The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-19
VINO MUnprREp JOHN lvETr.

The arrest of August Olsen brings the first
act of the MERGED tragedy to Close From
present indications the case promises TO be
one of tie most exciting dramas of the day.
1t contains all tine elements which appeal to
the emotions-horror, cruelty. mystery. fam
lily scandal, greed of money and possibly the
execution of deeply planned scheme OF
bloody vengeance.
Three years ago John Ivett, then 81 years
of age widower and a wealthy ranchero
of MERGED County, paid his court to Sophie
Olsen, pretty girl of II, who was popular
but penniless. She is said to have had two
devoted admirers, to one of whom her heart
inclined. But the advantages of an alliance
of a rich man who, in the ordinary course of
events, was likely before long to leave her a
wealthy widow, commended themselves to
her family, and the girl herself was finally
brought to see matters in a practical light.
She married Ivett and made him a good wife,
no breath of scandal having clouded her
married life.
On the morning of Monday, the 10th inst,
the body OF John Ivett was found on his door
step near MERGED Falls, about eighteen miles
from the city of MERGED. He had been
dead some hours. His skull had been bat
tered and broken in many places by blunt
instrument He was in his usual clothes,
ana in his pocket was money amounting to
about $50. In his hand he held the keys OF
his wine-cellar. Nothing was missing from
the house or outbuildings. Near the door,
step the ground bore the footprints of q
man, ard at little distance the soil had
been torn up by horses hoOfs. Mrs Ivett
was absent from home and did not return
until her husband had been dead twenty-four
hours A CorOner'S jury held an inquest
and found verdict of murder against per
sons unknown"
Meantime popular suspicion had been
gathering round Mrs. Iyett'S brother, An
gust Olsen. the man who has just been ar
rested. He is man of about a years of
ago, who has followed the vocation Of q
miner. On Thurs day, the 9th, ne rode
through the village of Smelling on his way
to Ivett's. In the main street of Smelling
that afternoon miners hammer and pair
of black smiths pincers were found. Olsen
claimed them, stating that they had fallen
out OF shirt in which he had wrapped
them, the bundle being tied behind his sad
die. They were surrendered 10 him and
they have since disappeared. A reward has
been offered for the recovery of the ham
mer, but it cannot be found. His bundle
secured behind his saddle, Olsen pursued his
journey, arriving at his brother-in-law's
house that Thursday afternoon. He slept
there Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,
remaining until the afternoon OF Sunday,
the 9th, then he left Stopping at ranch to
look at horse and proceeded thence home,
arriving there between 9 and 10 O'Clock at
night. Next day he was told of the murder
and went 10 the Iyett place with his mother
and brother.
These are the facts as developed by the
testimony at the Coroner's inquest and by
talk of parties on the spot. When asked by
the Coroner's jury what had become of the
| hammer, Olsen replied that he had lost it on
Friday, between Ivett's and Parsons, and
had not thought it worth while to look for
it. Parties who saw him on his way home
on Sunday state that lie had bundle behind
his saddle, which appeared to contain some
thing heavy. The usual blood stains which
always figure in cases of this kind are said
| to have been detected on Olsen's saddle, on
his clothing and on his horses hooks.
People who are in the habit of jumping at
conclusions have discovered motive for the
murder of Ivett by Olsen. Mrs. Olsen is in
| feeble health. She has for some time been
in the hands of a physician in this city.
was 20, his prospects of life seemed bet
ter than hers. If she died, leaving him alive,
no portion of his estate, which is estimated
at $500, 00a, would go to the OlsenS; where
as, il he died first the widow would take, be-
sides her share of the community property,
whatever her husband had left her by will.
No will has yet been found, but it is conf
IDENTIFY asserted that a will was drawn and
that it will see the light within the delay set
by law If she took the whole or the bulk
of his property and then died, her own peo-
| pie would probably inherit.
Such talk as this is always heard when
| rich men meet with violent deaths. 1t often
gives suspected persons credit for much
| more machiavellic cunning than they pos
sess All that can be said at present is thai
old John Ivett has been murdered; that his
brother-in-law, August Olsen, stands under
grave suspicion, and that the poor little girl
who at II married a man who might have
been her grandfather must, if she have right
feelings, be now in woeful distress.