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| Sam in his Oakland Police uniform |
The following stories were found in newspaper archives.
For some I have retold the entire story;
others are summaries of what was
reported in the Oakland Tribune, San Francisco Call and the San Francisco
Chronical newspapers.
KIND POLICEMAN
MINUS PRISONER, December 19, 1911, San Francisco Call
Suspect Makes Dash After He Persuades Guard to Take Off
Handcuffs
Persuading his custodian, Special Policeman Sam
Thornally, to remove his handcuffs, William Wright, a pickpocket suspect,
succeeded in making his escape this afternoon. Wright had been given permission
to go to San Francisco under guard to obtain $2.50 bail for his release.
Thornally, acting- as a Patrolman, was sent with Wright on the trip across the
bay, and, having 'been warned that Wright would probably make an attempt to
escape, kept his prisoner carefully guarded. Thornally and his prisoner entered
the saloon of C. de Julio, 501 Broadway, where Wright said he could get the
money. He persuaded Thornally to remove the handcuffs while he went into a
room. Coming out. Wright dashed by Thornally and into the street. Thornally was
foiled in giving chase and Wright had little difficulty in getting away.
FUGITIVE CAUGHT
AFTER LONG CHASE William Wright, Who Escaped From Patrolman by Ruse, Again in
Cell, January 7, 1912, Oakland Tribune
William Wright, alias Willie Holmes, the alleged
pickpocket who escaped from Patrolman Thornally in San Francisco by a bold ruse
December 17th, was recaptured across the bay yesterday, and has been
returned to custody in the Oakland city prison. Policeman Thornally aided in
trailing the fugitive and in his recapture.
Wright was allowed to go to San Francisco under guard to
obtain bail from friends in that city, and Patrolman Thornally was sent to
guard the prisoner. Wright was charged with vagrancy, the charge being sworn to
as the police were unable to obtain sufficient evidence to hold him on a
larceny charge.
Declaring that he did not wish to appear at the place of
business of his friend manacled to the officer, Wright succeeded in persuading
Policeman Thornally to remove the handcuffs. In the crowed entrance to a store
he suddenly hurled the policeman out of his way and made his escape in the
crowd.
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| Short notice from one of the local newspapers |
Sam and Captain Thornwall Brown searched in San Leandro,
Hayward and San Lorenzo for 14 year old Dana Cronin. Mrs. Paul Bago suspected
that her foster son had been buried in a sewer trench being constructed by the
Spring Construction Company.
OWNER OF SCOW FOUND DEAD IN ESTUARY SLIME
Captain Thomas H.
Stuart of San Rafael Apparently Murdered for Money
Wounds in Temple
Made by Sharp Instrument About a Week Ago OAKLAND, September 22, 1912, San
Francisco Call
The body of Captain Thomas M. Steuart of San Rafael,
proprietor of the scow Redwood, was found today in the mud of the estuary, off
the foot of Jones Avenue, under circumstances that point to murder. The police
are attempting to ascertain whether three wounds over the right temple caused
the man's death. Over the temple was found an abrasion and two small holes,
made apparently by a sharp instrument. According to Dr. Mark X. Miner, made an
examination of the body, the wounds were sufficient to cause death.
The body had been in the water almost a week, according
to Deputy Coroner C. N. Cooper of the G. W. Murphy undertaking establishment,
at 9032 East Fourteenth street, where the remains were taken. The body is badly
decomposed, but was identified by J. W. Pickrell of 695 Jones Avenue, who knew
Stuart for years. Pickrell last saw Captain Stuart about two weeks ago, when he
helped to unload a cargo of sand that Stuart brought from San Rafael. According
to John Cozad, a contractor living at 3 Bay View, San Rafael, for whom Stuart
often took cargoes of sand, the last trip was made September 14. It is not
known when he arrived here. Disorder in Scow Cabin About $11 was found in the
pockets of the dead man, but his cabin on the scow was in disorder, leading to
the theory that it had been rifled. Papers were scattered about and a hatchet
was found that looked to Cooper as though it had been stained with blood.
Captain Stuart was known to have money aboard the scow, sometimes several
hundred dollars, and according to Pickrell, did not hesitate about exhibiting
his money when in saloons. A search of the cabin failed to reveal traces of
blood on the floor or walls, although such stains might have been obliterated.
The hatchet is in the possession of the police, who will analyze the matter
clinging to it to ascertain if it is human blood.
