The morning call., 1891-01-09
The Assassin Of Samuel Jacobsen
Is Safe in Custody.
SIDNEY BELL WAS HIS SLAYER.
Edward Campbell, His AcCOnDliGS, Voluntarily
Makes a Clean Breast Of The Story Of
The Crime The Accused Was the Foot
Dad who TeT0TiZ8d The western Addi-
ton Robbery Was The Motive.


Samuel NJ. jacobsen on the nigbtof the 10th
Of August, 1890, at the corner of Webster
and California streets, has been solved, and
the man at whose door the killing is laid is
now in close custody in 1.-The tanks" OF the
City Prison.
In their unrelenting efforts to penetrate
the cloud enveloping the murder of the mer-
chant Captain Lees and his detectives were
lately aided by a fortunate combination Of
circumstances that brought The matter to a
conclusive point. Not only have the facts
Of the fatal affair been brought TO light, but
it has been discovered, also that the princi-
pal actor in the highway robberieS Of recent
date and JacObsen's murderer is one and
the same person.
The criminal is Sidney Bell alias Thomas,
Who, until a few weeks ago. was wholly
unknown to the police. The story Of the
unearthng of the crime is best related in
the sequence in which it was told last night
by Captain Lees.
Numerous complaints of highway rob
berry had been lodged at the office of the
Chief of Police during the past six months
and strenuous exertions were put forth by
the department TO bring the footpads to
Justice. a successful clew was not
reached until a few weeks ago, when Bell
was suspected of the robberies. \ Ygilant
search was made for him, and last Tuesday
he was captured at the corner of Third and
Market streets by Detectives Hogan and
Silyey. The pTi>oner was brught into the
presence of Captain Lees. and, unlike most
men taxed with crime readily admitted his
guilt instead Of denying it.
GLORIED IN HIS EXPLOITS.
He seemed to glory in his exploits and led
on by Lees related in a cool and self
possessed manner his experience in hold
ing up" belated pedestrians. His recital
was frequently of q cold-blooded character
and his style of describing his methods was
as nonchslant as if speaking Of occurrences
Of every day life.
He said that he had adopted the profess
sion Of a road-agent in July last, when with
a companion he stood up" a man on Scott
street in the vicinity Of the German Hos
pital His booty consistedsof a nickel watch
ana 70 cents. Disguised with the results
OF the venture, Bell returned the watch and
sought another victim. On the same night
near Woodward's Gardens he robbed q
young man Of S3 50.
On the night Of August 9th he encoun-
tered A. F. Corles in the Market-street
cut" and aided by his confederate, re-
Heved the gentleman of $50 and a gold
watch. On the following evening, as Pro-
fessor Lawrence Ta1le of the School De-
partment was going home, opposite tue old
ST. MaTy's College, he was stopped in the
railroad cut, beyond Randall street, by Bell
and another man. Mr. Taffe, however,
showed a determined front and the robbers
did not mOlest him.
On August 21st +. FEELING was robbed of
s. ard a knife on Market street, between
Ridley and Fourteenth streets, and on Oc-
tobeT sd W. ". Delano was confronted by
the busy foot-pads on Park Hill, near
Haight street, south Of Broderick. When
Mr Delano was allowed to pursue his way
his assets were diminished TO the extent Of
Sol and a knife.
MORE OF HIS VICTIMS.
On November 30 Edward Crome met Bell
and his "par' on Golden Gate avenue be-
tween Broderick aud Baker streets, and
turned over unwillingly TO them 81 % and
a silver watch j. II. CuTley was the next
person who had to contribute to the high
waymen. He lost S12 70 and a handsome
gold watch on the night of November 10th
on Scott rect.
The watch taken from Curley did not be-
long to that gentleman, but was the property
of Skinner, the sprinter, ana the tlme-piece
proved 10 be first link connecting Bell with
the Jacobsen murder. In relating the stories
Of the robberies Bell said that pistols were
displayed 10 iutimidate the victims, and
handkerchiefS were brought into reQuisltlOn
to serve as masks.
After listening 10 the mans story or con-
fession Captain Lees entered into the pro-
cess of CrOss-eXaminatlon and made III
Quiries concerning Bells partners in his
daring work. Bell said that in all of the
robberles he was assisted by person
named c. Harrison. When asked to de-
scribe the man Bell contradicted himself SC
frequently and appeared to know so little
of his confederate that Lees became salts
fed that Harrison" is a myth.
The detective shrewdly guessed that th'
fo0tpad was attempting 10 shield his accom-
plices. He next preceded to ascertain wha
disposition had been made of the stole1
property, and questioned Bell about the
watch that had been taken from Mr.. Cur
ley. The prisoner answered that he haC
sold the timepiece to man in the Iur
po0l-rOOms, but was also very vague in Ms
description Of the person.
A SURPRISE IN STORE.
Captain Lees knew that Bell was lying
about the sale of this watch, because it haC
been recovered from a prominent loca
bazaar, where it was sold by Bell for S5S
This Information was suddenly unloadeC
upon the prisoner and its effect was start
ling. The blood left his ruddy face and hi
countenance at once acquired palor il
Striking contrast to its former rosy hue.
When the examination of the self-con
fessed robbeT was concluded, he was sen
downstairs and locked Up. Lees then begal
TO work on the information he had receives
from Bell, and cast about for his confed
crates. One OF these was found in tn
County JaIl, where he is now awaiting tria
for burglary. His name is Charles Schmidt
and his partner in the burglary is known a
Crab m. Schmidt and Graham we're re
Gently arrested in San Jose with consider
able quantity OF carpenters tools in thei
possession, and the police Of this city wer
Motif q Of the case.
Ih- tools were traced to owners in Sa
Francisco, and the men were held for tria
Schmidt, the police say, was connected wit
Bel in several of the highway rObberies
but he was not the man described as Harri
son. Lees, who had gathered much evdenc
IA the case, was satisfied that the mythica
Harrison was a young man named Camp
bell, who had been under surveillance 10
two months past
Campbell was taken to police head
quarters on Monday last by Hogan and ST
Iry, and, alter being closely questioned, az
gitted thaL he Sad been q participant II
sOEIe of the TObDeTies. lie made a t-lea
breast Of his entire connection with Be
and mlnutely detailed ali the facts of ih
ToDberies.
CAMPBELL's STATEMENT
Captain Lees states that he perceived til;
Campbell was troubled over some matte
and talked To him again on the foilowip
day. Then the startling information wa
elected that Bell had attempted to stan
up" Mr. ia, OLSEN on the night OF the lot
Of August, and meeting with resistanC
fired the fatal shot Campbel's statemel
was reduced to writing last night, and vi
duly signed and attested by him. 1t is
follows;
Some time during the month of Ma
1886, was sent out with S dney Bell
canvass for the Singer SewingmachiI
COMPANY, by Mr.. Tuttle, the then city mai
ager. On the evening of the fifteenth da
OF August, 1890 met said Bell at nay hous
235 Clara street, or at the corner Of Sacr
mento and Kearny streets, and at about
O'Clock on that evening we started from Il
corner Of Sacramento and Kearny stree
with the proposition from Bell that we
and get "stuf " (meaning money!.
went to restaurant on Bush street,
tween kesrny aaa Dupont to get Smi