Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 3

DaktanD CttDune JULY 5, 1327 GIRL'S FOOTSTEPS TRACED TO 10 MINUTES OF DEATH IJ6 VICTIM GOULD NOT Figures and Places in Mystery Murder of Mabel Mayer MABEL VA Police are still puzzled over the bafflinir mystery surroundine the murder of Dretty and route the airl traveled from the car to her death at the hands of unknown assailant. In the lower group of photos the tipper left picture shows JV1ABEL and her brother WILLIAM in a goat cart in front of their home eight years ago. The upper right picture shows JOHN PADDOCK, expert from the police identification bureau, making record pictures of the weed-grown backyard at the house of mystery where the girl was-killed. Below (left to right) are C. M.

WILCOX and L. O. HALL, who discovered the tragedy, showing the place beside a row of hollyhocks where the maimed body lay. In the lower Tight picture is shown the mystery trunk, which police believe TtfESDAY EVENING HAVE GONE FOR AUTO RIDE Reconstruction of Shows She Mabel Mayer, 15-year-old girl who was beaten to death late Saturday night in the rear of a vacant house on Eighty-sixth avenue. Below at the left are shown BERNICE McWILLIAMS and VERA HOPKINS, friends of the dead girl, who tell of her sweet disposition and quiet Center is shown a string of beads found in the rear yard of the murder house.

Their ownership is a puzzle to the At the right is MRS. J. E. MAYER, mother of the dead girl. At the time of the murder she was employed in caring for the baby of her deceased sister-in-law and was not at home.

SAY FIB MODEL 61 I The diagram at the' left shows the neighborhood in the vicinity of the murder cottage was taken to the premises to carry away the body. i Tried Desperately to Escape (Continued From Page i I -L 'J Neignbora Reveal Admiration In the' instruments used to kill the Beads about her neck -when shet 2. 'R nil 'T TfA- i wwpi I If si smmmmmmtm jliiiiBliiipiili dyl' -12- if JHfa--ri mi ll ii il 11111111 III wii I ill I i aim set. tnzzz- f-' mnw- mm hfir ff WAwm 4rt llll I I I'll 111 O' I UIIIM II III nil 811 wjfcf-aw- t-f 1 Maver girl. Police declare that if It had.

been premeditated. It would not have been' left to the chance finding of a 2x4 and a scantling such as were used in this case. The murderer would have come prepared with some other instrument of death. The fingerprint studies today were expectedjtp determine whether the crime had been com mltted by a woman or had been participated In. by a woman.

Police suggested the possibility that a man had picked up the heavy studding and stunned the girl, while a woman accomplice had tortured her to death with the scantling, which was much lighter than the 2x4. A study of the fence suggested that the girl had been either enticed or dragged to. the back porch, and then had run to the fench and attempted to escape by climbing it, but had been beaten back. Neighbors, however; said they heard no screams. John E.

Mayer, father of the girl, virtually forecast the murder of Kls daughter in a dream several weeks ago, he disclosed today. As he remembers it, he said he saw his daughter lying dead upon the grouna Throngs of morbidly curious per sons went to the scene yesterday to stare at the back porch, the wall, the steps-and ground where Mabel had been ornered and then killed. 4Tat CAM we iiK to tVW 4r HERE ARE GLUES Police Have Fingerprints and Mystery String of Woman's Beads. 'Here is a summary, of Hie Information the police have and steps they have taken In their attempts to sojve the mytsery of the murder of pretty fifteen-year-old Mabel Mayer: Bloody finger-print, thought to be a woman's, found on girl's handbag. String of beads, imitation pearl, found in grass in back yard of mystery house, not the property of Mabel Mayer.

Anonymous received by Snerirt JO. Joecner, me nura to be the murderer. oi irs. v. omuu, 1944 Eighty-fifth avenue, that she heard a woman's screams Saturday night and saw two people flee ing from the scene.

