The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-19
Captain Lees Has Sent His De-
scription and Picture Over
the Country.
NO TRACE OF THE MAN HAS
YET BEEN DISCOVERED.
The Clews In the Hands of the Police
Cannot, However, Fail in Run.
ming Him to Earth.

J. E. Blanther is still at large. Chief
of Police Crowley and Captain Lees and
their men are still as busy as men can be,
following every lead that presents itself
and com bining the evidence hourly dis
covered.
So far as the evidence is concerned Cap
tain Lees has now in his possession almost
complete chain-enough, if not contro-
verted by some direct evidence in some
other, direction, to hang J. E. Blanther.
The thing that remains TO do is to find
the man.
SuccieDtly stated, the chain of evidence
against Blanther is linked in this way {:
1t is known that Blanther was in a state
OF desperation for lack of money and lack
OF means to get it. 1t is known that he
pawned the property of friend secured
under false pretenses; that he tried to raise
money on worthless checks; that he
pawned his overcoat; that he threatened
TO do something desperate to raise money,
and also talked of suicide as an alternative
1t is known that he was acting a part
with Mrs. Langfeldt, trying to make her
believe that he was wealthy; that he
talked of engaging expensive rooms at the
Kleineberg house; that he tried to buy a
$3.50 folding-bed on a check while he had
not money enough to buy meal that he,
young man, was paying daily court to
an lnfirm old woman and beguiling her
with false representations 1t is known
that he called upon her the night that she
was murdered; that no one else called
upon her that night; that he was not seen
to leave her apartments.
There is reasonably sure evidence that
the murder was committed about 10 80
o'clock and that the murderer left the
house about IL o'clock. The evidence is
abundant that the murderer cut himself,
as drops of blood were found on the outer
steps OF the building.
J. E. Blanther arrived at his room in
Mrs. Handley's house, S2S Geary street, at
about ten minutes past IL o'clock Friday
night. Mrs. Handley saw him in the hall
way as he was about to enter the bath
room. He remained in the bathroom some
time washing his hands, the water being
allowed TO run all the while in the basin.
J. H. Lynch, who has room on the
same floor, went into the bathroom imme-
diately after Blanther left it. He lit the
gas and found that the water in the basin
was tinged with crimson. He went into
his own room and left his door aiar and
saw Blanther return to the bathroom twice
afterward within short period. His bed
was not slept in that night, although the
covers were turned down as though to give
1t the appearance usuaI to it in the morn
ing. Blanther had been living at the
Handley residence for three weeks and
had on no occasion left the house earlier
than 10 o'clock. 1t was usually nearer II
o'clock.
On Saturday morning he left almost on
the stroke of 6, Clarence Swickert went
out at that time, as did also J. H. Lynch.
Both of them saw him. He disappeared
that day and although the newspapers
have emblaZoned his name over the coun-
try joined with charge of murder and
officers have been searching for him he
has remained hidden. In his room he
left satchel already packed. The night
shirt found there was freely spotted with
blood about the neck where it would have
been handled by the man with bleeding
fingers.
He left also in his room a tin box that
contained his family papers, papers con-
ferring orders upon him by the Austrian
Government medals and a Photograph
papers that a man would not be likely to
leave behind him under ordinary circum-
stances.
Now is presented another picture-and
most interesting one, taken in connection
with these things here joined together
that seems to point conclusively to ]. E.
Blanther as the author of the horrible
butchery in the Kleineberg house on Fri
day night.
When Blanther stepped down the front
steps of Mrs. Handley's house at 6 O'Clock
in the morning he was dressed with elab-
crate care, his step was as light. his
whole bearing was as airy as it had ever
been.
AT O'Clock when George Dodge. the
architect, arrived at his office in the Mer-
chants building he found Blanther wait
ing for him. His reason for being there
so early was that he was going to San
Jose to visit lady friend. he was in an
unusually pleasant frame of mind, hope
full and to all appearances happy. Dodge
was struck with the change.
They had dined together the evening be-
fore-a French dinner at the Maison St.