Hanford Journal Hanford, Kings Co., California Tuesday, 14 JANUARY 1896 *********************************** BIRTH -- REYS -- In Hanford, Jan. 11th, to the wife of John REYS, a son. MARRIAGE -- LEISZ-SANDRY -- At Traver, Jan. 8, 1896, Mr. George W. LEISZ and Miss Charlotte M. SANDRY. ------------------------------------------------------ 2 MORE ACCIDENTS -- From the Discharge of Firearms -- One of Them Proves Fatal -- Adrian CERVANTES, a Mexican residing in Hanford, who was visiting in the RAINEY place on the Laguna de Tache, went out on Monday (6th inst) to hunt for ducks. As he did not return, parties went in search of him on Tuesday but were unable to find any trace of him. On Wednesday the searching party found the man and cart. CERVANTES was found dead at a spot near where J.W KELSEY met an untimely death while hunting a short time ago. The body was near the cart. The cart has upset and the horse had become entangled in the brush. CERVANTES' gun and hat were found some distance from where the body lay, the gun resting on top of the hat. A short distance from the gun was a large pool of blood. Evidently CERVANTES was shot while riding in the cart by the accidental discharge of his gun. The body was taken to Hanford Thursday morning. On Friday morning of last week Dr. FOLEY was summoned to attend a sheep herder by the name of Antonio LOPES, who had accidently shot himself at a camp on Mussel slough, 5 miles SE of Lemoore. The doctor found the wounded man at James BLAKELEY's place, 1/2 mile distant from the scene of the accident, to which place he had walked after receiving the wound. Dr. FOLEY probed for the bullet and after affording the wounded man all the relief possible, placed him in James BLAKELEY's wagon and he was driven to the county hospital at Hanford. LOPES was out of employment and was stopping at the camp awaiting an opportunity to go to work. After the accidental discharge of the weapon he replaced it in the case from which he had taken it previous to the accident. It is supposed he was toying with the weapon, which was a 41-calibre revolver, when it was discharged, the ball from the pistol grazing the palm of his left hand, then passing into his body about 2 inches to the left of his navel and coming out of the rear of his person 4 inches to the left of the spinal column. LOPEZ [spelled 2 ways] is at the county hospital and is recovering from his wound. After he was shot, LOPEZ threw the pistol, with 5 chambers will loaded, into an open fire-place, and if it had not been for the prompt action of a companion, who promptly took the pistol out of the fire, LOPEZ might have been shot again. ------------------------------------------------------ A SAD CASE -- A Sick Woman Travels Many Weary Miles and Dies at Her Journey's End -- The death of Mrs. J.A. ZLEXZINE, which occurred in this city last Sunday forenoon, was surrounded by many sad circumstances. Deceased was 32 years of age. She and her husband left Wasco county, in NE Oregon, last [illeg], the woman being in poor health. They came south by team, starting with some 10 head of horses. They journeyed a few miles each day, as the woman was sick and unable to travel far at a time. They tried to and did make Kings County, Cal., to spend the winter in a drier climate. But they were absolutely poverty stricken when they reached here. They camped 2 days upon a ditch in the Eureka neighborhood and then the man brought his wife to town for medical treatment. There was no room for such a patient at the county hospital and Dr. BOND, out of pity for her terrible condition, took her into his sanitarium. He called in Dr. MUSGRAVE and they consulted together over the case, as the woman was in a serious condition. The woman was found to be suffering from uremic poison and her case was pronounced hopeless. She died on Sunday morning and was buried in the Hanford cemetery at the expens e of the county. ------------------------------------------------------- HELD TO ANSWER -- Wm. NELLIS Will be Tried Before the Superior Court for Arson -- 5 Witnesses Give Strong Evidence Against Him -- HOOD Testifies That He and John JOHNSON Fired the House -- The preliminary examination of William NELLIS, accused of arson, took place before Justice Fassett last Wednesday. The evidence adduced was very strong against the accused. W.J. HOOD, accused jointly with NELLIS and John JONSON, turned State's evidence on NELLIS, as he had done on John JOHNSON and James LEE. He testified that before NELLIS went away in July of last year with his family, over into Fresno county, NELLIS asked him to fire the house