Definite establishment or tne time that Mabel Mayer left the streetcar Saturday night at Eighty-sixth avenue and East Fourteenth street as 9:45. Fact that, her wrist watch stopped at 9:55 leaving but ten minutes of time un accounted for on the night of the killing. Finding of a hole about tA 'feet by two feet in the backyard of the mystery house, giving evidence of the soil being recently disturbed, and appearance as of something buried there, Search for a mystery automobile which aeveral residents of. the Eigthy-sixth avence neighborhood declare has been parked near the murder cottage on many recent occasions. A short piece of 2x4 scantling with which the girl was beaten, to death by her assailant.

Several finger prints on the fence, the walls of the cottage and other places which the police have Khotographed in an attempt to discoverTthe identity of the murderer, i ft AW liiwfrntiVfi' in em 1 1 mix? im 5 w-MK I MliltmamMMM)bcmA WH nir, for Murderer victim; So Sweet and Good, Not Flapper Voman Asserts Mabel Mayer was known to all of her neighbor as one of the model young girls of the district, as a home-loving Child," very devoted to heY home and her mother. one found near the Mayer hem ever knew of her going out alone with boys or young men, questioning following her brutal murder disclosed today. She had very few boy friends; and when she did accompany any of them anywhere, some other member of the family, either her brother, or her parents, went along. 1 NEVER "RAN AROVSV." None of them could advance any motive for the slaying except that it was the crime of some degenerate or maniac, who had lain la wait at the vacant house for a victim, and Mabel was the first woman or girl to pass. They can sea no other reason why anyone should take the girl's life.

P. J. Bast, owner of a grocery directly across the street from the Mayer home at 1970 Eighty-sixth avenue, knew and admired Mabel for the fact that she did not "run around with every boy she met," ha said. Mabel had been watched from childhood by Mrs. M.

A. Martin, 1963 Eighty-sixth avenue, who was near prostration herself because of the slaying. "Mabel," she said, "couldn't have been interested In any boy or man." She added her weight to the theory that slaying was the work of a maniac or degenerate. "SO SWEET AND GOOD." "Mabel was so sweet and good. I know she could not be blamed for anything that would lead to this." she said.

"She was not ilka other girls, not of the flapper type at all, but was a home-loving chlM. I can't imagine why anyone would take her from us this way." Only admiration for Mabel was heard throughout the entire neighborhood not a single word coming from anyone which would reflect in any way on her character. Many references were made to her Sunday-school and church work, and to the fact that she attended both each week. George Farley, S025 Eighty- sum avenue, wno was ine xirst to come to the girl's defense, repeated what she said on Sunday, again expressing the belief that Mabel was the victim of soma fiend. MISCHIEVOUS AT SCHOOL Among those who visited the scene were Vera Hopkins, 14, 7120 Orral street, who attended the Lockwood school with the Mayer girl.

was a very pretty girl," Vera said, "and appeared to tea much older than she was. In fact, It was reported around the school that she was really 18 years of age. She didn't run around with the boys, to my knowledge, but was Inclined to be quite mischievous in school. I knew her about a year and a half although I never was intimate with her." Another acquaintance of the glrU Jesse Banchero, 17, 201 Eighty-sixth avenue, says: "I had known Mabel for about six. years.

She need to come over to our house to telephone, as wa lived just across the street. Sh ainaa waa uavu on. didn't run around much, but lately she had been going out with soma boys. I don't know who they were. She was always very friendly with us and we gave her a kitten only recently." Pomp Greets Egypt King in London LONDON, July 6.

C4) King Fuad of Egypt, who arrived hera yesterday to pay a short visit to King- George, today had a glimpsa of London's' picturesque ceremonies when, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, he drove In an open carriage through cheering' crowds at Guild The king was greeted by the lord mayor and then proceeded in state to the library, followed by tha Prince of Princes Henry and George, Prince Arthur of Con-naught and a host of military and naval representatives In glittering The' Egyptian king received tha auuicm ni.uiua it. viu av ket, after which he had lunch at 4V fomnu. kanfliiatln. linll Bomb Found in Office Of Spokane Papers SPOKANE. July 6.

