The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-11
Officials Still Seeking
for the Slayer of
SchOfield.
Widow Of the Rancher Conf
dent That She Will Soon
Be Released.
Clark Johnson, the Dead Mans
Son-in-Law. Freed by the
Fresno Authorities.

SAN JOSE, CAL, Aug. 10.-The mys-
terry surrounding the murder OF George
w. Schoheld is as deep and impenetrable
as ever. The man with theory is very
much in evidence, and the Sheriff and his
deputies have theories gratuitously
thrust upon them until their heads ache.
Mrs. schofelu is taking life very COM
fortably in the County Jail. She believes
the end OF her incarceration Is near and
has no forebodings respecting the future.
Thus far she has adhered strictly to the
story she told at the inquest.
Dan butcher is at Morgan Hill in the
custody of Constable Fay. few hours
after he was taken from the County Jail
Attorney Scheller, the legal representative
of the defendants, was in hot pursuit. He
arrived at Morgan Hill to learn that
butcher had made no changes or addi-
tons to his original story. All efforts TO
make him admit that he had been talking
to 'the marines" had utterly failed. The
boy is not very bright and yet he possesses
a native shrewdness that under certain
circumstances of grave Importance to him
self might make him stick to any false
story he had concocted, or which had
been rehearsed to him by older and ADLER
heads.
Just when the preliminary examination
will take place no one seems to know.
The District Attorney is in a hurry to
submit what evidence he has gathered to
legal test, and Attorney Scheiler has
not yet evinced desire for speedy in
vestigation.
Clark Johnson, Schofeld's son-in-law,
was released from custody by the Fresno
officers to-day. Sheriff Lyndon sent a
telegram to that city stating that it would
not be necessary to detain Johnson If the
fact could be established that the man
had been In Fresno on the night of the
murder.
An investigation was made and the re-
suit ommunicated to the Sheriff, which
was that Johnson could establish per-
feet alibi, in that he arrived in Fresno on
Friday evening of last week. His release
was then ordered, though instructions
were sent that he be Kept under surveil-
lance in order that he might be found if
his testimony should be needed in the in
vestigation.
1t is stated that the Schofield home
stead is in the widows name; that it is
valued at $4500 and is mortgaged for 5000.
The testimony of intimate friends of the
deceased in regard to his character Is
unanimous on one point. He is man
utterly devoid OF fear. It is, therefore,
looked upon as singular circum stance
that he should remain in the house after
the firing OF the first shot had just missed
his head. It was contrary to his DISPOSE
ton and not in line with the many dan
gerous and fearless actions OF his check
cred life.
"Why," said man who knew him we'll,
'ff George Schofield was in his sober
senses when that bullet shot past him, he
would have grabbed his gun and rushed
out OF the dining-room door. And I'll
gamble that he did follow Just such a
course; that he pursued the assassin TO
the woodshed and there met his death"
FRESNO, CAL, Aug. 10.-Clark john
son, who was arrested in this city yester-
day for completely in the murder OF
George w. Schofeld near San Jose, was
released from custody to-day upon a tele-
graphic order from Sheriff Lyndon OF
Santa Clara County stating that the pris-
oner was not wanted. The reason of the
discharge is unknown here, and Sheriff
Lyndon's action was received with sur
prise. Johnson acted in a manner that
caused the officers to feel satisfied that he
knew something important in connection
with the tragedy which he would not tell.