in which NELLIS had been living, on W.H. HAEURT's farm in the Eureka neighborhood and he had agreed to do so. NELLIS said he wanted the goods burned so he could get the insurance. On the night of July 20th HOOD and JOHNSON went to NELLIS' house, got the furniture and moved it to A.J. WORKS'. On the next night he and JOHNSON returned to NELLIS' house, sprinkled coal oil about, lit candles and left them setting there. He and JOHNSON then went away and the house was burned down. A few days later NELLIS returned and he (HOOD) told NELLIS that he had done what NELLIS requested him to do and that he and JOHNSON had burned the house. A.J. WORKS testified that NELLIS' household effects were brought to his place by JOHNSON and HOOD. NELLIS came there afterwards and took some of the clothing away. NELLIS told WORKS that the goods belonged to HOOD nd HOOD told them that NELLIS owned the goods but they had been taken to WORKS' to keep them from being attached for a debt he owed. Mrs. WORKS was a witness and corroborated her husband's testimony. James LEE was taken from jail into court and testified that HOOD told him along last May that NELLIS had hired him to burn his effects, and HOOD had, after the fire, told him he had burned it. Charley JOHNSON, a brother of John JOHNSON, testified that after NELLIS was arrested, NELLIS furnished him with a buggy and told him to go up and hide his (NELLIS') furniture, saying that it would not do to let the officers find it. Lee DANNER paid him $10 for doing it. The defense produced no witnesses. Justice Fassett bound NELLIS over, on $1500 bonds, to answer before the Superior Court on a charge of arson. He gave the bail. On the day of the preliminary examination of NELLIS, and as soon as it was over, WORKS and his wife were arrested on a warrant issued in Tulare county, charging them with receiving stolen property. William NELLIS was the complaining witness. Deputy Sheriff Ayers arrested WORKS and his wife and took them to Goshen, where a Tulare county officer took charge of them. WORKS was released on $500 bail and his wife was released on her own recognizance. They live 1 mile east of Dinuba. The officers who are prosecuting the NELLIS case claim that the prosecution of WORKS and his wife is a piece of spite work by certain parties to get even with them for their testimony in the NELLIS case. ------------------------------------------------------- LEE SENTENCED -- He Got 6 Years in the State Prison at Folsom -- John JOHNSON Swore That LEE Helped Steal the Alfalfa Seed, After Telling LEE's Attorney a Different Tale -- Last Wednesday forenoon James LEE, convicted as an accomplice in the stealing of George CURRY's alfalfa seed, was sentenced. The scene preceding the passing of sentence was marked with sensational developments. At the hour set for sentence, 10 o'clock, LEE was brought into Court. J. Frank PRYOR, attorney for the defendant, asked that John JOHNSON, who plead guilty as an accomplice of LEE in the crime, and who had been sentenced to serve 9 years at Folsom, be called, as he expected to prove by him that LEE was not present when the seed was stolen. Mr. PRYOR's request was granted by Judge Jacobs and JOHNSON was brought up from the county jail and placed on the witness stand. He did not testify, however, as Mr. PRYOR had stated he would. Following is a synopsis of the testimony: JOHNSON -- Well, there are others that asked Mr. LEE to do it before he did do it. I don't know of his ever committing any other crime. I asked him about it. We was calculating to put some alfalfa down on the lake. MORGAN told me there was seed there that could be got. He said he thought we could get it all right. MR. PRYOR -- Well, Mr. JOHNSON, is it or is it not a fact that Mr. LEE demurred; or isn't it a fact that Mr. LEE expressed a desire not to participate and advised that this crime be not committed, and that you and others persuaded him to participate in the burying of the seed, and that Mr. LEE afterwards suggested that the seed be taken up and taken back to Mr. CURRY? THE COURT -- I think you are getting in more than he can remember. PRYOR -- If he can't remember he can say so. THE COURT -- Did you coax him into it in any way? JOHNSON -- Yes sir; I was some time in getting him to do it, but so far as the burying was concerned there was no persuading necessary. PRYOR -- Isn't it a fact that it took some time to persuade Mr. LEE to participate in the crime to any extent? JOHNSON -- Well, we calculated to go once before and do it, and LEE didn't come, and we didn't go, and we saw him afterwards and asked him to