A home-made dynamite boml containing about .50 pounds of explosive, and with the fuse burned to within a few inches of the per- cussion cap, was found early today In the building which houses the SpokesmanReylew and, tha Chronicle. have wrecked tha front of tha building. The newspapers have advanced no possible motive, though both have put on antHiquor. and anti-'. vice campaigns.

Police suggest that the mine might have been planted, with its fuse already burned, as a hoax. Foiled' Theater Bandit Escapes BT tTVITED PRESS' LEASED WIRE TO IRUTTHI LOS ANGELES, July After a squad of (0 policemen bad combed Pershing Square and tha vicinity of tha Biltmore hotel for more than two hours, search for. a bandit who attempted to hold up the Pantages theater, was abandoned early today. Attempted theft of $14,090, week-end receipts of tha vaudeville was thwarted. As the bandit walked to a wall safe, tha theater manager dashed out to summon help and the bandit fled.

was These were found with body, but stUI bunging in the folds df her dress. FUNERAL WILL BE CONDUCTED TOMORROW The funeral of the victim of the fiendish attack will be held late tomorrow from the Grant D. Miller undertaking parlors. Services will Jb i those of the Church of "the Latter-bay SaiiUs, to which Mftbel belonged and where she was a regular attendant each Sunday. Interment will be In Evergreen cemetery.

Coroner Miller empaneled a Jury today, which viewed the body as a preliminary to the inquest which will be held sometime later in the week, or early next week unless devlopmnts in thin-' vestigation warrant a change In plans. A foot by foot search of the back yard was continued today and resulted in the- discovery of a spot near the center of the yard which police propose to Investigate thoroughly. It is about 5 feet long and two feet wide. All about It the ground is hard and covered by weeds and grass. The area in question is bare, of grass, the- soil is soft and gives evidence of having been recently It Is be- lieved that the police will dig to find if anything has been buried there.

LINK SLAYING WITH PREVIOUS ATTACKS The police also are attempting to establish connection between the murder of the Mayer girl and other attacks that have occurred in the neighborhood. The police records show that on October 8, 1926, Ruth Hosiman, 1665 Eighty-second avenue, was the victim of an attacker who was frightened away by her screams which brought neighbors to her assistance. She was walking from a streetcar. to her home when the attack occurred. Frank Fonsecca, his brother Edward, 18, and Richard Phillips, 18, who were held for investigation In connection with the killing were released after the police had grilled them for several hours.

The older boy had numerous cut and scratches on his face and arms, but proved that he received them In an auto accident, the police announced on releasing them. The three youths who have been "ordered released were held when Information reached the polioe from Mr. and Mrs. Albert C. Frost, 1805 West street, Alameda, who, while attending a Fourth of July program at the- civic auditorium last night, heard one of them remark, "My brother got out of Eighty-sixth avenue Just in time." Commenting on the significance of the wrist watch time showing 9:65, coupled with Arnold's "declaration concerning her leaving the street car at 9:45, the police declare that, this eliminates any chance that the girl had accepted an auto ride from a downtown transfer point or that she stopped to talk for any length of.

time to anyone on Eighty-sixth avenue sftai laovlnff th. Aa, iho.a Likewise, it strengthened the theory that the murderer encountered the girl on the sidewalk in front of the vacant Eighty-sixth avenue htftise. Further evidence tending to show that the murder had not been premeditated, but had beenf decided upon at the time, Is found Irs. Jean Jacobs Near Death From Fractured Skull, Internal Injuries. SAN FRANCISCO.

July 6. Mrs. Jean Jacobs, 73, 630 Lake was found in a dj'ing condition today in an alley way entrance to her apartment, where she had either fallen or jumped from a second story window. Mrs. Jacobs is in a dying condition at the Park emergency hospital from internal Injuries, a fractured skull, broken ribs and broken, left leg.

