The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19
THUGS BRUTALLY
MURDER WATCHMAN
Henry Bangs on Duty at Pacific
Coast BOrax Works Killed
for Money
James A. Dyer and William
Jantzen Held by Police
as Suspects

ALAMEDA, July 1S.-Henry Bangs,
night watchman at the Pacific coast
borax company's plant at the west end.
was brutslly murdered last night by
gaspipe thugs. His skull was crushed
in by heavy blows from pieces of pipe,
the index finger OF his left hand was
almost severed and there was deep
wound in the left forearm that was evil
IDENTIFY made with some blunt instru-
ment.
Two young men, James A. Dyer OF
3OS Brush street and William Jantzen
Of sos Pacific avenue, were taken into
custody today by Patrolmen c. E.
Keyes and Al Hun and are being held
in detinue at the city prison. The po-
lice believe the men know something
Of the killing of the watchman and
they will be subjected to a rigid eXami-
nation. Dyer was formerly employed
at the borax works as porter, but left
the service of the company early this
year. He is 25 years Of age. Jantzen
is p years of age and has been work
ing as hod carrier.
Bangs body was discovered this
morning shortly before Z o'clock by
Frank Matcovich, an employe at the
factory, who had arrived TO go TO work.
The remains of the watchman were ly-
ing in pool Of blood outside Of the big
DullQllB on the west SlQ6. 1OOlpIlulS
and marks of blood indicated that
Bangs had made a fierce struggle for
his life. His skull had been crushed
IN, four large gashes in the scalp
showing where the instrument had
struck The index finger of the watch
mans left hand was almost severed as
IL from a knife cut and there was
deep hole in the left forearm. Beneath
the body. which lay upon its back
Tgrha- Of
about 80 inches long and an inch and
g quarter in diameter. II was coated
with blood and hairs from Bangs head.
Within the building, among the watts,
We're other pools Of blood. These all
lead TO where the body Of the watch
man lay
It is the theory Of the police that
Bangs was first attacked within the
building near the elevator shaft. Near
one OF the watts was found a short piece
OF gaspipe with an elbow on it. Sole
prints of two different shaped shoes
and both unlike those worn by Bangs
were easily discernible in the dust of
the floor. This fact leads the police
70 accept the theory that more than
one person was implicated in the
murder Of the watchman.
Bangs, as was his custom, went TO
work last evening shortly before )
o'clock. At 500 o'clock Chris Gabriel
sen OF S23 Webster street, Oakland an
intimate friend Of Bangs, who had
spent the afternoon with him on an
ark near the boraX works, in which
Bangs lived, went to the side door of
the engine room and knocked for the
purpose Of bidding Bangs good night,
preparatory TO returning TO Oakland.
Gabrielsen said today that there was
no response from the engine room, but
that a dog that was always with Bangs
in the building came running from the
west outside OF the building and
barked. Gabrielsen, believing that
Bangs was busy on an upper floor of
the plant, took the $40 train for the
Alameda mole and went from the mole
TO Oakland. The fact that the dog was
outside Of the main building and that
Bangs had not responded to the knock
on the engine room door tends to
strengthen the theory that the watch
man was killed before 500 last night
Bangs was regarded as a reliable
and conscientious man and had been
in the employ of the Pacific Coast
borax company for 16 years. Employees
at the works say that he would not
have admitted any strangers TO the
plant, and for this reason they and
the police hold that the persons who
entered the building last night were
known to Bangs and were also familiar
with his habits and the interior of the
factory. No money was kept in the
building, and Bangs was never known
to carry a large sum on his person.
His friend Gabrielsen believes that the
watchman might have had $50 in his
pockets. No money was found in the
clothing and one Of the pockets of the
trousers was turned inside out An
open face watch which Bangs is said
10 have worn was also missing. These
facts lend strength TO the theory that
the motive Of the crime might have
been robbery. Again, it is said that
Bangs was careful in watching the
building. and that he had often notified
gangs Of boys who congregated near
the plant and built fires on the marsh
70 move on Dyer and Jantzen. the
police say, were familiar with the in
terror Of the building, knew Bangs and
freQuented the place many times.
Bangs was a native of Denmark,
aged IL years. He was single and had
no relatives in America He was a per-
sonal friend Of T. NJ. Smith, the borax
king, who is the principal owner of
the plant at the west end. Bangs was
injured at the works in a falling ele-
vator IS years ago and was crippled in
the left leg.
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