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| Historic photo of the Oakland estuary in 1919. Google image |
Dead Man's Life
Lonely
Captain Stuart lived a lonely life. When at this end of
his trip he remained in the scow in the shallow
waters of the estuary. He mingled little with Alameda
people and Pickrell thinks few other men assisted Stuart in unloading the scow
here. His family life had been broken up through differences with his wife and
he made his headquarters in San Rafael at a hotel. He lived formerly at 1815
Thirty fourth Avenue, but moved last spring. He has a wife and two sons, Edward
and Charles, who live on a ranch at Santa Rosa, and his daughter, Miss
Katherine Stuart, is an employee of Samuels' lace house, San Francisco.
Speaker Hangs Up
Receiver When Asked to Tell Name to Coroner
Owing to Captain Stuart's mode of life much mystery
surrounds the case. There is an unknown angle to the finding of the body, as a
mysterious man who refused to reveal his identity, gave the first Information
concerning it at a late hour last night.
Mysterious Phone
Message
This man called Cooper on the telephone and said a body
was floating in the estuary near the foot of Jones Avenue. When asked his name
he hung up the receiver. The matter was postponed until daylight, when Cooper
and Patrolman Thornally of the Melrose station found the body face down in the
mud in almost the exact location given by the mysterious stranger. They waded
out and dragged it ashore and then obtained a boat and made their way to the
scow.
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| The scow this news story writes about probably looked similar to this scow. Photo found on Google. |
They made a minute search of the scow, finding the
hatchet and many papers. Among the latter was a notebook containing the
addresses of several women in Alameda, with their telephone numbers affixed in
systematic order. Cooper says he called up these women and each denied any
knowledge of the dead man.
Lodge Papers Found
Stuart was a member of San Rafael lodge No. 256,
Benevolent and Protective Order of Eagles, and had a number of receipts signed
by Secretary Charles Redding. The last was dated July 25.
He was insured in the Union Mutual Life Insurance company
and had a receipt for dues to the company, signed by Cashier Helen Kuhl. The
amount of j the policy and the beneficiary are not known. Besides these were a
number of personal letters addressed to San Rafael and to his former local
address, as well as several cards of business houses in San Rafael. He made
regular trips with sand for John Cozard, and Cozard says that the last was made
September 14. He was acquainted with John Kerrigan, a saloon man at 309 Fourth
Street, San Rafael, and from him facts were obtained concerning Stuart's
family.
Slight Heart
Trouble
Stuart was between 50 and 55 years of age, but apparently
in perfect in health, except for a slight trouble with his heart, which he
spoke of some time I ago to Mrs. Pickrell while visiting her j home. At that
time he laughingly said: "I presume this old heart of mine will stop
suddenly some time and I'll die on the scow." The theory of natural death
is not entertained by the police, for Doctor Miner said: "I found an
abrasion and two deep wounds over the left temple, which in my opinion would
have been sufficient, to cause Captain Stuart's death.'' These wounds, the
police believe, could not have been self-inflicted, and there is no elevation
on the scow from which he could have fallen. The case has been placed in the
hands of the department of criminal investigation, and Inspector Thomas Wood is
endeavoring to clear up the mystery.
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| Watercolor painting of the Oakland estuary done in 1912 by Christian Jorgensen. From Google |
STEUART MURDER VICTIM? Police Believe Captain Was Slain Despite
Adverse Decision of Coroner, Deckhouse in State of Disorder, Robbery May Have
Been Motive, September 23, 1912, Oakland Tribune
Acting Inspector, Samuel
Thornally testified before the jury that the dead man’s clothes were strewn
about and his pockets turned out. The police also found a lot of blood on the
scene but the Coroner ruled an accidental death based on the deceased
daughter’s testimony that her father suffered from heart disease. The Coroner
determined that Steuart suffered a heart attack, fell into San Leandro Bay and
drowned.
DISAPPEARANCE IS PUZZLING POLICE No Trace Discovered of Missing
Fruitvale Plant Expert, 25 September 1912, Oakland Tribune
The disappearance of
Frank Finch, a plant expert and salesman who dropped from sight last Saturday
under circumstances that led the authorities to believe that he may have met
with foul play, is still puzzling the police. Acting Inspector Samuel Thornally
has been detailed on the case by Captain of Police Thornald Brown and every
effort will be made to get some trace of the missing man.
Mrs Finch at her home,
1755 Thirty-sixth Avenue, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The has two
small children to care for. At the time her husband dropped from sight he had a
large sum of money with him which he intended paying as a deposit on a real
estate transaction to B. Magnesson, 1642 Ninety-sixth Avenue, Elmhurst. No
trace can be found of the man after he left Magnessen, about an hour after
leaving his home, saying he would be back in a short while to close up the deal
for several lots in that neighborhood.
