The San Francisco call., 1896-10-12

together. / met him by chance at his
studio in San Francisco about two years
ago, and we have been together ever
since. This was just after his last visit to
the old country. He was going TO Ger
many again in April, and | was to accom-
pany him. I am not as highly educated
as Ballestrem, for he spoke seven
languages, but nevertheless we were
stanch friends. have never heard mucn
about his family affairs and especially
about his parents. He was always very
averse to relating any hing about them.
''His sister he spoke of quite often, ana
he would receive letters from her regn-
Iarlv. He was very devoted TO his sister,
and spoke to me frequently about her: ne
was the heir to his uncle's vast estates.
His uncle, so he told me, was ex-presldent
of the German Reichstag, and | think was
president only last year, but forget. bis
immediate family, however. was not
wealthy, although titled. The Count was
painting large picture of Point Looos.
and had it nearly finished. This he would
have taken back home with him.
II have been in America since 1868, aud
lived in San Francisco for several years.
For two years l was engaged as head clerk
in the law offices of John Tuller in San
Francisco. have a brother-in-law and
also an uncle who are both doctors and
who reside in Stettin, Germany, at pres
ent. This is all | know about my friend,
and all care to tell about myself"
Jacinto Damaral and A. Machado, Por-
tuguese fishermen, living about quarter
of a mile from Ballestrem's house, were
the first to hear OF the killing. According
70 their story the tragedy occurred much
later than o'clock.
"We heard shot fired, but it was about
o'clock last night" they said. "We had
l. i Arrl
ing shot. About half hour alter the
report of the gun Abiger came over to our
house, Damaral went 10 the door and
Abiger told him he had killed his partner
and wanted some one to come over with
him. DamaraI would not 60 but shut the
door. Machado finally got up and saddled
his horse, and on MS way to Carmelito
Gate met Abiger with lantern. He said
he was coming from Freitas' saloon, but
Freitas would not help him, and he asked
me for Gods sake to go to town and get
doctor or some one. | went down to the
Hatton ranch and telephoned into Mon
terey to Justice Michaelis and told him to
come out at once. 1t was about 1880
O'Clock when | Ielephoned TO Monterey.
81 then returned and went over TO the
Counts house, where | found Abiger and
his dog outside. l asked him why he did
not go inside, and he told me he did not
want to go in that house again until some
one else went first. [ took his lantern and
went inside the house. The sight was
horrible. The Count was lying all in a
heap against one door, and everything was
mussed up as if there had been big row.
/ thought this was strange, for l had seen
great deal of the two men since their
arrival al Point Lobos, and had never
heard harsh word between them in the
whole five months they spent there. |
asked AbIger how 1t all happened. he
told me about the affair but aid the Count
did not speak at all alter he shot him. l
did not stay at the house long, but went
home"
Justice Michaelis, who made the arrest,
was friend of the Count and Abiger.
II believe said Justice Mlchaelis, "Jhat
/ knew the Count better than any one in
the neighborhood. l also knew Abiger
quite well, ana am sure the killing was IN
accident. pure and simple. l know that
neither Ballestrem nor Abiger got intoxi-
Gated, but l believe that last night Abiger
had too much OF that sour wine in him
and attempted to go hunting long after
dark, to which, of course, the Count OBJ
jecteG, and a scuffie followed. 1t must
have been much later than 6 O. clock when
the shooting occurred, and nearer 8, from
what. the Portuguese say. The gun used
happened to be mine. The whole charge
of shot entered the Counts left side, Just
heart. don't think it was willful murder
at all, but an accident"
When CALL correspondent visited the
hut OF the Bohemian Count to-day he
found pictures Of such men as Dunham,
Joseph BIanther, Durrant and others
tackled up prominently on the walls in
Abiger's room. The clay that the Count
was evidently molding at the time of the
trouble was on the kitchen floor. The
whole place was more like a hermit's
abode than the home of German noble
man.
The Counts larder was well supplied.
On the table was large demijohn OF
claret wine about half empty ana several
glasses half filled were on the table.
Among the Counts possessions many let
ters from his sister and uncle were found.
There was also one from his mother, writ
ten about year ago and addressed to San
Francisco.
Count Ballestrem had been soiourning
at Point Lobos Park for the past FIVE or
six months. This was his second visit to
Monterey, the first being made about two
years ago. He tn n camped on the Pacific
improvement Company's famous Seven
teen-mile drive and was engaged in paint
ing the sand dunes of Monterey, the most
favored spot for the many American as
well as foreign artists who come to this
neighborhood for subjects. Some of his
pain ungS OF these sand hills are eXcep-
tionally fine, and were taken with him
back TO the old country on the Counts
last visit home, about two years ago, i'm
mediately after he left Monterey. These
paintings now adorn The salon of his
parents in BresZlau, Siiesia.
The Count was an officer in the German
army, ranking as a Lieutenant, and al
though he had been coming to America
for the last sixteen years, yet under the
German law, in order to hold his Office
and also be heir to his unce's vast estate,
he was required to be present at certain
maneuvers of the German army at speci-
fed times everv two years. The Count
would attend these maneuvers, and
directly after they were over would pro-
cure leave of absence and sail for the
United States.
He was never naturalized here, for if
that was done he could not claim his title
or fall heir to the estate; yet it has always
been remarked that in all of his studies,
no matter how small or where located, the
American flag was the chief wall decora-
ton OF his apartments. Only three weeks
ago he presented to the Mckinley and
Hobart Club of this place large cam
paign, banner, which stretches across
Alvarado street in front of the Republican
headquarters.
Aside from this he presented many
r1i1 - AfaI5 i'll,