The Woman has been in ill health for two years. This morning Mrs. Joseph missed her from a bedroom on the second floor of the Lake street apartment house. $50,000 Fire Hits Steamer at Wharf NEW 5 W) A whisp of smoke, discovered after the 89 passengers had gone down the gangplank, turned Into a fire aboard the Pacific Steam Navigation liner Ebro, which docked from her voyage from South American ports today. The fire, apparently due to spontaneous combustion in a cotton--laden hold, destroyed several hun-.

dred bales of cotton and threatened a large store of nitrates in a neighboring hold before it. was extinguished. "Two Killed When Airplane Crashes CINCINNATI. July Two men were killed and another injured when an airplane, following a racing hydroplane on the Ohio river at Laughery island, near Aurora, erased on the" river bank yesterday. Harry Danbury, 24.

Rislntr Sun. and Raymond Hodges. Rising Sun, were killed and Bdward Roefling, pilot, In lured. 2 Man and Woman Seen Run ning From Crime Scene to Auto. Hoping to throw some light on the brutal murder of fiften-year-old Mabel Mayer in the rear yard of a vacant house at 1738 Eighty-sixth avenue some time Saturday night, Mrs; C.

O. Smith, 1944 Eighty-fifth avenue, told police today of hearing a woman scream late Saturday night. Her; story-is corroborated by a neighbor, Mrs. G. H.

Sherwington, 1946 Eighty-fifth avenue. According to the story told to Police Inspectors William Marshall and Eddie O'ponnell, Mrs. Smith heard a woman's scream, about 10 p. m. Saturday, the time police have fixed when the murder occurred.

Mrs. Smith says it 'was more a hysterical than a scream. She went out to the front porch in time to see a man and woman running up the street, the maji ahead and the woman fol-10" The woman repeatedly called, "Come on, Bob," Mrs. Smith says. Finally- the man halted until she caught up, put his arm ahoiit, her and said, "Well, come on, then." The two then sprang Into an auto parked at the curb farther up the street and drove rapidly Mrs.

Schwerlngton told the same story. She also heard the cry and saw the man and woman running up the street. Revised Prayer Book Put Up to Assembly LONDON, July 5. WW The fate of the revised prayer book of the church of, England, today lay before a meeting of the church assembly, which opened at Church House, Westminster. The archbishop Of Canterbury, who presided, moved that the proposed revision be finally approved.

He said that if it were adopted by the assembly and the two houses of parliament, it would be laid before two convocations for synodical sanction before being submitted for royal assent. McDonald is affiliated Svith the Sigma Nu, According to the boys' relatives, they left upon the completion of the school year for a vacation tour which was to end at their homes here. They had traveled through Maine and a portion of Canada and were en route to Glacier National, Park when the accident occurred. First knowledge of the' accident came from McDonald, who notified his parents and those of his companion of the crash. Three hours later another telegram communicated the news of Ayer's death.

PARVfiPAY SEEKS SPAIN LOAN. MADRID, July 6. W) Paraguay is negotiating for. a loan In Spain for 'the purchase of arma- ansu to os manuiaciurea aere, screi 18-Year-Old S. F.

Solved With Murder Believed Death of Recluse ALAMEDA A BUILD AIRPORT Al ENDURANCE RECORD SOUGHT Oakland Law Student Killed In Crash on Trip From Harvard polson rirom' several empty bot- ties found in the shack, Among the personal belongings of the recluse were found securities worth a small fortunfe. They included 5000 shares of Seaboard Oil stock, 200 -shares of railroad stock and 100,000 German marks of the issue of 1910, intact in bank' wrappers. They had a pre-war value of $30,000. also was-a-copy of an Oakland newspaper of December 11, 1909, containing an offer of $500 reward for the arrest of the Schneider 'murderer, who was believed to be a drugstore baitdit who had held up several San Francisco stores with an old-fashioned pistol. -Other effects indicated that Greshaves, prior to 1916, had lived at 630 and at 840 Broadway, same.

contained photographs of envelope in which Chief of Police Cook of San Francisco received letters deriding the police for. their failure to catch the criminal. The writing corresponded to Greshaver's. Greshaver's body was discovered by Sheriff Leslie Tracy after an unidentified man had reported that the caretaker had not been seen about his duties for several' days. John Drew Remains In Critical Plight SAN FRANCISCO," July 5.

