Marin County
Death Records
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
MURDER OF EMMA SPOHRS
MURDER OF EMMA SPOHRS.—On May 23, 1872, a terrible tragedy was enacted in Angel Island, in which a soldier named Fritz Kimmel shot and instantly killed Emma Spohrs, a girl of fourteen years of age, in a fit of jealousy. There was a ball given at Camp Reynolds for the benefit of the non-commissioned officers and privates of Company H, Twelfth Infantry. While the guests were at the supper table, Kimmel arose from his seat, and going to Emma, put a pistol to her head and fired. She fell dead, and before the horror-stricken guests could prevent it, the murderer placed the weapon to his own head and fired, killing himself instantly. A military Court of Inquiry was held, which developed the following facts: Kimmel was leader of the Twelfth Infantry Band, a young German, who was accounted a fine musician. Miss Spohrs, his victim, was the daughter of a member of the band. Kimmel was a constant visitor in the family of Mr. Spohrs, and it was evident that he admired the daughter, Emma. On the night of the 23d, an entertainment was given by the Hackett Dramatic Club (composed of enlisted men of the island), to Company H, Twelfth Infantry, which was about to leave the island. During the early part of the ball, Kimmel played a violin, occasionally promenading the floor alone, but speaking to no one. Miss Spohrs saluted him pleasantly, but his responses were cold and distant; Miss Spohrs accompanied Sergeant Sheehan to supper. Kimmel seated himself on the opposite side of the table and at some distance. After watching them for some time, he abruptly left the table and went to his room, but soon returned and advanced directly to the seat of Miss Spohrs, presented a pistol to her temple and fired, killing her instantly. The murderer stepped back a few paces, placed the pistol to his own head and fired. He fell backward to the floor and died instantly.
MURDER OF SENORA GARCIA
MURDER OF SENORA GARCIA.—On April 17, 1873, Senora Loretta Garcia, relict of the late Don Rafael Garcia, a lady about sixty years of age, of high character, wealth and social position, and of blameless life, was foully murdered with a navy pistol in her own house, by a low fellow named Ambrosia Correra. At the time of the commission of the murder, the only third person present was a little adopted daughter of Senora Garcia, about six years of age. Her testimony was to the effect that the villain entered the house and spent some fifteen minutes in conversation with the old lady, marriage forming a large part, if not the only topic in the talk, after which he drew a large navy pistol and shot her, the charge entering the left side, above and near the heart. She fell upon her face and was trying to rise when he went up close to her and shot her again in the side of the head, producing almost instantaneous death. He then endeavored to fire the house. He poured burning fluid on the walls, which were papered, and tried to light it with matches, but it would not burn. Meantime the little girl ran away screaming for help, and the villain began to fear he could not conceal his ghastly crime, and that retribution would overtake him. He ran down to the nearest house, and asked the lady, “Do I look pale? I have killed Senora Garcia and now I will kill myself!” This lady seeing his pistol and his fiendish expression, was frightened and started to run, but quickly heard a report, and turned in time to see him fall and almost instantly expire, having shot himself through the head in precisely the same spot as that in which he shot his defenseless victim.
HOMICIDE OF JOHN MESSINA
HOMICIDE OF JOHN MESSINA.—John Messina, an Italian fisherman, living on Tomales bay, near Marshall, but in Bolinas township, gave a birthday party on June 24, 1875, to which he invited a number of friends. The festivities were prolonged far into the morning of the 25th, and the friends had a merry time of it, but the occasion had a sad and tragic ending and it was the last earthly jubilee for John Messina. Just as the gray dawn began to appear in the eastern sky, a dispute arose between a man named Lothario Mesado and one Joseph Cargatch, which culminated in Mesado drawing a murderous knife on Cargatch, who started to run, Mesado giving chase. Cargatch drew a pistol and discharged it in the air to intimidate his foe, but as it had no effect, he fired behind him, and the ball struck Messina in the heart, killing him instantly. The presiding Justice of the Peace decided that the killing was accidental.
KILLING OF PATRICK MONEHAN
KILLING OF PATRICK MONEHAN.—On Thursday evening of November 4, 1875, a row occurred at the Indian rancheria in Nicasio, which culminated on Sunday evening in the sudden and violent death of a white man. An Indian known by the name of Big José Salvador, made an assault on his sister, the widow of Calistro, with a knife. He had the woman down, when a lad, her son, seized his pistol from his hip pocket, and ran away with it. José gave chase to the boy, and the woman improved the opportunity to escape. She swore out a warrant for the arrest of her assailant, before Justice Rodgers, charging him with an assault with a deadly weapon, with intent to kill. The Justice put the warrant in the hands of John R. Foulks, who, with Louis Demsey, went on Sunday evening to the rancherie, to arrest the Indian.
