The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-11-27

FOLKS TALK

SAN JOSE, November 9.-Malcom
Brown, night clerk of the st. James
| Hotel Of this city, states that John
| Siemscn, the selftconfessed gaspipe
murderer under arrest at San Fran
cisco. Is the son of j. +. Siemsen, de-
cea sed. who was formerly wealthy
sugar planter OF Hawaii Brown was
some years ago d bookkeeper for a
sugar grower in the Hawaiian Islands.
and states positively that the father
OF the young criminal owned plan
tation within a few miles of the place
where he was employed. Il left the
islands in the eighties said Brown
last night. II was not aware that
young Siemsen was the man guilty OF
the terrible murders in san Francisco
until I saw his picture in the Exam
liner. l recognized him Immediately
because OF the resemblance he bears
to his mother. l knew Siemsen when
he was a mere boy on the islands. His
mother was half-blood Kanaka
woman, the daughter of German
planter and full-blood Kanaka
woman. She was unusually good look
ing. Siemsen, ST.. was a man Of fine
appearance and fair intelligence. In
Hawaii he was partner in the plan.
tation business with Joseph Marsden,
now wholesale merchant of San Fran
cisco. Siemsen committed suicide in
Honolulu about fifteen years ago. There
We're several other children in the
family. three boys and two girls. be-
leve."
SAN FRANCISCO, November o.
Mrs. Henrietta Toogood, formerly of
Honolulu, now residing in tent No. 2,
G street, Jefferson square, has known
Siemsen since his childhood. She called
at the police station yesterday and set
at rest all controversy concerning the
young thugs parentage and identity.
His name is Siemsen. His. fathers
name was Siemsen. The young, man
spent his boyhood at Honolulu, where
his\ parents were fairly well off, and
where he was given good common
school education. He was a good son
until he came to the United States.
Carrie Dreier, who according to one
story told by the prisoner, passed as
his sister, is, so Mrs Toogood affirms.
l cousin Of the young thug. She lives
1T Sacramento, and has been in corre-
,pondence with him for some time.
Mrs. Toogood declares that only the
mans inherent inability to tell the
ruth and his intense desire to appear
mysterious, can explain the conflicting
statements he has made concerning
he Dreier woman.
II called at the police station to see
;iemsen today" said Mrs. Toogood
asst night, because l knew his family
n Honolulu, and because his mother.
When left for the States, asked me to
ook up the young man. His parents
re highly respectable people. 1 and
oliver Johnson, who boards with me at
efferson Square, knew the Siemsen
amily well in the islands.
Mrs. Siemsen gave me photograph e
f her youngest son, born after John
eft home, to show to the latter. l
ook it with me this afternoon, and he l
tudied the picture for long time. Z
hen he said: The boy looks like my L
lother and broke down and cried.
1T was very sad. The last time l q
aw John Semsen he was a clean
outh, well thought of by his friends.
lie was good boy. I remember that IL
e always helped his mother about the "
ouse, carrying water for her and vol
nteering his services to ease her work.
he will be broken hearted when she
earns his end
Yes, l knew of Carrie Dreier," con-
nued Mrs. Toogood. she is a cousin y
f John Siemsen's, and lives at Sacra-
lento. | have no idea why he said
he was his sister, unless he felt to-
ard her like a sister. The boy has
ways been unreliable, so far as his
ord is concerned. l do not think he
es Intentionally, but he has a way of
and telling stories until
e believes them himself.
johnson also has seen Siemsen. He
ill corroborate what l say of the
lans parentage and his early life
here is no mystery about the boy. He
/, as ! have said, of good parentage,
nd had a better chance to succeed in
he world than most young men,"
Mrs. Toogood recently acquired some
ewspaper publicity, when her daugh-
II Adelina attempted to elope with
1seph OFT, who also lives in n refugee
,ttage in Jefferson Square. The pair
ere stopped at the ferries by the
Mice