The theory is that Finch
was robbed and murdered or drugged and is unable to communicate with his
family. Finch arrived in Fruitvale three weeks ago from Oregon with the
intention of settling here.
MAN SHOOTS WIFE AND THEN HIMSELF
Husband Objects to Woman Going to Brother's Home for Dinner
Special Dispatch to The Call OAKLAND, October 6, 1912
Mrs. Alice Silva
insisted upon going to her brother's home for dinner today, even after her husband,
Alfonso, displayed a revolver and informed her that unless she remained with
him he would shoot her. Both are at the receiving hospital suffering from
wounds that may prove fatal. After shooting his wife through the left lung,
Silva sent a bullet into his own breast and another into his skull. The
shooting occurred shortly after noon at their home, 9910 Walnut Street in
Elmhurst.
Silva is a dairyman. 26
years old, and his wife is 25. Miss Marian Linds, who lives at the Silva home,
was a witness to the shooting. When she attempted to dissuade Silva he said:
"You get out or I'll kill you, too." Miss Linds remained quiet and
saw Silva shoot his wife and then himself. Then she ran from the house
screaming for aid. Patrolmen Nedderman, Sherry and Thornally rushed the couple
to the receiving hospital, where Doctor Irwin and Steward-Piatt gave them
medical attention.
According to Charles
Silva, brother of the wounded man, the latter's wife repeatedly brandished
razor at her husband and threatened to cut his throat. "For the last six
months," said the injured man on the operating table, "the, wife has
been cranky. She goes out frequently and visits her brother, Malcom Perry of
1800 Eighty-first Avenue. She doesn't want to stay with me. Today when she said
she was going to her brother's home for dinner I told her that unless she
remained at home and got dinner for me I would shoot her. She wouldn't listen
to me, and I shot her and then myself." "My husband must have been
Insane," said Mrs. Silva. Although their condition is serious. Doctor
Irwin holds out hope for the "recovery of both.”
After Routing
Husband, She Gives Officers Hard Battle Before Submitting to Arrest.
Oakland December 12, 1912
Mrs. Nellie Myers
(weight 90 pounds, height five feet) gave battle to three husky policemen and
her husband, Harry Meyers before she was subdued and placed under arrest. She
will be held pending an examination as to her sanity.
The Meyers quarreled and
Mrs. Meyers had no trouble in besting Meyers, who hurried to a telephone and
called upon the Melrose police station for aid. Sergeant William Brackett and
Patrolmen Thornally and Degelman went to the scene.
Mrs. Meyers refused to
submit and another battle royal was begun, in which Mrs. Meyers finally was
subdued. She denies that she is insane and says the trouble started because her
husband had not kissed her for nine years.
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| Southern Pacific Railroad Station at Fruitvale. Old Montgomery Wards building in the background. From Google |
TWO BOYS ROBBING SAFE
Police Detect Fads Fruitvale Railway Station OAKLAND, December 31, 1912
Patrolman Thornally and
Special Officer Mason saw Fred Sheffield, I5 years old, and Maynard Cox, 17
years, at work at 2 o'clock this morning in the Fruitvale station of the
Southern Pacific company, attempting to rob the safe. They had secured entrance
by prying open a window with a jimmy. The youths were covered with revolvers
and ordered to throw up their hands by Thornally and Mason. They started to run
and Thornally fired a shot over their heads, stopping them. They were booked on
charges of burglary.
PHONES BEFORE TRYING TO END LIFE; IS SAVED
Patrolman Finds A. H. Agard Lying in Bed With Gas Turned on and Drags
Him Into Street
OAKLAND, May 9, 1913
A. H. Agard. 1315
Thirty-ninth Avenue, a searcher of records for many years, called up his
brother, W. A. T. Agard of 2022 Woolsey Street. Berkeley, at 2 o'clock this
morning to tell him goodbye before committing suicide. Agard, said that he had
tired of life and had decided to end all. Agard's brother immediately notified
the police, and Patrolman Thornally of the Melrose station hastened to the
Agard home to find Agard lying in bed I with the gas turned on and the cracks
and keyholes stuffed with rags. Thornally dragged Agard into the street and
revived him. Agard's wife said, I recently left him because of family
differences. She is now living with her parents at 1503 Fremont Street.
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| Sam's signature from his WWI registration form |
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