Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-20
5 BANDITS BEAT
YOUTH To DEATH
AND SECURE 5000
Martin Cahen Is Slain by Three
Thugs in a Vacant Lot on
Olive Street Near Third
VICTIM STRUCK WITH CLUBS
Insurance Man Witnesses Trag-
edy but Is Unable to Rem
der Assistance

Lured to a vacant lot in the rear OF
the Ems hotel, 321 South Olive street.
Martin Cahen, 26 years old, son OIL
S. Cahen, a wealthy retired merchant,
living at the Percival apartments, S41
South Hill street, was attacked py
three men shortly before IL O'CLOCK iast
night beaten to death with cluD,
then robbed of 5000, watch and cham
and other valuables, while witness
was shouting frantically for the pan
dts to desist. The highWaymen ran
south in Grand avenue and MADE tnelr
escape.
The victim. who lived with his par
ents, had just returned from an eX-
tensive tour of Europe. where he hao
Travelled with his father and molher.
He is "A brother of DR.. Caesar Caflen OF
the county hospital staff. He was not
engaged in business. but is thought 10
have carried a considerable amount OF
money with him.
The attack on young Cahen and the
rifling of his pockets after he had
been felled to the ground was W.T.
messed by A. X. Jones. AN insurance
solicitor, who lives at tho Ems hotel.
Jones occupies a room on the f1rSt 1loor
in the extreme rear of the buildlng,
the windows of his apartments looking
out on the vacant lot in the rear
which fronts on Grand avenue.
Jones had just retired when he Rearo
several voices in the lot He looked
out and saw four men standing to-
gether seventy-fivc feet from ms WIN
dow. He listened a few moments, but
was unable to hear distinctly all that
was said. He noticed that one of the
men-the victim-appeared to be Ill
and was gfoaning.
"Suddenly L saw one of the men
raise his arm and bring down cluD,
or similar instrument. with terrific
force. on the head of the victim" said
Jones. 81 raised my window and yelled
at the men, but they paid no attention
to my cries. Then one of the men sald !;
Come on; let's get away from mere.
Another answered: 'Wait a minute;
let's see what he's got
AFRAID TO SHOOT
II reached for my revolver, but was
afraid to shoot for fear of hitting the
wrong man. / hurriedly drew on my
trousers and ran out to investigate.
Just as l was leaving my room L saw
the three bandits run to the sidewalk
on Grand avenue about hundred
feet away and make their escape
south"
clearly in the bright moonlight, but
was unable to describe them mlnutely,
other than that one of the trio was
tan and heavy and the other two small
and thickset.
DIR. r. p. Young of the Ems hotel
followed Jones to the spot where the
victim had fallen and made an exam
ination of the inert figure DIR. Young
found that Cafien was still alive and
detected a faint pulse. Before the pnysl-
elan could administer a stimulant the
unfortunate young man was dead.
Cahen was lying face downward
when found. The discoloration ano
swelling about both eyes indicated that
his skull had been fractured. His face
was muddy and his clothing was soiled
His hat was u few feet aw'v.
The father of the victim collapsed
when he learned Of the tragedy. Be
tween sobs he stated that his son left
the house early in the evening, stating
that he was going to a lodge meeting
The father was unable to state just
how much money the young fellow
carried with him when he left, but
thought he had about $500.
1T is believed that young Cahen mel
the trio somewhere downtown and was
lured to the place under some plaus-
ible pretext, and when he refused &c
hand over his money was beaten tc
death. this extreme measure being
taken. it is thought, because the vic
tim was acquainted with his assail-
ants.
Tho body was removed to the under
taking establishment of Pierce Broth
ers. where the coroner will hold an in
quest.
man are old time residents of Los An
geles, having lived here for forty
years.