The officers searched through several cabins, and at last came to one in which Patrick Monehan was sleeping, to whom they told their errand. He said he also had a warrant for José, but they could not arrest him. Foulks said he had a warrant for the Indian, and he intended to try to serve it. Monehan and Dempsey (who is known as John Igo) then had some words, during which the former got hold of the officer, and the two had a little scuffle, though there was a picket fence between them. Monehan was a large and very powerful man. Just then, a young man from Mrs. Irvine’s came up and told Foulks that the Indian was in such a cabin, pointing to it. Foulks started for it, calling Dempsey to go with him. It seems that Monehan then got hold of Foulks, who drew his pistol, but the cylinder fell out. Dempsey, seeing that Foulks’ weapon was not available, drew his pistol and cocked it so that Monehan could hear it. The latter then walked toward Dempsey, saying, “You would not shoot me.”
Dempsey retreated, and told Monehan to stop. Monehan advanced, saying, “You would not shoot me.”
Dempsey finally said he would go back no further, and Monehan still going towards him, he fired, his ball entering Monehan’s forehead, and producing instant death.
This tragedy seems to have ended the Indian crusade, as nothing further was heard about the arrest of the Indian.
Dempsey immediately gave himself up to await examination.
A Coroner’s jury was impaneled on Sunday evening, consisting of E.R. Cornwell, Frank Nason, H. Thies, A.J. Winslow, David Taylor, E.M. Welch, P. Fox and one other, to investigate Monehan’s death. Their verdict simply declared the facts, and neither condemned nor justified the act.
Dempsey was examined before Justice Rodgers on Tuesday afternoon. The Justice telegraphy for District Attorney Bowers to attend and represent the people, but prior engagements prevented. E.B. Mahon, Esq., appeared and defended Dempsey, who was acquitted of all blame in the premises, and released from custody.
Monehan seems to have had the reputation of being quiet and good natured when sober, but when intoxicated a pretty rough customer to handle.
MURDER OF JOHN McKNIGHT
MURDER OF JOHN McKNIGHT.—John McKnight, aged sixty-seven years, living near Tomales bay, was murdered in his own house on the night of the 15th or morning of the 16th. The murderer broke the door open with the poll of an ax. McKnight had evidently been wakened by the noise, and sprang out of bed making towards the door, when, as is supposed from bruises on his face, he was knocked down, and then stabbed twice—once superficially in the right side of the neck, in the location of the jugular vein, and once to the depth of about five inches in the left breast—the knife passing entirely through the apex of the heart. Mr. McKnight owned thirteen acres of land which he had improved and fixed up very nicely for the poultry business, in which he had there been engaged for years. He was a harmless old man, lived entirely alone, kept no money in the house, and, as booty could not have been the object of the murder, it is a mystery what was. This is the seventh, eighth or ninth man that has been murdered on Tomales bay during the last few years, the author of the deed in each instance escaping punishment.
MURDER OF WILLIAM BROWN
MURDER OF WILLIAM BROWN.—On October 21, 1876, William Brown, a well-to-do farmer of Chileno valley, was in Petaluma, collecting money and attending to some business matters. He left town for his home, about ten miles distant, in the afternoon. He stopped at a saloon in the valley and there met Salazar and Yguerra. He invited them to drink several times, and while so doing exhibited some money, about sixty dollars in all. Near evening he left the saloon for his home, a few miles distant. He was followed by Salazar and Yguerra, both intent upon robbing him for the money they knew he possessed. When near him, Salazar threw his lariat over Mr. Brown and dragged him from his buggy. The horses immediately ran off, and Yguerra followed, caught them and tied them to a fence. When Brown was dragged out he made some little resistance, but Salazar stabbed him fatally several times and proceeded to rob him of his money, watch and ring. They left him dead and traveled back to the saloon. The cries of Mr. Brown were distinctly heard at his home, but little thought was given to them. Being expected home long before that hour, his absence caused a little anxiety, and a member of his family went out upon the road to watch for him. His team was then discovered tied to the fence, further search revealing his body lying on the road. He was found dead, having been stabbed several times. After killing him the murderers went back to Spanish town, where they remained until arrested. They were then brought to Petaluma, where Sheriff Tunstead had great trouble in keeping them safe from a mob, who were about to make an effort to capture the prisoners and hang them immediately. They were conveyed to San Rafael, committed to await the action of the Grand Jury, indicted for murder in the first degree, and were tried in the March term of the District Court. The Indian was sentenced to the State Prison for twenty years. Salazar was defended by H. Wilkins of San Rafael, had a fair and impartial trial, was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. He desired a new trial, motion was made and denied. The murderer expiated his crime on the scaffold, May 31, 1877.