Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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CHARLES BEALL Jnr.

Colorado City


Death of Charlies Beall, Jr.

Colorado City, Col., Jan. 27.— Charles Beall, Jr.. member of the firm of Davis & Beall, of this city, committed suicide, Monday, by shooting himself through the abdomen.

The deceased had suffered for many years with catarrh of the stomach, and it is believed that continuous brooding over his affliction unbalanced his mind. He had no relatives living in this part of the country.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd February 1904

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GEORGE LOVER

San Francisco


George Lover, a 12-year-old boy, employed at the jewelry store of the W. K. Vanderslice Co., had his hand caught in a roller press last week, and three of his fingers were so badly crushed that they had to be amputated.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 3rd February 1904

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BREITENFELD

Brooklyn, New York


A Roumanian jeweler by the name of Breitenfeld, who was in business at 787 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, was found dead last Friday in his room, 22 Clarkson St. The landlady smelled gas in the house and traced it to Breitenfeld’s room. When the door was forced he was found on the floor, with the gas turned on and the windows locked. An ambulance was summoned from the Kings County Hospital and upon its arrival the surgeon said that Breitenfeld had been dead for some time.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th January 1915

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J.L. (J.T.?) MITCHELL

Houston, Texas


J. T. Mitchell, Houston, Tex., Exonerated of Charge of Murdering Hackman

Houston, Tex., Nov. 3.—Friends of J. T. Mitchell, a well-known and prominent wholesale jeweler, who was accused of having killed Capt. Bonner, a hack driver, at La Porte some time ago, are congratulating Mr. Mitchell at his vindication, after a trial.

The victim of the shooting had collided with Mr. Mitchell’s carriage about a week before the tragedy and caused injuries to some of the Mitchell family. There was ill feeling between the two men, which resulted in an altercation at their next meeting, during which Bonner was killed.

At the trial Mr. Mitchell testified that he believed that Bonner had a revolver in his hack and that he was attempting to reach it when the witness opened fire upon him. After deliberating some time, the jury brought in a verdict of “not guilty” on the ground that Mr. Mitchell had acted in self defense.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th November 1909

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32464&p=136263&hilit=mitchell#p136263

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ROBERT BROWN

New York


Mrs. Agnes Brown, wife of Robert Brown, with the Solidarity Watch Case Co., who was burned in a shocking manner, Friday morning, at her home, 139 Ridgewood Ave., Brooklyn, died, Monday morning, in the Kings County Hospital. She retained consciousness almost until the last. Friday morning Mrs. Brown slipped from a ladder and, in falling, knocked a lamp from the mantel to a hot range. It broke and the burning oil spread. She endeavored to quench the burning oil, and in doing so her garments caught fire.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th November 1909

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S.F. HOLLANDER

Eureka, California


Struck down and robbed by an unidentified thug, S. F. Hollander, Eureka, Cal., was recently sent to a hospital with a fractured skull. He had closed his store and afterward said that he had been struck down from behind when he stepped into his bedroom. When he recovered consciousness a $1,000 stick pin and $100 in currency were gone.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 12th September 1923

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ALBERT ESBERGER

Cincinnati


Cincinnati Jeweler Shoots and Kills Burglar, While the Latter Is Robbing His House

CINCINNATI, O., June 3.—Albert Esberger, who is in the jewelry business with his father, Charles Esberger, at 1116 Vine St., and a brother of Mr. Esberger, of L. Gutmann & Sons, shot and killed an unidentified burglar at his home, 241 Helen St., early yesterday. A companion of the thief escaped.

Mr. Esberger was awakened at an early hour, Wednesday morning, at his home in Mount Auburn, by a noise. With a revolver in his hand he started to investigate, and when he reached the kitchen he noticed a dim gleam of light which came through the small open window over the sink. Hiding under the sink, Mr. Esberger saw a crouching figure, and aimed and fired at it. The man sprang toward him, and he fired a second time. Then the figure darted past him and through the window, falling to the ground beneath.

The jeweler, not knowing the results of his shots, then notified the police, who found a man dead on the cement walk between the houses of Mr. Eschberger and his father, leading to the street. The thief had been shot in the back and hip.

A confederate, who had been watching at the front of the house, fled at the sound of the first firing.

