The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-18
LAID TO THE REDS.
A Fresh Theory in the Recent riur-
der at San lose.


startling theory has just been advanced
in the case OF Henry Planz. the Frederieks-
burg Brewer manager who was recently
found hanging 10 tree in San Jose.
The latest theory is that his death was
due TO DO less a cause than the yindictive-
ness OF anarchists.
No more horrible or tragic murder has
ever taken place in California. The awful
suddenness of the fate of the young
man, the unexampled ferocity displayed in
his execution. tied hand and foot and
gibheted 10 a tree after death. showed that
there must have been some extraordinary
motive which prompted his slayers to resort
TO such barbarie cruelty after death.
Thus far the detectives on the case have
been unable 10 find any tangible elew to
explain the tragedy. 1t is involved In the
same awful secrecy which surrounds the
crimes OF societies like the Mafa and an
srehISt organizations, whose leading idea is
to assasstnate and make assassination a
thing OF terror on account OF the hidden aud
sudden method OF its accomplishment.
Even on casual examination the PlanZ
tragedy bears considerable similarity 10 the
reveDgeful ana swift TetaliatOry crimes of
the vendetta and the deadly aud unex-
pected melting out of death by one of those
societies whose members murder by the
taking of a ballot or the casting of die.
There seems TO be considerable Of fanat-
young PianZ, as any one will see who will
stop 10 look closely INTO the details Of the
fate Of this very popular young man.
There are many believers in the new
theory that Planz was slain by anarchists.
A prominent brewer, speaking Of the mur-
der OF PanZ. yesterday said:
You may take my word for Il there is
no truth In the theory that PlanZ was muir
dered on account of his women scrapes.
That Is all nonsense. have known him
frnn hON nsaf foas fl,at
met his death as be did is no surprise to
many who have knowledge on the inside.
You must take into consideration first
the condition OF the fredericksburg Brewery
before 1t joined the syndicate. Atthat time
San Jose was the very hotbed Of anarchists.
The leaders had come from Chicago. The
followers were ignorant men from foreign
countries who should never have been al
lowed TO land. These ignorant men. not
speaking our language and not understand
Ing our institutions, and imbued with the
radical and social ideas Of the mobs and
rioters OF Europe. were easily impressed
with the loose immortality ard much looser
political ideas OF the leading anarchists. 1t
has, you will remember, always been car
dlnal principle Of these secret societies that
murder is justified in accomplishing their
purposes. They call il Justification and the
necessity OF revolution.
mot only that, they 60 further and for
private ends and purposes of revenge teach
particular men who have injured them or
their cause is a praiseworthy act.
The crimes OF all these men of tho later
day have been marked with extraordinary
horror. There Is the throwing Of the bomb,
the frebrand in the dead of night, the in
fernal machine, the wreck and ruin of
things indiseriminately and the desire to
make their crimes Illuminated by a red glare
OF all things horrible, revolving aud hdeous.
These men have forgotten all the teach
ings of our modern civilization as regards
mercy. In them the fiend runs rampant.
Now, In the PlanZ case there is every
element that marks the anarchist. There is
the midnight assassination, the gloating
over and holding up OF the tragedy with
awful and fearful theatrical effect to
shocked community, and. above all, the
dark mystery which surrounds the deeds of
the red-handed members of secret societies.
Every theory that has been advanced has
met with contradiction in the evidence in
tho case; The robbery as well as the
woman theory is equally untenabie. There
Is no fact Of the case that would contradict
the theory that PlanZ came to his death at
the hands of bis socialistic enemies. You
ask what is there TO confirm il outside of the
intrinsic evidence that is the main element
and circumstances Of the tragedy?
well, as have said, before the syndi-
cate took possession of the fredericksburg
Brewery there was number of anarchists
In the employ OF the brewery. They did not
All 10 out when the brewery cnangeu DaDus.
1t Is we'll known that they had a secret
and strong organization in San Jose. l
cannot tell whether that organization exists
there to-day or not. lam inclined to bslieve
that II does not. But / do believe that
number of the men who were impTeg-
mated with its ideas and educated to believe
as little OF murder as the ordinary man does
OF drink remained at the brewery, and
were there at or shortly before the time OF
Planz's death.
Again, all brewery men know, those
who are familiar with the workings OF each
others institutions a. matter of business,
that there has been the greatest rivalry
and Jealousy for some time in the Freder-
icksburg Brewery. a Jealousy which existed
from the manager down to the malt man
and upper. There were various causes for
this after Denicke sold his interest, for
when head falls there are always num-
bers Tor the place. Under the management
OF Stone. who preceded Planz, there was
more trouble and he resigned and got out.
Planz was given his place. There Is no
disgusting the fact that there was con sid
erable feeling over his appointment In the
brewery. There were some who thought
ne did not deserve the appointment, was
too young, and should not be promoted over
others. When PlanZ took his place he
started In to manage with firm hand, and
made changes and removals.
HE did not last long. The anarchist is
vindlctlve, sudden, swift and histr.onic in