come, and that time he did come and we done it. If he hadn't been influenced that time I don't think he would have done it. MR. SHORT -- When did Mr. LEE first have anything to do with it? JOHNSON -- When we took it from the granary. SHORT -- Was he present at that time? JOHNSON -- Yes, he was present. MR. PRYOR -- Didn't you state -- haven't you made a statement to different parties since that time, that Mr. LEE didn't accompany you to Mr. CURRY's granary after the seed? JOHNSON -- No, sir; I said that I encouraged him to do it, and I thought he ought to be let off as reasonable as possible under the circumstances. Mr. PRYOR stated that JOHNSON's testimony was a surprise to him. He asked that Joe MIDDLETON be called. Sheriff BUCKNER, by instruction of the Court, went to bring MIDDLETON up from the county jail, but soon returned and announced that MIDDLETON had refused to testify. Mr. PRYOR then asked that, in order to explain his position in the matter, he himself be sworn. Under oath Mr. PRYOR stated that LEE had asked JOHNSON, in the presence of witness (PRYOR) and MIDDLETON, why he did not testify to the truth and clear him (LEE) of the charge and that JOHNSON had replied that his sister was out $250 in his (JOHNSON's) defense and if LEE would pay the amount he (JOHNSON) had been jobbed and he proposed to get even. Mr. PRYOR testified that JOHNSON had twice in his presence admitted that LEE was not present when the alfalfa seed was stolen, also that LEE himself and he (PRYOR) as his attorney did not deny LEE's complicity in the crime, but they denied that LEE was present when the seed was stolen from CURRY. Judge Jacobs then ordered LEE to stand up. In passing sentence Judge Jacobs said that there was a reasonable doubt in his mind as to whether LEE was present when the seed was stolen, but he had no doubt of LEE's guilty knowledge of the crime and complicity in it. JOHNSON had testified that LEE had not been engaged in other crimes of the "gang" and had been urged by several members of the "gang" to enter into this one. LEE was then sentenced to 6 years in Folsom. By proper conduct LEE can reduce his sentence to 4 years, 2 months through the usual prison credits. JOHNSON and LEE were both taken to Folsom last Friday by Sheriff BUCKNER, who saw them duly entered at the prison and clothed in the convicts' striped suits. ------------------------------------------------------ NOTICE TO LOT OWNERS of HANFORD CEMETERY -- The Woman's Club of Hanford has employed a sexton to take care of the cemetery. His work began in May, 1895, at a salary of $24 per month. Up to Jan. 1st he has been paid in full, and for 1896 we want all the lot owners whom we fail to see to please subscribe or pay in cash something towards the salary of said sexton. We find it almost impossible to see each individual lot owner. We do beg of those whom we fail to see to call and give us their name and amount, either to be paid monthly, quarterly or yearly. We trust every lot owner of above-named cemetery who reads this will feel kindly toward us and disposed to assist us in carrying on the much needed work which we have undertaken. Please leave your subscription with one of our committee or at the Farmers & Merchants Back, as it is our treasurer. Signed by Cemetery Committee, Mrs. P. MICKLE, Chairman Mrs. R. MILLS Mrs. J.M. NIDIFFER Mrs. N.W. MOTHERAL Mrs. C.M. COE Mrs. S.P. CARR ------------------------------------------------------- SUPERIOR COURT NOTES -- -Mrs. Nellie RODGERS has applied for a divorce from her husband, Joseph RODGERS. They are both residents of Hanford. -Justin JACOBS has applied for a divorce from his wife. As he is Judge of the Superior Court of this county the case will have to be tried by another Superior Judge. W.B. WALLACE is attorney for Mrs. JACOBS. ------------------------------------------------------- LOCAL PARAGRAPHS -- -Joe HARRAH and Alex AXTELL went to Bear Valley, Tulare county, last Wednesday, to visit J.P. HARRAH, a relative, and have a week's hunt. -Joe GOMES, accused of "holding up" A.F. FEREIRA at Harvey GRAY's ranch, had his preliminary examination last Tuesday and was discharged and the case against him dismissed. -Miss Irene TAYLOR, daughter of Mr.