The morning call., 1894-05-27

business relations, it is well known that
the affairs of Mr.. Edison were very much
complicated, and that his property, the
Terrace baths. has many attachments
upon it.
The deceased, Clinton A. Edison, was 81
years OIL age, native of Illinois, and a
man we'll known in Alameda. He leaves
WIDOW and three children, the youngest
Oh whom is boy about 20 years old. Mr..
huSon was man we'll thought of in town.
ana ana MS 'mlstortunes ELECTED pity rather
than censure. except from those whom he
owed.
Charles Becker, who committed the
murder. was an industrious, hard-working
man. While he took an occasional drink,
ne was not known as a drinking man. At
Tue time OF doing the shooting he was
SOBER. After he was taken to jail he was
cool and expressed no regrets at his deed.
When questioned he said. IL did it," but
would not talk about the reason for It,
The inquest over the remains was held
In Ross d Viewers undertaking parlors
before Coroner Evers. The jurors were ::
K; Frank Clark foreman, +. 7. Furry,
w. Is. Storey, Henry Morris, George h.
Miller, Thomas White. c. II. Frost.
r. II. Swayne, 5717 Alameda avenue,
was the first witness. He had known the
deceased for twenty-five years and identi-
fed the body.
George Bird of Birds Point was next
called upon. He testified that he invited
Edison TO take a drink about minute be-
fore the shooting, After taking a drink
they separated and the witness heard the
shots but did not see the shooting.
A. K. DeDbe. real-estate dealer at the
| West End, stated that he was coming
toward his Office from the polls and saw
tie entire affair. Rushing up to Mr..
Becker he said: what have you done?"
and Becker replied: Il have DONE" and
baD0p6 his niStOl tO Mr. Spnllv
/ Going into the candy-StOre where Edison
had run when Becker began shooting, he
found the victim on the floor with blood
flowing from his mouth. He spoke to Ed
son but received no answer.
George Washington Silver saw the shoot
ing from the saloon and desert bed it. Mr..
Silver claims that the fifth shot found
lodgment in his foot and shows mark in
proof
TheO f. Steeinmetz, NJ Fuller, \. c.
hartman and DR.. W. o. Smith were on
the stand and substantiated the story
given.
DR.. Smith gave as testimony or the re-
suit of the autopsy that four bullet
wounds were found on the body of
Edison. The fatal bullet went in by the
shoulder blade, passed through the left
lung and the right auricle of the heart and
out between the second and third ribs
The jury found that c. A. Edison came
to his death by bullet wound inflicted by
Charles becker. and that Becker was
guilty of murder.
Becker was taken to the County Jai!
about O'Clock.
The prisoners aged wife called at the
jail to see Becker, but did not obtain per-
mission. She talked very freely of the
matter, wrnging her hands and with tears
in her eyes during the recital of the story.
"Oh, it is terrible, terrible" she said.
That poor old man. He had no murder
in his heart, ] know. He was so kindly
with everybody, but ever since the suit
with Edison went against him be seems to
have been different. The suit was de-
cided against him last Tuesday. They
made false statements in court and when
he came home he was utterly cast down at
the blow "
did You mortgage your place to raise
this money that Edison owed you?" was
ask ed.
"No. we mortgaged the home to pay our
bills which had accumulated during the
years he had worked for Edison, three
years. and for which he never received a
cent"
Becker, according to his wife's state
ment, Is 20 wears of age.