The herald., 1898-12-31
San Jose Doubts


SAN JOSE, Cal, Dec 30.-There is very
little if any additional information at this
end of the line concerning the man who is
under arrest at Burlington, Ia, on suspi-
cion that he is James c. Dunham, the noted
murderer who has been hunted so long and
so unsuccessfully SO far.
In speaking of the Burlington suspect this
morning, Sheriff Lyndon says he fears he is
not the man, but as yet this cannot be def
nitely determined The Burlington Sheriff
is positive the suspect is really Dunham. In
his letters the Iowa officer says the man al
most perfectly in all respects fills the descrp-
ton of Durham and looks like the photo
graphs which he has of the murderer.
". In the description which the Iowa officer
has sent here he refers to tooth missing in
eAe upper right row of teeth. A local dem
Sist has furnished the officers here with a
statehent that Dunham had one upper tooth
nearly front, on the left side, which was
built up. ef gold, though it did not show,
save by close examination. While the den
tlst is positive that it was on the left side,
he has no record on his books The Santa
Clara officers think the dentist might be
mistaken as to the location Of the tooth,
since he speaks solely ON memory of the
work done. If it is q right upper tooth,
then the tooth missing in the suspect would
go strong link in the chain.
The Iowa officer has sent specimens of the
prisoners handwriting. This is that of an
educated man. When compared with the
known writing of Dunham there may be
some little similarity, but best Judges are
inclined to say that the writing is of differ
ent persons.
One of the strongest things mentioned ~
the Eastern officers to establish identity
is a scar over one eye near the brow While
it is not generally known and has not been
mentioned in the circulars sent out. it is
stated by the best authority that Dunham
has scar over one eye which is not seen
except by close scrutiny. When Durham
was a boy he was hit over the eve by a
bucbshot fred from a rubber clipper" Ii
came near causing the loss OF an eye. When
he recovered a scar was left and it is still
there, or was when he was last seen. The
Iowa Sheriff says the man has refused to lei
his photograph be taken, SO he was wire,
by Sheriff Smith. When the warrant Wa,
sent Wednesday for his arrest it is pre-
sumed the Iowa officer intended to us,
force to take the photograph, such i
inferred from his kilograms and letters.
so, this should arrive Monday or Tuesday
Until then nothing definite is expected.
The Wells Estate
san JOSE, Cal, Dec. 30.-IIattie
Brewer has asked for letters OF administra
ton on the estate Of j. X. Wells, deceased
and this developed remarkable stale o
facts, When Dunham slew the McClinc
family Wells was one of the victims lie in
herited his mothers estate. The next hei
was Dunham's infant, Wells nephew. |
was the only soul who escaped in the entir
household. The child was adopted by NJ
T. Brewer, d great uncle, and is now 3
months old. Its name is Percy Osbor
Brewer Brewer was the administrator o
the estate. He recently died. Now Mrs
Brewer asks for letters. The estate is wort
$4,000 and consists of an ideal orchard hom
at Campbell Mrs. Brewer lives in SaI
francisco.