Some Macabre Stories of the Silver Trade

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HARRY SILVERMAN

New York


In the identification of victims of the recent disastrous wreck on the Pennsylvania Railroad, in South Harrisburg, the watches and jewelry worn by the dead have played a highly important part. The finding of watch and some jewelry belonging to Mr and Mrs. James McCauley, of Philadelphia has satisfied the railroad people that they are among the five unidentified dead buried in Paxtang Cemetery. In an address before the local lodge of Elks, last week Harry Silverman, jewelry salesman, New York, returned thanks for the kind treatment given him as one of the wreck victims.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 24th May 1905

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HARRY F. CRECELIUS

North Attleboro, Massachusetts


Harry F. Crecelius, engraver, with Bancroft Bros., has just recovered from very severe burns on the face, neck and head, as the result of an explosion of boiling alcohol. The accident came nearly resulting in the loss of his eyes.

Source: The Keystone - November 1899

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JOSEPH ROLLI

Waterbury, Connecticut


SALESMAN MURDERED

Revenge Thought on ‘Be Motive Against Joseph Rolli, Who Was Found Dead in Waterbury, Conn.


WATERBURY, Conn., March 17.—Revenge is thought by the police to be the motive for the murder of Joseph Rolli, a jewelry salesman of this city, who was found with a bullet behind his left ear on Pearl Lake road last night.

The police are working on a theory that Rolli had been involved in various liquor transactions during the past few months and that his murder was the outcome of differences with a gang of rum runners. A colored man is being held by the police for examination, and an Italian is also in custody. These men will be put through an examination to determine what knowledge, if any, they possess with regard to facts connected with the murder.

Rolli figured prominently recently in a court case in which two men were charged with burglarizing his wine cellar. The case ended in the two men being discharged.

The body was found by a son-in-law of the dead man who lives near the scene of the shooting. Medical Examiner Crane viewed the body and said the shot apparently had been fired from some distance.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd March 1921

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ALBERT L. WILLIAMS

Norfolk, Virginia


While soldering to a hat pin a small blank cartridge, at the store of E. W. Curdts, Norfolk, Va., recently, the cartridge, which was being held over a burning gas jet, exploded, and Albert L. Williams was badly cut about the face. It was thought at first that Mr. Williams’ eyes were permanently injured, but it is now believed that they were but slightly burned and will be all right in a short time.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th September 1910

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J.C. GOODWIN

Richmond, Virginia


While examining a rifle recently, prearatory to cleaning it, J. C. Goodwin, a Richmond, Va., jeweler, accidently discharged the weapon and shot himself in he leg, inflicting a painful wound. The physician who treated the jeweler said that while the wound was serious it was not dangerous,

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 7th September 1910

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WESLEY HOLDER

Evansville, Indiana


SENT TO PRISON FOR LIFE

Charles Alderson, Who Was Accused of Killing Evansville, Ind., Jeweler, Found Guilty of Murder in the Second Degree


EVANSVILLE, Ind., March 22,—Charles Alderson, alleged “bad man” of Henderson, Ky., charged with the murder of Wesley Holder, a retail jeweler of this city, on the night of Sept. 18, 1922, here, was found guilty of murder in the second degree by a jury in the Posey county court at Mt. Vernon, Ind., on Wednesday night, March 21, and sentenced to the State prison for life.

The case was venued from here to the Posey County Circuit Court by the attorneys for Alderson, who alleged that public sentiment here was inflamed against the defendant. The trial consumed three days. The State proved that the murder was unprovoked and the defense tried to prove that Alderson acted in self-defense, but it was proved upon cross-examination by the State that one of the defense witnesses was in jail at the time of the murder and could not have seen the body of Holder after the man had been mortally wounded, as the witness testified.

Alderson and Holder had a quarrel here and on Sept. 18, 1922, agreed to “go into the country and fight it out.” On their way to the country it is alleged Alderson pulled his pocket knife and stabbed Holder several times and that the wounded man died the day following in the hospital. Nurses in the hospital and the dead man’s wife testified that Holder’s last words were: “He did not give me a chance; he did not give me a fair deal.” It is not known at this time if the attorneys for the defense will ask for a new trial. Alderson has been indicted a number of times at Henderson, Ky., the testimony at the trial showed, and faced one indictment at Henderson for alleged murder.

Holder served several months in France during the world war. Returning here he opened a jewelry store in the Mercantile Commercial bank at the corner of Sycamore and Second Sts. here. He was a young man of good habits and is survived by his widow.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 28th March 1923

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O.C. JACOBSEN

Los Angeles


Body of O. C. Jacobsen, Los Angeles Jeweler and Watchmaker, Found in the Desert of Central Nevada

LOS ANGELES, Cal., March 21.—News has been received here of the finding of the body of O. C. Jacobsen, a jeweler and watchmaker formerly of this city, in the desert of central Nevada. The report says he had been missing since last October, when relatives in Brigham City, Utah, where he had previously lived, received word that he had lost his way while trying to drive his automobile to his former home.

Driven insane by thirst and hunger, he is reported to have forced a companion, a Mr. Nelson, out of the car and driven off the main road and into the desert. Nelson reached a telegraph station and notified Jacobsen’s relatives at Brigham City. After that time searching parties scoured the desert for him, but his body was not found until a few days ago, when it was discovered near the place where he left Nelson. The machine was found with its supply of water and gasoline exhausted. Apparently Jacobsen had abandoned the car and set out on foot and had later wandered back almost to where he had left the car.

