The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-06
ACROSS THE BAY.
An Awful Homicide Committed
in Washington Township.
The Slayer Escaped Lynching -Alameda's New
1heater - Fired by Tramps Notes
From Suburban Towns.

On Friday evening, about o'clock, al
Warm Springs, Washington Township, a
fatal quarrel occurred between Charles
Reidel, carpenter, who had a farm in The
foothills near Mission San Jose, and NIcho-
las Wbalen, farmer, living at Milpitas
Wbalen forfeited his life. About ten years
ago Reide, a Protestant, married a Mis-:
Powers. who was not Of his religion
Among the relatives who objected was
Nicholas Whalen, cousin Of the lady, and
they never were very friendly.
On Friday afternoon Whalen and Reidel
were both at Warm Springs. The former
had been drinking considerably, but, 1t is
said, was not quarrelsome. They had some
words in a saloon adjoining the hotel there.
Just what they were could not be ascer-
tanned yesterday, but the result of ii was
.hat Reidel struck Whalen in the face with
beer glass, which he retained, and as he
went out OF the door threw i! at him.
AS he went outside, so friends Of WhaIen
say, he drew q large knife, called a cattle
knife" and threatened 20 use it on Whalen.
N. Huigera demonstrated with him and at
tempted to induce him TO pat il up. While
they were taking about it in the middle of
the road Whalen came out of the door with
a mop-haBdle in his hand.
He was either standing just outside
of the door or walking very slowly when
Reidel started on the jump toward him and
plunged the knife into his left breast. The
two struggled and fell, but Whalen died in
4 few minutes One of the friends stand
ing 10y said, Charley. you have killed
him." and he replied, ITS - good if
l have killed him" His brother-in-law,
Tom Powers, told him be was coward to
cut man like Whalen when he could have
whipped him with his fists.
BROKEN OVER REIDELs HEAD.
In the words that followed Powers seized
the mOp-handle and broke it over ReidePs
head. The cut on his forehead, which he
claims was inflicted by Wnalen, several
witnesses say was made by the mop-handle
in the hands Of Powers The witnesses
who will testify TO this are f. Core, Swain
PiefSon, Bert Hudson, u. Huigera and f.
Murray. In about ten minutes after the
cutting Reidel unhitched his wagon and
started off for his home. His reputation
was such and he was such powerful man
that while several said be ought to be ar
rested they were all afraid to attempt the
arrest.
He drove home and told his wife that he
had killed Nhaien, and hitching up his cart
told her 10 meet him at Charles Roesch's in
Oakland yesterday. She drove into Warm
Springs during the evening and found that
lie had told her the truth. She said yester-
day that at 10 o'ciock on Friday night mob
appeared al the door and demanded her hus-
band; that the populace returned twice at
later hours, but each time she told them he
was not at home. she says they threatened
10 lynch him.
AT 9 o'clock yesterday morning Reidel Wis
tied the saloon Of his friend, Roesch. and
from there went over to San Francisco and
saw ID. n. Delmas, who refused 20 take his
case, bat referred him to A. A. Moore and
told him he had better give himself up. He
came back to Oakland and went 10 ROesch' S
and met bis wife. WHO had had confer
enee with A. A. Moore. They were going
TO Moore's Office when Deputy Sheriff Macy
stepped up TO Reidel and placed him under
arrest. Deputy SheTiffs Morrison and Schoe-
nau came up ana all went to the County Jail
together.
WOULD MAKE NO STATEMENT.
Reidel refused to say anything about the
quarrel, the cutting or bow he came to Oak
land. He refused to make any Statement
whatever. He was visited at the jail about
o'clock IN the afternoon BY Mr.. Moore.
Coroner Eyers went down to Warm Springs
on an early train and had an autopsy made
by Dir. Young Of lrvington, who found the
main artery near the heart Severed. An in
guest was held and jury returned YER
dict that Nhaien was killed by Re del. The
verdict also charged him with the crime of
murder.
Deputy District Attorney A. L. Frick was
present at the inquest and Immediately
after the inauest fled complaint with JUS
VI ~ i
ton charging Reidel with murder. AttoT
ney a. A. Moore on behalf of Reidei asked
that The examination OF his client be held
before Justice of the Peace of Oakland
Township. because he is afraid that he will
iynched if he is taken back 10 Washington
Township. Deputy District Attorney Erie k
states that the feeling against the defend
ant at Warm Springs is intense, but he be-
lIeves there is no danger of the people at
tempting 10 take the law in their own hands.
Reidei does not seem to have been very
well liked by many on account, they say, Of
a auarrelsome disposition, but he has friends
there. and when the other side is heard in
court it may be different. Whaien was a
lOVial. whole-soulrd fellow and was well
liked. He had a family consisting of wife
aud several children. Reidei has a wife
aud one child.
ATTRIBUTED TO fRAMPs.
The Fire Department was called out at 1
o'clock yesterday morning to extinguish a
IRE Ia vacant house on Thirty-sec0nd
street, between Market street and San Pablo
avenue. The house had recently been oc-
capied by a family named Maiholiand, but
since removal the place had been ffeQuented
by tramps. The house, which was of little
value, was practically DESTROYED. The
origin OF the fire is unknown, but II is at
trjbuted 10 tramps.
Ihe Pacific Improvement Company has