The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-12
STRANGLEDBY THUGS
San Jose Young Man Found
Dead, Hanging to a Tree.
Impossible 20 Find . Motive-Ths Body
Net Robbed-Suicids Of
Chicago Murderer.

San JOSE. Nov ll-Henry Plans, aged Is. re-
comfy appointed manager OF the Fredericks-
burg brewery, was found this morning hanging
to Q tree on Julian street, near Guadaloupe
bridge His hands were tied behind his back.
his feet were tied together, and a handkerchief
was over his mouth. The ground near the tree
and for distance OF over thirty feet showed
evidences of . struggle. The affair is thus far
shrouded in mystery.
Planz attended the theater last night and
vent to the Oberon alone for lunch. He had
lunch and drank two glasses of beer, and then
left the saloon aons He was seen sooa after,
about IL o'clock. on Fist street, by Henry
Jouvenal, lunch counter man at the Obsron.
They talked together and walked to St James
street. before they separated to go home. Jouve-
nal said 1t was strange that young man in
his position should walk home at that
hour. Plsnz lodged on stockton avenue,
mile from the center of town and quarter OF
o mile from the brewery. The route il through
q thin y-populated district for the latter half OF
the distance. Pianz said he was not afraid, and
laughed at the idea. Jouvsual remarked: You
have got long pair OF legs TO take you out OF
harms way" Planz was feet So inches tall.
The men separated and no one else saw him
alive.
The theory now IL that Pianz was attacked BY
two or three men AMI killed and robbed before
being hanged, and that the tragedy occurred
was found. No marks were found on the body
to show how death was caused, except the
marks OF the rope around the neck 1t 10 sup
posed that probably the men threw the rope
around his neck from behind. it being sliding
loop Of double baling rope, and strangied him,
and then robbed him OF all but the diamond
ring on his finger. His pockets were turned
inside out He was hung on limb eleven feet
from the ground and his feet were three and
one half feet from the ground. The rope around
his neck was wrapped four or FIVE time around
the limb and tucked under so that the weight OF
the body held it The ground aud stonewalk
and the side, of his shoes gave evidence that
the body had been carried with the ieet drag
ging for some distance before the body was
hanged, but thus lar no exact spot where the
struggle occurred was found.
The body was found by John ?. Sullivan,
night yardulan at the Broadgauge depot as he
Was going home from work at 6:1j this morn
ing. He went to cross vacant property, and as
he passed through a breax in fence he saw a
hat He looked up and saw the body hanging
almost in front OF him.
At the inquest this afternoon Mrs. Fitzpatrick
testified that after she heaDd Of the tragedy she
found Pianz's watch and chain, diamond ring
and scarpin in his room. ". 8. Scow testified
that between u and o'clock he was awakened
by dogs barking furiously. He wen out and
walked to Julian street. where he saw four men
apparently engaged N a quarrel They went in
the direction of the scene of the tragedy. and he
returned home. The inquest was adjourned
until tomorrow. The general theory is that
robbery was not the object of the crime. and
sensational developments are expected.