The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11

cited to murder by witnessing the kill
ing OF Dr.. Eugene G. Woods and the
suicide OF Gabriel Jacobs, his slayer.
last night. shot and killed his young
wife, Elsie, and then sent a bullet into
his own heart. The double tragedy
occurred during the noon hour a the
Gron home, Is Monte Vista avenue.
Miss Pearl Griffith, sister of the mur-
dered woman, was in the house when
the shooting occurred, but she locked
herself in room and made no attempt
to Investigate. Both Croft and his
wife Were dead when w. A. Farris, a
neighbor, reached the scene OF the
crime.
Croft was a wealthy rancher, who
lived in Auburn until about two months
ago when he moved to this city. Last
August he was married to Mrs. Elsie
Revere. a widow from COpemish, Mich
She was "a years of age; he was So.
Almost Immediately after the wedding
he conceived a viole-sI jealousy of his
bride, whom he openly accused OF in
fidelity.
Repeatedly Croft made threats to kill
the woman, but was dissuaded from
committing murder by his attorney,
Clarence NJ. Reed of Oakland. Two
months ago he brought suit for divorce
in Placer county, alleging extreme
cruelty, but before the suit came TO
trial he withdrew the complaint, telling
his attorney that be and his wife were
going TO try il again.
That Croft had deliberately planned
the murder Of his wife and his own
suicide after broodng over the Woods
Jacobs tragedy is the opinion of the
police. The rancher visited Attorney
Reed this morning and asked that he
draw up a will. He was greatly agi-
tated when he entered Reeds office.
To the lawyers questions he replied.
irrelevantly: 4 saw Jacobs kill that
scoundrel, Woods. and himself last
night
Then, apparently realizing that he
had been indiscreet, he controlled him
self and proceeded with the directions
for his testament. He bequeathed
three ffths of his estate, which is val
ued at about $4,000, to his brother,
J. T. Groff, of Lincoln. Placer county,
and the remaining two-fifths to his sis
ter, Mrs. ]. ". Orr. also of Lincoln.
No mention of his wife was made.
While the attorney was drawing up
the document Croft gave way to a fit
of weeping, and when Reed tried TO
pacifv him he declared nervously that
he was going away "on a long journey
and begged the attorney 10 look out
for his property if he should never re-
turn. Reeds suspicious were aroused.
his client, pointing out the futility of
deed such as. Jacobs had committed.
Reed was alarmed by his clients at
titude and appearance, but as Croft had
on so many previous occasions given
way TO fits of passion in his company.
frequently making open threats TO kill
his wife. he attached no particular i'm
portance to his conduct today.
-Groff was morbidly jealous OF his
wife said Reed, eand ne had often
told me that he would XIII ker some
day I talked to him many times on
the subject warning him of the conse-
quenees Of such action. Always after
listening TO me he grew calmer and
promised to refrain from violence"
Last Tuesday Croft sought and OBJ
tanned permit to carry a revolver
from the board of public works. In
making his application he told the city
officials that his wife had threatened
10 kill him, and that he wished to be
in a position TO defend himself. He
told Chief of Police Wilson, whom he
consulted before the permit was issued,
that several of his wifes afinities had
also made threats against his life and
displayed letter signed by p. RIVERA
of San Francisco which offered to tell
him Of alleged indiscretions OF his wife
if he would visit the writer
~. A. Farris. who was the first man
on the scene OF the murder and suicide
today, found Mrs. Grons body just in
side the pantry door with a bullet
wound in her right temple, while Croft
lay lifeless in the kitchen. on the
kitchen table the head man had left the
following note addressed to his brother:
December 10. -
Brother John; 1 am in trouble though my
actions in no way, shape or manner am l TO
] have used that woman Elsie wen. aud have
,.Na
The money * all she wants and she does not
care how she gets il.
She IS backed up by Ross of Sacramento and
Lee L. Chamberlain of Auburn They not
rob me: ! viii beat them all / going 10
take hard way to do it. but have no fear OF
results. Lawyers and woman can put a man
in hades earth.
have made both win and deed 10 you
and Sister Orr. Reed. Black & Reed Of 1i05
Union Savings Bank building, in this city. have
attended 10 my business mp 70 date
In my room at home is 500 worth of stock.
least You can not sell them just
J would not have married Elsie but she prom
ised wer and could be a good woman If she
would. AS it is, she Is curse 10 humanity l
should not have bought the Oakland home. All
treat right; but this she never Will You
can sell keep this property as you like. but I
advise you 10 sell as quickly as You can and put
ae n ra @ongo gob 70 ue eodbv al s a. i"' D. b I GRorF
In postscript the desperate man
wrote:
mo O'Clock Here goes. Goodby, all.
JOHN.
Mrs. Croft brought suit for divorce in
the superior court here last Monday,
alleging extreme cruelty. Sc had been
married only few days, she declared,
bafore Groff's cruelty began. He was
extremely jealous, and accused her Of
undue friendship for other men. His
rage knew no bounds. Several times
he tried to choke her, she said. On
other occasions he threatened to kill
her, and several times went so far as 20
point pistol at her head.
The couple were married August 13
of this year. According to Mrs. Croft,
her husband owned valuable property
in Placer county and Oakland, from
which he was in receipt Of an income OF
about $4,000 year.
Miss Griffith. sister of the murdered
woman. said that Croft approached her
this morning with a copy of a news
paper in his hand and, pointing to the
account OF the killing of Doctor Wood
and the suicide of Jacobs. said: Would
you be surprised If ! did this?" He
then told her that he had been in
Broadway the night before and wit
messed te tragedy.
Friends Of Mrs. Croft say that she
often spoke of her husbands repeated
threats to kill her. even declaring that
she never went to bed but he came