicle to-day published an account (which it also gave for publication to the Call and Alta) to the following effect: Dr. H. H. Thrall, residing at No. 118 Geary street, and his wife and daughter, have made statements to a Chronicle reporter than on the evenings of last Wednesday and Thursday, two men, believed by them to be Rev I. S. Kalloch and his son, visited a house opposite their residence in a mysterious way, remaining there some time; that on last Friday evening they again went to that house just before the shooting of Charles De Young. Shortly after 8 o'clock Dr. Thrall went to a neighboring drug store and there hears of the murder. Meantime two boys came running up to the opposite house and were admitted and the lights in the house were extinguished. The house soon after was relighted and so remained till a much later hour than usual. During the visit of the men supposed to be Kalloch and his son just before the shooting their motions were partly visible through the window, and they seemed to be conducting themselves in an excited manner. Later a Chronicle reporter passing the house saw Kalloch's colored servant standing on the steps and a few minutes later a cab came up containing City Auditor Dunn, ex-Deputy Sheriff Clayton and Randall Kalloch, the youngest son of Mayor Kalloch. The two latter entered the house and soon after came out, re-entered the cab and drove in the direction of the new City Hall.

The Chronicle people profess to believe that these movements, coupled with sundry minor circumstances, indicate that the killing of De Young was the result of a conspiracy between Kalloch and his son.

To-day a couple of detectives visited a house opposite Dr. Thrall's residence and found Mayor Kalloch's colored servant, who said he was ill with rheumatism. He was occupying a room in the house. He was questioned at length, but nothing of importance was elicited further than that Kalloch and his son had been in the habit of visiting him there during his illness.

KALLOCH'S HOUSE GUARDED.

Last evening a Call reporter drove to Mayor Kalloch's residence. On alighting he was confronted by half a dozen men, who demanded to know his name and business. He informed them, and said;

"What are you doing here? Are you expecting Mike De Young to assassinate Kalloch?" "That's just what we are looking for," replied the men. On effecting communication with those in the house, the reporter was informed that the Mayor was asleep, and they would not [end of clipping]=

Page 9