Uohn Drew, 73-year-old veteran of the American stage, was still in a critical condition here today after six weeks of serious illness. He is suffering from arthritis SAN RAFAEL, July 5. An 18-year-old murder mystery was ber lieved solved today by the death of a.50-year-old recluse in a shaok on the Roy ranch near Fairfax yesterday. Evidence revealed by Coroner J. Keating Indicated that Jacob Greshaver, for 11 years caretakenUm the property, was the elusive 'tbathhouse of San Francisco in 1909.

The first- hint that the authorities had of Greshaver's connection with the unsolved murder of William H. Schneider in the Ham-mam baths' near Eddy street and Van Ness avenue was yellowed newspaper clippings proclaiming a $500 regard and giving a description or-the killer. In addition to the clippings about the Schneider murder, there 'Were-stories dealing with the mysterious murder of a tattooed chorus girl in Cleveland, Ohio by a man who after the murder scratched out a name that had been in the tattoo design. After a close examination of the body of Greshaver, Keating declared that it answered the rescrip-tion, Qi the Schneider murderer even to "bowed left leg" described in the accounts. Also bits of Greshaver's handwriting tallied closely with that on letters written to Chief of Police Cook at the time of the murder.

Greshaver died from the effects of poison. His nude body was fourid on a cot where' It had lain probably for two1 days. An autopsy was to be held today to determine whether the man took Council to Consider Project as Stimulus to Commercial Flying Tonight. i ALAMEDA, July 5. A report on the feasibility of establishing a commerciaalrport on he tide-lands of the Alameda mole will be considered by the city council at its meeting tonight.

The reeort will be made by a committee? jin-cluding City Manager Clifton E. Attorney William J. Locke and City Engineer Burnett Hamilton. It contain a complete survey of the proposals of Captain Chadwlck Thompson of San Francisco, "who recently petitioned the council to grant him a lease on the ttdelands for a ten year with the optional a renewal. Thompson and his associates intend to establish an airplane factory, a commercial airport and regular air routes to sur rounding localities, he told members of the committee.1 Messengers Robbed Of $5000 by Bandits BY UNITED PRESS LEASED WIRE 10 TRIBUSE TACOMA.

July 6. Three bandits today held up two messengers pt the Tacoma Railway and Power company and escaped in an automobile with 5009, Chamberlin, Acosta, Balchen to Try to Stay 61 Hours in Flight. PARIS, July 6 W) Clarence D. Chamberlin Bert Acosta and Bernt Balchan, says the Paris edition of the New York Herald Tribune, probably will try for a new airplane endurance record as soon as they return t'o the United States. It is the belief of the three fliers that the' present record made by Acosta and Chamberlain, of 51 hours, 11 minutes! 25 seconds, can be bettered by at least ten hours' by carrying 50 gallons more gasoline than when the record was made at New York in April.

The airmen are convinced that this can be done without materially altering the. Bellanca plane with which' the record was established. Mexico Police Rout Sacco Sympathizers MEXICO CITY. July 6. C4) Motorcycle police armed with rifles early today surrounded the United States consulate here and dispersed 200 laborltes attempting a demonstration behalf -of Nicola Sacco and Bartelomeo Van- aetti.

i John W. Ayer, 22, law student at Harvard University and son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Ayer; 246 Sea View drive, was killed in an automobile accident at Munisihg, late yesterday, according to a telegram received here from John J.

McDonald '22, his companion. Details of the accident were revealed, in the telegram. McDonald, a Harvard law student and a-eon of Mr. and Mrs. J.

J. McDonald, 1032 Ardmore avenue, escaped injury. He is "bringing his friend's body to Oakland on a train leaving Munising at .6:30 p. m. Both Ayer and McDoneld were graduated from University of Calif ornia" 1926 and both went east to complete their law studies.

Ayer was a member of trie Delta Kappa Epsllon fraternity, while.