Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-01
A Sad and Tragic Death.

a Sau ana tragic Deatn.
The very sad and tragic death of Miss
May Pinkham, only daughter of Dr. and
Mrs. Charles E. Pinkham, of this city,
which occurred last Saturday at Rocklin,
was SO sudden and shocking that the news
startled every one, and elected universal
expressions Of sorrow and sympathy. Mrs.
Pinkham left Sacramento on Saturday
morning, accompanied by her two chill
dren-May, nearly IA years of age, and
son, about 11-with a view of making a
three months visit at the East with her
aged parents who have been waiting anx-
iously their expected coming. They Joined
a party here who had made up in San
Francisco a special car of excursionists,
and We're going through together.
Just before the train reached Rocklin, a
pistol shot was heard in the water closet of
the car, and Immediately May Pinkham,
who was reclining upon pillow in a seat
some twelve feet away, and in the row of
seats on the opposite side of the car, ex-
claimed "Ohri and at once turned deathiv
pale and unconscious. 1t was at first sup
posed that the-report of the pistol-but
which was not very distinctly heard as the
cars We're in motion-had frightened her.
and that she had tainted. Water was i'm
putting her hand under the side of her
daughter, at the chest, to raise her up,
found blood flowing upon her hand,
and, with a shrek of agony, told the terri
bic fact, saying: ooh, she's killed. All
the passengers in the car eagerly gathered
around the PROSTATE form, striving in their
helplessness to render some aid. AT this mo-
ment the train reached ROckln, and ply
sicians were hastily summoned and came
An examination showed that bullet had
penetrated the breast and caused death in
Stantly 1t was a terrible tragedy, striking
like thunderbolt out of a clear sky, and
the shock of which not only nearly para
lyzed the mother and remaining child, but
appalled, every passenger.
As soon as the first burst of
excitement had passed, attention was
hurriedly turned to the source from which
the deadly missile came, and to ascertain
who had committed the deed Upon going
there no one was found in the closet and
it was the belief and assertion of all the
passengers in the car, so far as expressions
were made, that no one had come out of
the closet door after the pistol re-
port was heard. On an examina-
ton being made it was discovered
that pistol shot had been fired
from the inside, the ball passing
though a soft wood panel in the parti
ton, about One-fourth of an inch thick,
and from thence executed its fatal work.
The bullet hole in the panel was little
more than waist high, and powder was
blown into the wood around it. The
hight and location of it was such, that it
was generally believed that the person who
shot the pistol or revolver was. examining
it, and probably revolving the cylinder or
cooking the weapon las is SO frequently
done in looking at pocket frearms). when
twas unintentionally discharged. Itwould
seem that there is no possible theory
by which it can be supposed the shot was
fired Intentionally, for the purpose of in
juring anyone, as the party who fired the
shot could not have seen from inside of the
closet any person in the car. No one
seemed to know at the time who he was,
but it subsequently was ascertained that he
was a German, carpenter by occupation,
was from Petaluma, and on his way East,
but belonged in another car Whether he
came out the door or jumped through the
window in the closet is not known, but his
hat was dropped, and i'll jumping from
the train while in motion he evil
IDENTIFY fell and cut his head, causing the
blood to flow freely. He Immediately ran
down the track to the rear of the train
and made his escape, perhaps from
seeing what he had done and
fearing too well-earned punishment and
retribution. Senator Filcher and others
who were in the lookout of the caboose
when he was running away, saw his bloody
condition, and noticed that as he ran he
kept looking back, as if fearing pursuers,
and finally dropped down behind a big
rock. Just as he thus disappeared, a re-
port came through the car that a woman
had been shot and Immediately Mr. Fill
cher and one or two others ran back to
capture the man, but he had made good his
escape, as far as could be seen.
Detective Burke and Deputy Sheriff
Kennedy, who came on the Colfax train
from Sacramento at once took a team and
entered upon a search for the flee
ing man. They soon learned that he was
seen running bareheaded Though hay
field in the direction of Lincoln.
Dispatches were sent to the various
stations for watch to be kept and all steps
possible taken to secure his apprehension,
but up 10 last night his whereabouts were
not known. His pistol, a small five-bar-
relied one was found near the switch be-
low Rocklin, and it was learned, also,
where he procured a hat, claiming to have
lost his from the cars, but this is as far as
the search has resulted in knowledge CON
corning him.
As soon as the sad fact of the homicide
was known, Superintendent Wright or
dered that the car upon which it occurred
be detached and remain at Rocklin till an
investigation could be made. The remains
were transferred 10 the ladies' waiting
room in the depot. A dispatch was sent to
DR. Pinkham who was in Sacramento, and
the 11:55 A. NJ or Colfax train was held
here until he was found and taken upon it.
BY an error in the dispatch to Superintend-
ent Wright, caused by the excitement at
Rocklin, and the information furnished
there, it was at first stated that it was Mrs
Pinkham who was shot, but this was cor
rected upon arrival of the train at Rose
vile.
Upon arriving at Rocklin, the agent was
kindly instructed by Superintendent
Wright to furnish an engine and special
car to bring back the remains of the de-
ceased at once, but under the law. an in
quest was required to be held before the
body could be removed, and it was nearly 6
o'clock P. NJ. before the Coroner, James Nc
COrmick, summoned by telegraph, arrived
from Auburn and the inquest concluded.
An examination of the wound by DR.. H. E.
Stafford and DR.. Schurenman, of Rocklin,
showed that the ball, which entered the
center of the chest, passed directly through
the heart. and lodged in the back. The
Cor0ncrs jury found that death was
caused by a bullet from a pistol in the
hands of some person unknown"
The special train, bringing the remains
and the griefstricken family TO the city,
arrived at about P. NJ, and the body of
the loved daughter was sadly returned to
the home from whence She had started in
the morning, with bright hopes, upon d
journey to her former home at the East.
The funeral will take place at o'clock to-
morrow afternoon from the Congrega-
uonal Church, of which the deceased was
a member.
MErRopoLITAN THEATER.-C. B. Bishop,
supported by Mrs f. NJ Bates and superior
company viii appear at the Metropolitan
in the latest success. - Strictly Business
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday even
ings OF this week, and Saturday matinee.
This company has had a very successful
run of four weeks at the Standard Theater
in San Francisco, playing to crowded
houses. From statements made by the San
Francisco press Strictly Business is one
of the most taking attractions that the fun
loving, theaterg going class has had an OPP
portunity of Witnessing for a long time. 1t
is said to be one of those plays where to
laugh is irresistible, and it must be seen to
be appreciated. The admission is Is and