The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-05-13
SUSPECTED OF
WHOLESALE MURDER

of Aberdeen, eX-manager of the Sail
ors' union for Grays Harbor, which is
to come up for trial next Monday at
Montesano. Gohl is to be tried upon
the specific charge of having murder
ed his former friend and companion,
Charles Hatteberg, a German sailor.
but he is suspected of having rob-
bed and murdered scores of other
sailors, whose bodies were found in
Grays Harbor during the past ten
years.
The prosecution headed by Prose-
cutting Attorney William Campbell Of
Hosquiam, has collected large am
cunt of evidence and expects to be
able to prove not only that Gohl was
guilty of the murder of Hatteberg,
but that, for many years, he has
made it a practice of robbing and
numbering sailors whom he had
placed on vessels and who had en-
trusted their savings to hime for safe
keeping. The total number of Gohl's
alleged victims is variously estimat-
ed at from sixty to one hundred and
fifty. 1t is charged that by his
wholesale robberies and murder,
Coil accumulated a fortune esti-
mated at more than $4,000, which
he will probably use for his defense.
Gohl has made no confession, but
]. Flingenberg, who is held as his
accomplice in the case. made a de-
tailed statement, discriminating HIM
self. which will be used by the pros
ecution According to the confession
of Flingenberg, who was arrested
upon his arrival from Santa Rosalia.
Mexico. on the schooner A. ]. West,
on April S, Gohl. accompanied by
Flingenberg and William Hoffman.
another German sailor. went out i'll
the bay in a launch on the night of
the murder. On the way. so Flingen-
berg, stated, Coil killed Hoffman by
firing two bullets into the back OF
his head. robbed him of $500 which
had been paid to Hoffman by Gohl as
wages during the afternoon, and then
cast the body in the bay weighed
with a heavy anchor previously stol-
en- from a mill company's boat.
Flingenberg stated that, after they
had returned to the shore after the
murder of Hoffman, which was on
December 90, 1909, Gohl forced him
to accompany him to his shack and
to kill Hatteberg, who had been taxi
ing cart of Gohl's hut and had learn
ed too much about Gohl's alleged
crimes.
The body of Hatteberg VIZ" round
in Indian creek by Chief of Police
Dean of Hosquiam, on February 3,
last, strapped to a 5O-pound anchor,
and plainly visible at low water. The
body of Hoffman, whom Gohl is said
to have thrown into the bay not for
from the mouth of Indian creek has
not vet been found. although the
authorities made the most diligent
search and notwithstanding the fact
that the Odd Fellow lodge to which
Hoffman had belonged, offered a re-
ward of $500 for the recovery of his
body.
Hoffman and Hatteberg disappear
ed about the same time. just before
last Christmas, but at first their dis.
appearance did not arouse any sus-
picion. In the early part of January
| the police authorities received tiE
| from "Ally" Montana, somewhat
notorious character. that Hatttbere
had been murdered and his body
! sunk to the bottom of Indian creek
by Coil How "Ally" obtained his
: information has not been explained
but it is supposed that he heard
Coil speak of the crime. Acting up,
on the tip. Chief of Police Dean de-
tailed two men to watch Gohl while
he began thorough search of the
waters of Indian creek After six
weeks of searching the body was
found and an examination showed
that there were two bullet holes in
the back of the head.
It is believed that two detectives
from Seattle, who assisted in the in
vestigation of the case in the collect
ing of evidence against Gohl, struck
up an acquaintance with Coil and SO
completely won his confidence, that
he became unguarded in his CONVEX
sation and gave them some valuable
pointers. It is understood that the
authorities had information Of Fling
enberg being an accomplice in the
murder and prepared to arrest him
upon the arrival of the schooner up
on which Gohl had placed him, a
few days after the murder. Flingen-
berg stated after his arrest that Gohl
fearing that he would betray the Sc
cret of the crime. tried to murder
Flingenberg and failed owing to the
latter's watchfulness. had placed