The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-24
"CRAP" GAME
LEADS Up To A
FOUL MURDER
John Mccain Beaten
to Death.
RESULT OF A STREET BRAWL
FOUR MEN IMPLICATED IN THE
CRIME.
Cornelius Townsend, Frank Remil-
lard, Frank Reardon and Edward
Roach Are Under Arrest.
Woman's Statement.

OAKLAND, April 23,-Another murder
has been added to the record of crime in
Alameda County as a result of a crap"
game. The body of John Mccain, a la
borer, aged 81 years, who resided with
his aged mother at go Twenty-eighth
street, lies on a slab in the Morgue, while
Cornelius Townsend, a Democratic Coun-
ty Central Committeeman from the Sec
ond Ward, together with Frank Remil-
lard, Frank Reardon and Ed Roach, are
in cells at the City Prison tonight, reg
istered on the small book as being impli-
Gated in the murder.
The murderous row began, 1t is said, in
the barber shop of John K. Jacobs, a col
ored man, at 1105 San Pablo avenue, about
5 o'clock this afternoon. All the parties
above named, with Jim Keefe, were
engaged in shaking dice During the
crap" game an abundance of wine and
beer was served, and it appears that Nc
Cam and Reardon became involved in
a dispute. Soon blows were struck and
the game was broken up
The men went out on the sidewalk,
where the battle between Reardon and
Mccain was renewed with fresh vigor
and ReardOn was worSted. He was taken
to Mrs ]. d. Bailey's drug store at 1l01
send, and while his injuries were being
attended to Townsend is said TO have
again attacked Mccain in the fatal COM
bat.
At this stage Mrs. Nellie R. Ivancovich,
who conducts a branch bakery at 1107 San
Pablo avenue, grabbed Townsend, who,
according to her statement, was ION top"
and commanded him to stop. The men
separated for few moments. when the
fatal blow was struck. Mccain was I'M
able to rise and Remillard and his as
sailant carried him around to a side gate
at the rear of Richard Rademann's sa-
loon, corner of Twenty-seventh street and
some sacks, where he soon breathed his
last. Rademann, though almost immedi-
ately informed of the death, did not re-
port the matter until half an hour. later,
when he sent word to the Coroner to re-
move the body.
The police were finally advised at about
officers Pardee, Mckinley andReinhardt,
detailed to the scene. The closest
secrecy prevailed, however, and the police
were handicapped for a moment. No one
approached appeared to know any fact
save that Mccain was dead. In the Ian
guage of the police, the dragnet was then
thrown out and those who seemed to
know anything were caught in its meshes
and hailed to prison. Among these We're
Townsend, Keefe. Roach and Reardon, all
more or less intoxicated. Remillard was
later arrested at his home on Nineteenth
street, and though he afterward professed
ignorance, his wife when Officer McKin-
ley called, asked, rs the man hurt very
badly?" Evidently her husband had told
At the CITY Prison none of the men
would discuss the matter, and Townsend
was too much the worse for LIQUOR to
speak Detectives Hodgkins, Quigley
and Holland were Immediately given the
case but in the meantime Sergeant
Peterson had discovered the EVENINGS,
Mrs. Ivancovich, who called at the City
Prison tonight and positively identified
Townsend as the man who kicked and
beat Mccain.
Il saw this man Townsend strike and
knock Mccain down. said Mrs. Ivan
covich. Townsend was on top and he
was smashing McCann's face against the
curb and upon the rocks in the gutter, at
the same time striking him in the head.
/ rushed out and told him to stop.
I can't he replied, and then l said.
You must
HE finally arose and walked toward
my store, and afterward Mccain with
difficulty got up and moved away.
"Oh, l am positive it was Townsend. L
remember his necktie and shirt, though'
he seems more intoxicated now than
when he was so cruelty beating and kick
ing Mccain. ! am aware that this is
great responsibility on my part to iden-
tify this man, for it NAV be a matter of
life or death to him. but | am positive"
Later another witness in the person of
Albert Sain, boy residing with his
parents at 1927 San Pablo avenue, was
found, who states that when Mccain
arose and walked to the corner of
Twenty street, Townsend again
approached him and struck him down.
Then Townsend and Remiliard picked
yard of the saloon.
Keefe is supposed to know more than
he would divulge tonight, and Jacobs,
the barber in whose shop the row began
could not be found at his home, at 539
Seventeenth street.
He was arrested shortly before midnight
by officers Pardee and Mckinley at
Twenty-second street and San Pablo ave-
nue.. He was very much intoxicated, and
at the City Prison stated that he had
locked his shop after the fighting crowd
left and that he knew nothing of the
murder. The authorities allowed him to
go.
Townsend will probably be charged with
the murder tomorrow. He is young
politician by trade a bricklayer, is aged
about SO years. and resided with his wife
and five children at 679 Twenty-sixth
street. T. f. Clarity has been retained
his attorney.
John Mccain, the murdered man, pre-
sents sorry sight. His left eye is
swollen, black and blue, and his face is
generally badly beaten. 1t is supposed
too, that his skull is fractured and his
neck broken, but this cannot be deter
mined until the autopsy is held The in
quest will be conducted tomorrow night.
The dead man leaves a mother and two
brothers, Andrew and Hugh Mccain,
the former painter and the latter a
gardener Those who have known him
best say that he was usually a peace
maker and not quarrelsome, though he
was much addicted to the flowing bowl.