The police believe Mr. Esberger has killed not only a professional, but a notorious and dangerous thief. He was about 5 ft. 4 in. tall, weighed about 150 lbs., and had brown hair parted in the middle. He was dressed in an expensive serge suit, well kept, and also wore a clean white negligé shirt. The only possible clues to his identity were the laundry mark, “B212,” and a Russian leather purse containing $12 and a few cents. The pocketbook at one time had a monogram upon it, but it had been carefully erased, with the exception of an “r,” which is still visible. There was also a silver cased watch with a gold chain and locket; also a key to a suit case, and a knife. The trousers he wore were made by a tailor of this city, who identified them later at the morgue as part of a lot of clothes stolen from him. The police think this may lead to a knowledge of the burglar’s identity and have sent a photograph of the dead man to the St. Louis, Mo., police, with the request that they try to get a man, who is now there under arrest for the tailor store robbery, to identify the dead thief.

A few days previous to the shooting affair, Charles Esberger, Sr., was seriously bitten in the hand by a dog. The animal was not mad, and its victim is reported as improving.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th June 1909

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ALBERT E. ORGAN

South Hackney, London


The Week's Poisonings

An unemployed South Hackney jeweller named Albert E. Organ (47) committed suicide by taking a poison.

Source: The Chemist and Druggist - 16th October 1909

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CHARLES THOMAS READ

Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, London


The Sale of Cough-mixtures

At Clerkenwell on October 12, Mr. Walter Schroeder held an inquest on the body of Charles Thomas Read (53), a jeweller, of Northampton Square. The evidence showed that Read had suffered from some chest-trouble, but had not seen a doctor. On October 9 he appeared to be very bad, and his sister got threepennyworth of "cough-mixture" at a neighbouring chemist's. She was told to give him only half a teaspoonful every three hours ; but shortly after he had had the first dose his sister went out of the room, and when she returned a few minutes later he had drunk the remainder of the mixture— 1½ oz. For a time he seemed rather easier, but he died on the following morning. The chemist's assistant, questioned by the Coroner, said the mixture contained squill, aniseed, &c, but no laudanum. He was in the habit of selling cough-mixtures without prescriptions, and it was very rarely that people told him much about the patients. The mixtures were merely soothers. Simple cough-mixtures were even sold in oil-shops.

The Coroner: Yes, they are, and I consider that a great mistake. There is, however, nothing in the law to prevent them or chemists selling these things; but great harm is done indirectly, as when people are able to obtain mixtures which they think will relieve them they do not consider it necessary to call a doctor to prescribe until it is too late. Chemists have things to sell, but they should take means to ascertain the condition of the people, and advise them to call in a medical man. In the present case had a doctor been sent for the county might have been spared the cost of an inquest.

Death was shown to be due to syncope while suffering from acute pleurisy, and a verdict to that effect was returned.

Source: The Chemist and Druggist - 15th October 1904

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DAVIS

Birmingham


An inquest was held at Birmingham on May 30 on the body of a man named Davis, a jeweller. For seven or eight years he had suffered from gout, and had tried all sorts of remedies. It was stated that his employers had given him notice that his place would be filled if he could not resume work by a certain date, and as a last effort he purchased a supply of gout-pills, and swallowed more than the prescribed quantity. The medical evidence showed that the pills were frequently used for gout, but as the deceased was suffering from another complaint in addition they would not be suitable. Death was due to gastritis and general inflammation.

Source: The Chemist and Druggist - 6th June 1903

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CHARLES S. FLETCHER

Birmingham


Upon the inadvertent poisoning of the late Mr. Charles S. Fletcher, a Birmingham jeweller, in the University College Hospital, London, by a wrongly given dose of cocaine, the local papers have strongly expressed themselves, and suggested that the matter demands further investigation.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st March 1889

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WILLIAM M. McCONAHAY

Salt Lake City


President Wm. M. McConahay, His Wife and Other Occupants of the Machine Escape Fatal Injuries When Car Goes Over an Embankment

Salt Lake City, Utah, July 26.—Not only the Salt Lake City and Utah jewelers’ fraternity, but every one was shocked the other day when it was learned that President Wm. M. McConahay, of the Utah Retail Jewelers’ Association, and his wife, were seriously injured in an automobile accident which occurred while they were driving with some friends near Provo Canyon, between 40 and 50 miles southeast of this city.

