The San Francisco call., 1896-06-07
TRIPLE MURDER NEAR FRESNO


nature of clew upon which the officers
could work. Pools of blood were found at
each body, and the three Armenians must
have been killed at the same time. The
son was killed first The tracks of his
father and sister led from the position of
his body to where their bodies were found.
The assassin must have made known his
purpose suddenly, for there were no signs
of struggle. When father and sister
witnessed the fate OF Benjamin they evil
IDENTIFY turned and ran.
The murderer was skilled with pistol,
for the two bodies were found only few
feet apart. 1t is supposed that he first ran
up to the side of the woman and shot her,
and then turned and felIed her father to
the ground. Then he sent a bullet into
the brain of the PROSTATE old man.
The officers searched thoroughly, but
they could find no tracks of the murderer.
Neither could they find firearms about the
bodies.
Shortly after the finding of the bodies
Sheriff Scott arrested Daniel Schermerian
on suspicion. The Sheriff went to the
Shahamirian house and made search of
it. The dishes were found in place, and
the unfortunates must have been called
away after finishing their evening meal.
The had evidently left the house before
bedtime, for their bodies we're garbed in
the clothes in which they had been
working.
While Scott was at the house neighbors
suggested that he pay visit to the home
of Daniel Schermerian, who had acted
somewhat strangely in the morning. The
Sheriff went over to his house and found
the young man dressing chicken. Scher-
merian seemingly had not yet learned of
the fate which had befsllen his uncle and
cousins. He affected great surprise when
told the news.
After some conversation Sheriff Scott
asked Schermerian if he had a pistol.
The young man went into the house
and brought one out. The officer was
startled to find clots of blood on the
end of the barrel. The young man ac-
counted for the presence of these by stating
that he had killed the chicken with it.
Schermerian was then directed to turn
his pockets out. The right front pocket in
his trousers was clotted with blood. Again
Schermerian explained by exhibiting cut
on his finger, which he said had bled pro-
fusely. He had wrapped the lining of the
pocket around the finger to step the bleed
ing. Sheriff Scott decided that it would
be best to take Schermerian in charge, and
he brought him to the Jail.
AT the jail the prisoner was seen by
CALL correspondent He is youth of 81.
fairly intelligent, and seemed to be con-
slderahlV disturbed By the bloody ererts
of the preceding night. He asserted that
he knew of no circumstance which might
have led to the butchery, and declared that
his uncle, as far as he knew, had incurred
the active enmity of no man.
Friends of the youth insist that he
would not be capable of such terrible
crime. He has always been a quiet and
industrious young man. He speaks
English poorly, and it was with difficulty
that q statement could be gotten from him.
a theory was advanced that Scherme-
rian exterminated the entire family of his
uncle in order that his father and then
himself might get possession of their
property, which is valued at 5000. The
uncle had daughter in the Stockton In
sane asylum, and the promoters of the
theory contend that in all probability
Schermerian did not believe she could lay
claim to the property. On some pretext
or other, they believed, Schermerian lured
his victims to place most advantageous
to him for the preparation of the triple
murder. But in view of late develop
ments this contention finds but few sup
porters.
1t was known that the younger Shaha-
miriam was guilty of several offenses
against young Russian girls. 1t is also
known that the Russians had been talk
ing strongly of taking the fellow from his
home and giving him a whipping.
Only the day before he was killed young
Schermerian made improper advances to
Russian woman who was working in an
adjoining field. The authorities had been
appealed to, but the case presented to
them was not of such a nature that con-
viction could be secured. The Russians
held a meeting and it is said they decided
to take matters into their OVID hands.
1t seems incredible that the Russians
would do any shooting. They might have
given the young man whipping, as he
undoubtedly justly deserved. But the
theory is that some of the Russians called
the boy outof the house, or possibly made
him come by force. The father and sister
followed, to assist Ben jamin, having known
Then a struggle ensued, and in self-de-
Tense or otherw ise the Russians shot all
three.
If this theory is the correct one, the deed
must have been done by some father or
husband, whose child or wife had been in
suited by the youth. This may be the
reason why the son was killed first and |
then the others, that the murderer's iden-
tity might not be discovered
Coroner Long held an inquest on the |
bodies late this afternoon Neighbors |
state that they heard three shots in the |
vicinity at about or o'clock in the even
ing, but man named Freeman stated |
that he had been hunting about that time |
and he f:ed three shots, which were the |
ones which had been heard.
Cinnamon who were camping a short |
distance from the scene of the tragedy |
testified that at q late hour thew heard |
three shots and two or three screams, |
They were afraid 10 get up and investigate. |
Nothing further was developed at the |
inquest.
Sheriff Scott stated to a CALL CORE
spondent to- might that the case was one of |
the most mysterious which he had ever |
encountered. He released young Shaha- !
miriam from jail tonight as he did not |
believe there was any evidence to warrant |