The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-12
Henry Plam Of San Jose Hanged to
a Tree.
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE WITH ASSiSSIES.
LIE Was Bound Hand and Foot and Dragged A
long Distance-io Motive KnoWn for
the Crime.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

SAN JOSE. Cal, Nov 1l-Henry Planz,
aged 25. recently appointed manager of the
Fredericksburg Brewery, was found hang.
Ing to pepper tree on Julian street, near
the Guadalupe bridge. His hands were
tied behind his back. his feet were tied to-
gethcr, and handkerchief was over his
mouth. The ground near the tree and for
distance of thirty feet showed evidence of
a struggle.
The body was discovered by John F.
Sullivan. night yardmau at the broad
gauge depot. as he was going home from
work about q 10 O'Clock this morning. He
went to cross the vacant property, and as
he passed through break in the fence he
saw hat, looked up and saw the body
hanging almost in front of him.
1t was hanging from limb eleven feet
from the ground, and the feet were
three and half feet from the ground. The
rope around the mans neck was sliding
loop and was wrapped four or FIVE times
around the limb and tucked under, so that
the weight OF the body held it. 1t was not
tied at all.
Evidences on the road and stone walk and
the marks on the sides of the shoes showed
the body had been carried with the feet
dragging for some distance before the body
was hanged, but thus far the exact spot
found. The affair is shrouded thus far in
mystery. 1t is not known what could have
been the motive OF any one to get him out
CT the way. Though diamond ring was
found on the nnger of the murdered man,
robbery Is thought to be the motive.
From inve estigations made by officers and
others 1t seems that Planz attended the the.
ater last night and went to the Oberon alone
for luncheon and drank two glasses of beer
Then he left the saloon alone, and was
seen soon after ana about II O'Clock on
First street by Henry Jouvena, the lunch
man at the Oberon. They talked together
and walked to st. James street before they
separated TO 60 home.
Jouvenal said it was strange that young
man in his position should walk home at
that hour. PlanZ lodged on Stockton ave-
hue, fashionable location, about a mile
from the center OF town and quarter of a
mile from the brewery. The route is through
rather thinly populated district on the
latter half of the distance. Planz said he
was not afraid and laughed at the idea.
Jouvenal remarked, You've got a long
pair of legs TO take you out Of harms way"
Planz was six feet three and half inches
high. The men separated, and no one else
saw him alive.
The theory now is that Planz was at
tackled by two or three men and killed and
robbed before being hanged. and that the
tragedy occurred forty or fifty feet from the
tree where he was found hanging. No
marks were found on the body 10 show how
death was caused, except the marks of
rope around the neck. Ii is supposed that
probably the men threw the rope around
his neck from behind, with a sliding loop
OF double baling rope, and strangled him,
and then robbed him OF ali but the diamond
ring on his finger. The pockets were all
turned inside out. He usually wore fine
gold watch, presented to him years ago by
Mrs. Scbnabel, wife of one of the former
proprletors OF the brewery, and 1t was duly
inscribed as gift from her. His watch
and scarfpin were found in his room. but
his sleeve-butt0ns and pocket change are
missing. This seems to complicate the
theories.
At the inquest this afternoon there were
fsw developments that tended to throw
some light upon the tragedy.
Mrs. Fitzpatrick, in whose house Plauz
roomed, stated that after hearing Of the
tragedy she went to Planz's room and found
his watch and chain. diamond ring and
scarfpin.
Juvenal testified to having parted with
PianZ at the corner of First and st. John
streets, PlanZ going west toward Market.
w. ). Leon. railroad man who resides
on Santa Teresa street, testified that sOme-
where between u and l o'clock he was
awakened by dogs barking furiously.
This was continued for some time and
finally he got up and went out to see what
the cause was. He walked to Julian street
and saw four men, apparently engaged in q
row. They were going in the direction of
the scene of the tragedy and when he turned
around and went home they were within
few rods of the spot where Planz was
killed.
The inquest was adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Abe Jones stated TO reporter that about
] o'clock this morning he was walking north
on First street and caught up to Plauz in
front of the st. James Hotel. They walked
together on First street to Julian and about
1:10 o'clock they parted, PlanZ saving.
Come cut TO the Fredericksburg some Sun
day afternoon and we'll have good time"
1t is possible that Leon is mistaken as to
the time of night when lie was awakened
and that PlapZ after parting with Jones
continued on Julian street and i. was he
and mis- murderers whom Leon saw.
The theory generally accepted is that rob-
berry was not the object of the crime and
sensational developments are expected soon.