Both Mr, and Mrs. McConahay were badly injured. Mr, McConahay sustained a broken leg above the knee and four or five crushed ribs, and possible internal injuries, while Mrs. McConahay suffered from a number of injuries. They were moved to the nearest hospital and later brought to this city in an ambulance and immediately taken to the Latter-Day Saints Hospital for treatment.

Mr. McConahay’s condition at this writing is reported by the hospital attendants as “good” and it is thought he is now on the road to recovery, while that of his wife is such that she is no longer in the hospital.

The only satisfactory feature about the accident, it is declared, is that the four occupants of the car, all of whom were injured, were killed outright. The car, with Mr. McConahay at the wheel, ran over a 150-foot embankment rolling over four or five times before it stopped, Fortunately the machine was not making speed at the time or there would doubtless have been fatalities, friends said.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th July 1924

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JOHN HAY

Leith


John Hay (paterfamilias soubriquet " Paul Pry'*) was unfortunate as a Jeweller and Watchmaker, in Leith. He started a Potato-Starch-Mill in Jas. Lawrence's old Snuff-Mill at Earlsmill, and, in crossing at night the planks at the sluices, he fell into Isla and was drowned. His corpse was found in the "Charley Pot," and was brought first into the Vestibule of the Established Church, and then into the Chapel House.

Source: The Book of the Chronicles of Keith, Grange, Ruthven, Cairney, and Botriphbie - Rev. James Frederick Skinner Gordon D.D. - 1880

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=31210&p=86672&hilit=hay#p86672

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BRIGHT

Birmingham


The Birmingham police are spreading a countrywide net for three jewel thieves who, after smashing a window at the Bright jewelry shop and snatching $5,000 worth of gems, ran over and killed a woman while making their escape in a stolen automobile.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th December 1924

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JAMES BRENNAN

Somerville, Massachusetts


James Brennan, employed by David Bruce, Somerville, met with a painful elevator accident Tuesday afternoon, June 25, when his right foot was crushed between the cage and the wall in the Jewelers building. He was removed to the store of A. Paul & Co., where first aid treatment was administered. He suffered a compound fracture of his foot, and was subsequently taken to the hospital.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th July 1918

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JOHN SHERMAN

New Haven, Connecticut


The victim of a fractured skull and multiple fractures of facial and jaw bones, suffered recently in a fall into an elevator shaft at the plant of the New Haven Clock Co., where he was employed, John Sherman, 55 years of age, died in the New Haven hospital on July 4.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th July 1918

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SANFORD SAYLOR

Rossville, Indiana


Sanford Saylor, 80 years old, of Rossville, Ind., was killed by a Monon freight train on the afternoon of June 29. He crossed the track ahead of the train and misjudged the speed at which it was approaching the crossing. The body was badly mangled.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th July 1918

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STARR C. HEWITT

Salem, Massachusetts


DEATH OF STARR C. HEWITT

Old Jeweler of Salem, Mass., Reported to Have Committed Suicide

Boston, July 16.—Starr C. Hewitt, for more than 50 years engaged in the jewelry business in Salem, committed suicide early July 13 in his apartments over his store at 158 Essex St. He had been in failing health for months. About 6 o’clock in the morning he summoned one of his employes, John Aylward, by telephone, and when the latter arrived he found Mr. Hewitt dead. Medical Examiner Frank S. Atwood pronounced death due to suicide by shooting.

Mr. Hewitt had been married twice, but leaves no family. He was one of the oldest jewelers in the State and had been in the one store more than 50 years. In Boston, where he was a frequent visitor, he was well known. His death comes as a personal loss to many who esteemed him highly.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 22nd July 1925

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JOHN MOORE

Gibbs, Missouri


Mrs. John Moore, wife of a jeweler in Gibbs, Mo., was killed last week by the accidental discharge of a shotgun. Her husband, who kept the gun in readiness on account of the prevalence of burglars, was removing the shells from the weapon when they exploded, killing Mrs. Moore almost instantly.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th November 1910

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OTTO KEANDLER

New York


Otto Keandler, a gold beater, living at 552 E. 16th St. hanged himself recently, because he could not find work. He was a good artisan, but two months ago he became ill of typhoid fever. He was sick for several weeks and lost his position. His sickness left him so broken in health that he could not keep the place that he got afterward. He had a wife and family in Germany, to whom he sent his earnings regularly, expecting that they would join him soon.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 30th November 1910

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