The San Francisco call., 1896-06-09
TRIED To SLAY
A CHICO MAN,
Rancher Ackerman's Battle
for Life With Butcher
Dunham.
CRIME OF YEARS AGO.
An Attempt at Murder When
the Campbells Man Owned
a Nursery.
INHERITs A VICIOUS NATURE.
Once Confessed His Father Was an
ASsaSSin-Futile Search for
the Fugitive.
INHERITs A VICIOUS NATURE.

CHICO, CAL, June 8.-The history OF
Charles Dunham, the Santa Clara muir
derer, in Chico is not one that respecta-
BILE citizen would be proud of. Of those
who became acquainted with Dunham
during his stay in this vicinity none knew
his disposition better than Fred Acker-
man, rancher, who in the spring of 1898
hired Dunham as a laborer, afterward
taking him as q partner in the nursery
business. During the first two or three
months of his labor for Alderman Dun
ham was very agreeable and he and Ack-
erman got along well together.
Dunham seldom talked about himself or
his relatives, but one day he became con-
fidential and told Alderman that his
father had killed man and buried him
on ranch either in San Diego or Santa
Barbara County, and that he made such
an artistic job of it that no one would be
any the wiser or ever find it out.
AS Dunham became better acquainted
his demeanor changed, and what little re-
spect his fellow employees had entertained
for him was lost. His first offense in
Chico was when at one time he went to
Ackerman and told him that if he would
discharge one of his choremen he would
obtain for him an industrious young man
of good character who would do the work
for S. month less. This was agreed to,
and Dunham brought to the ranch a man
whom he introduced as "Jim," not giving
his other name, and it was not learned
until the month was nearly up that "Jim"
was his brother. Dunham at first denied
the relationship, but afterward had to ad-
nit it.
Mrs. Ackerman repeatedly complained
to her husband of Dunham's actions.
Dunham was very disrespectful and impu-
dent and she was afraid of him. Things
went from bad to worse, until Ackerman
and Dunham became involved in contro-
versy in regard to some trees. Alderman,
not liking the way Dunham had been con-
Quoting the nursery, told him so, and was
threatened by the partner. Soon after
ward Ackerman went to the barn to sad
die horse. He had saddled the animal
and was about to mount when some one
pounced upon him from behind and
knocked him down. 1t was Dunham. Be-
ing nearly 60 years old, Ackerman was no
match for his adversary, who was youn &
and strong. Dunham grasped the old man
by the throat with one hand, holding the
other over his mouth to prevent an out
cry. Dunham then began to twist Acker-
mans head in an attempt to break his
ne ok, but Ackerman struggled hard for
life and succeeded in crying out. His
scream was heard by one of the men on
he ranch, who came to the rescue and
ulled Dunham from his victim, who was
so exhausted that he had to be helped to
the house.
Dunham told some of the men that he
wished that he had finished Alderman
before help arrived, and that it would have
been an easy matter to have claimed that
Ackerman met his death by falling from
the haymow and breaking his neck.
Durham was then discharged and after
ward employed by q. w. Burnham, who
owns an orange orchard in the foothills
near here. At this place he was employed
for short time only, as he soon quarreled
with the foreman of the orchard. After
leaving Burnham all trace of Dunham was
lost.
Dunham went by the name of "Sweet
Potato jim" The origin of the cognomen
is not known, but it is known that Dun
ham is very peculiar in his eating, and
while here would eat no light bread, but
would make a full meal on corn bread or
vegetables.
1t is significant as proving Dunhams
intent to murder Ackerman that he killed
Mrs. Dunham by twisting her head until
her neck was broken. In the case of the
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