The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-22
An Experience in Blood May
Have Caused Him to Feel
Secure.
WAS a DESPISED DESERTER
FROM HIS FLAG:
Had Been Arrested in Siam, but Ex.
tradition Proceedings Failed and
He Disappeared.

THE CALL that Joseph Blanther is an ac-
complished murderer; that the bloody
butchery of old Mrs. Langfeldt was not
the first work of The kind by the same
hand. 1t was too coolly done, too well
planned, and the murderer's behavior
afterward was that of a man who did not
fear arrest.
In other words Chief Crowley clearly in
dicates that he believes Blanther is the.
author of the general murders attributed
vaguely to the mysterious stranger"
1t would be the part of man who had
committed many such murders and es-
capped detection to act just as he did. No
one had actually seen him 90 into
the Kleineberg house. How could
he know that Mrs. Langfeldt had
told the Kleinebergs that he was expected
there that evening. Had she not done SO,
what was there to associate his name with
the crime? Old Mrs. Langfeldt had many
callers, and ne had always carried himself
as a gentleman of wealth. What was there
TO direct suspicion toward him then? His
plans were perfect in this view of the
case. He told his friend Dodge that he
was going TO San Jose with Mrs. Marks-a
lady whom Dodge did not know. 1t is
quite likely that he went to San Jose or to
covery of the crime could reach him.
Suppose the newspapers had simply
heralded the preparation of another muir
der by an unknown-another shocking
murder mystery.
Would it not, then, have been altogether
possible that the versatile nobleman would
have kept his engagement with the limo
cent Dodge at the Cafe Royal on Monday
5ph{ nd aI-ay n
taurant where they could discuss and phi
Josephine upon the new murder mystery?
Blanther said: II will meet you on Sun
day, perhaps, but not later than Monday
evening; but if anything should happen
to me l will depend upon you, as nv
friend, to look after my tin box, with the
medals that prize more dearly than life"
Then he disappeared. 1t so happened
that his name was instantly brought for
ward as the suspect in this case and was
in everybody's mouth next morning. It is
not strange, then, that he did not return
The police themselves say that his
flight was the strongest circumstance
against him. For forty eight hours after
ward, and until George Dodge had told
his story of the diamond transaction.
this view of the case-this security that
the man felt-fullv explains what has
been the oldest bit of mystery in it.
That is, the circumstance of Blanther's
leaving those medals that he valued so
highly behind him.
To be sure it may be said that it would
have been unsafe for him to carry them
with him, as they would certainly iden-
tify him. But it does not at all follow
that in taking them with him he would
have had TO carry them on his person.
Had he really contemplated flight he
could have disposed of them in
more than hundred different WAYS
that would have suggested themselves to
him. For instance, while waiting for the
coming of Dodge that morning, how
easy it would have been to mail
those medals to himself under
any name at the objective point
in his fight. But he left them behind, to-
gether with his family papers and took
the chance-promising to return. man
who had committed murder with impun-
ity would have acted just so. would have
grown careless of the police.
1t will be remembered that BIanther
made a mysterious disappearance about
ten weeks ago, about the time that Bertha
Paridis was strangl led by an unknown in
st. Mary's street. He was gone about two
or three weeks and returned to this City
about six weeks ago.
His friends knew nothing OF his inten-
ton to leave nor of his whereabouts until
Dodge accidentally met him on the street
and Blanther explained that he had been
in Portland.
Again this man had no visible means of
support at any time. He was a mystery
When Dodge and the others who have
been mentioned as acquaintance first met
him be had plenty of money and boosted
haf 70 had 90 cd hi
ing for Harper's and the Century.
receiving such fabulous sums as 500 and
$500 a month for his work, while the
fact is his writing is of a character not
marketable anywhere
He did not work, hut his finances fiuc-
tuated. One day he was starving and the
next buying French dinners.
This outlines the opinion OF Chief Crow
ley. In other words he believes Blanther
is the stranger or the author of more than
one of the mysterious murders that have
shocked the community within the past
few months.
II am convinced that Blanther is man
with a mania for murder" said the Chief
last night ''Yon can make what you
please OF that conclusion. | do not be-
lieve that that is the first crime OF the
kind he has committed"
Blanther answers perfectly the descrip-
ton of the stranger as given by Irene
Phillips, the Sutterstreet woman who was
attacked one night about a month ago,
and also by Laura Petit, another woman
residing on Ellis street assaulted within
the following few days
In line with this theory also comes the
news from Austria that Blanther so far
from being nobleman in high esteem
with his Government, is even with his
medals deserter from the army. He was
sentenced in contumaciam on the charge
of outIawry and a year later was arrested
III Siam, but tie extradition proceedings
taken against him failed To obtain his sur
render to the Austrian authorities, who
have since been ignorant OF mis- where
abouts.
AT police headquarters yesterday they
reported an absolute dearth OF views con-
corning the murderer of Mrs. Langfeldt,