&Mrs. A.V. TAYLOR, has returned to her studies at the Oakland High School. -The HILL twins, little Siddie and Miss Mae HILL of Hanford furnished entertainment by singing and dancing at the citrus fair in Fresno last week, returning home on Tuesday. THE VISALIA 'DELTA' of last Saturday said: "Ollie MARDIS, 13 years old, of Deer Creek, has just undergone the operation of engrafting over 200 pieces of skin on his back where the skin had been accidentally burned off some 11 weeks ago. The unfortunate boy is compelled to lie face downward, and for 3 weeks the only position that he could occupy was resting upon his knees and elbows." McCORD & CO., the new real estate firm, are already rustling for business. On Saturday 3 members of the firm will leave for the East, James McCORD going to Indiana, George McCORD to Iowa and G.M. STOLP to Chicago, New York and other Eastern cities. The firm has a large amount of country and city property to sell and if rustling can do it, they will make sales which will bring much Eastern money into Kings county and, in exchange, will place in the East, or to Easterners who may locate here, deeds to valuable agricultural lands here -- a fair exchange which will no doubt prove profitable to all concerned. MRS. HARRY RAWLINS and children are in San Francisco, where the little daughter of Mr.&Mrs. R. is being treated for a disease by a specialist. Everyone here known how handy Mr. R. is with pencils and crayons and we saw a few days ago a picture he drew to send to his little girl. Her principal pets, a little dog and a little duck, are represented in an agony of tears, the lacteal fluid flowing from their eyes into a large misery bowl. About the figures are the words of sorrow they are supposed to be uttering at the absence of their little mistress. No doubt the little girl has had many a hearty laugh over the picture and treasures it very highly as a pictorial letter from home and her papa. MRS. R.E. STARKWEATHER is in San Francisco undergoing treatment by a specialist, as she has been in poor health for a long time. A letter received by Mr. S. this forenoon from his wife brings the cheerful news that she is improving and in about a month the doctor expects to perfect a cure. -------------------------------------------------------- GRANGEVILLE GLEAMS -- -Mrs. NATHAN's sister, Miss KOHN, returned to her home in the city Sunday morning. -Mrs. W.J. NEWPORT has been quite sick for some time but is now somewhat recovered. -William KING left for Los Angeles last Thursday morning. He expects to visit most of the southern part of the State before he returns home to Kentucky. ARMONA -- -Bart PATTERSON returned home last Tuesday evening with his bride from Lodi. They have the very best wishes of the community and a hearty welcome. FRAZER NEWS -- -Invitations are out for a Leap Year party to be given by MRs. Jennie SMITH at her grand residence, corner of Harlow and Crawford streets, on the evening of Feb. 10th. This will be an enjoyable affair to all who are present, as Mrs. Jennie is a royal entertainer. WEST END -- -We learn a family in Sunflower Valley is going to set sail for Sparta, Tenn., in a prairie schooner. They will take their teams and wagons. They expect to be on the road about 4 months. LEMOORE LOCALS -- -William SEALLY, who has been suffering from tonsillitis for some time, is about again. -Tom DODGE is still low with typhoid fever, though at last reports he was on the improve. -Miss Mary Louise CARR will return from San Francisco next Wednesday and make her home among us. -J.W. STRAWN, formerly station agent at Huron, has been transferred to the Porterville branch line. -R.H. PRATT, of San Francisco, father of Mrs. S.P. CARR, is visiting in this section. He was connected with the Southern Pacific railroad for many years and was assistant general superintendent at one time. -E. ABRAMS has sold his barber shop to Peter CARRASCO and will shortly move to other parts. -G.N. FURNISH has been quite ill for the past few days, but it is hoped he will be up and around soon. -Mr. W.F. HOWARD left Lemoore on Monday of this week for Pennington, Sutter county, where he expects to permanently reside. -Chas. LANDRAM has bought an express business in Merced, and left Thursday morning to assume personal charge. -Mrs. J.H. FOX left Monday for San Francisco, to which city she was called by the illness of her sister, Mrs. B.K. SWEETLAND. -Miss Pearl ALDRICH, grand-daughter of Mr.&Mrs. L.C. CLINE, left Lemoore on Wednesday of this week for Portland, Oregon, where her parents reside. -The following officers of the Lemoore fire company were elected at the last regular meeting, Jan. 6th, for the ensuing year: President, W.F. HOLSER Vice-President, A. MOONEY Secretary, P. CARRASCA Treasurer, Charles BAILEY Steward, L. BROWNSTONE Foreman, J.W. BELKNAP 1st Assistant Foreman, Ed PATTEE 2nd Assistant Foreman, E. ABRAMS Trustees, Bert GOLDSMITH, F. POWELL, F. SCHILKE Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/