Jacobsen came here from Brigham City in the Spring of 1921 and worked for about four months for J. K. Maxwell, 606 W. Pico St. From here he went to Bakersfield and little is known here about his activities since that time. While here he applied for a divorce from his wife and was apparently in love with a young woman of this city to whom he is reported to have been married. He was 34 years of age.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 28th March 1923

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LILLIAN GASH

Newark, New Jersey


Louis V. Aronson, president of the Art Metal Works, 1 Mulberry St., has offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of the driver of the automobile that killed Miss Lillian Gash, of 473 S. 12th St., an employee of his concern, and injured her friend, Miss Stella Margolia, of 219 Fairmount Ave. The driver drove off after the accident.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th July 1923

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FRANK McCORMICK

Newark, New Jersey


Frank McCormick, 253 Norfolk St., who lost the middle finger of his left hand and received injuries to two fingers while working for the Art Metal Works, on Mulberry St., has been awarded $540 by the Workmen’s Compensation Bureau.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 10th January 1923

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ARLEY C. METCALFE

Baltimore


Arley C. Metcalfe, Baltimore, Md., Dead, as Result of Motorcycle and Automobile Collision

BALTIMORE, Md., Oct. 26.—Arley C. Metcalfe, for a number of years a very well-known jeweler of South Baltimore, died at his home in Howard Park Wednesday afternoon, following an accident which happened last Sunday when he was hit by an automobile while he was riding a motorcycle. It was noted in The Jewelers' Circular last week that Mr. Metcalfe had disposed of his business on Light St. to his watchmaker that he might associate himself with his father in the optical business as the G. W. Metcalfe Co., 221 N. Liberty St. Mr. Metcalfe sustained several fractured ribs, one of which punctured his lung, and besides was otherwise injured internally.


Mr. Metcalfe was riding his motorcycle along Ingelside Ave. when he turned into old Frederick Road and was proceeding along old Frederick Road when his motor-cycle collided with an automobile, driven by Dr. J. Marley Hoag. He was removed to his home in another automobile, and his condition became so alarming by Tuesday that the police and Commissioner Roe set out to learn the name of the owner of the car, as this important fact had not been secured at the time of the accident. It was not until after Mr. Metcalfe’s death that it was found out to be Dr. Hoag’s machine.

At the inquest held Thursday night at the Arlington police station, Dr. Hoag was present and gave his version of the accident, claiming that he did not leave the scene of the accident until he had gone to a nearby house and secured some medicine for the injured jeweler and that he was then taken to his home in the automobile of George R. Gaither which passed soon after the accident occurred. The investigation showed that Dr. Hoag did all he could for the injured man, and he further claimed that he made no effort to conceal his identity, and that when Mr. Metcalfe was taken away in the other car there was nothing more that he could do. Dr. Hoag also claimed that he slowed down before arriving at the intersection and blowed his horn. When Mr. Metcalfe came north on Ingelside Ave. he said that he turned his automobile to avoid an accident and that both his machine and Mr Metcalfe’s motorcycle ran upon a lawn. He further claimed that Mr. Metcalfe ran into him. The jury rendered a verdict of accident, cleared the doctor of blame.

Mr. Metcalfe was in his 48th year. He had been in the jewelry business in South Baltimore practically all his life. and was one of the best known jewelers of that section. He was married and lived at the corner of Hamilton and Gwyn Oak Aves. in Howard Park, from which place the funeral services took place this afternoon. The interment was in Woodlawn cemetery.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 28th October 1914

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EDWARD BURKE

Providence, Rhode Island


Edward Burke, 65 years of age, a well-known journeyman jeweler, was run down by an automobile as he was crossing W. Exchange St., Saturday noon, and is at the Rhode Island Hospital and is in a critical condition from a fractured skull.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd September 1925

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GEORGE V. HAMLIN

Virginia


Skeleton Identified As That of Itinerant Jeweler By Pieces of Jewelry

SPARTANBURG, S. C., Feb. 20.—A skeleton mystery that puzzled York County officials recently has been cleared up by pieces of jewelry in a handbag found beside the bones. George V. Hamlin was the name of the dead man. He was an itinerant jeweler, going from city to city, stopping a few days and moving on to other places, carrying considerable sums of money on his person is supposed to have resulted in his being waylaid and slain by some robber.

The unraveling of the mystery was due to the good work of Sheriff Fred E. Quinn of York County. Upon the Sheriff’s announcemert of the finding of pieces of jewelry in the handbag, several York citizens recalled that back in July an itinerant jeweler had visited the town, and one Mrs. J. N. Bowen, boarding house keeper, stated that several of her boarders had purchased jewelry of the man and had given him checks, making them payable to George V. Hamlin. Miss Mamie Roberts identified a pair of eye glasses in the handbag as the kind worn by Hamlin last Summer. It was known that the man’s home was in Virginia, but what place could not be discovered.

Who committed the murder has not been learned. Officers are still at work on the case. Hamlin is described by those who bought jewelry of him as a man about 45 years of age, with a nervous or muscular affliction.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 27th February 1924

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WILLIAM E. CROZIER

Baltimore


MEETS SUDDEN DEATH

William E. Crozier Fatally Injured When Automobile Is Struck by a Train


Baltimore, Md., Sept. 15.—William E. Crozier, 39 years old, jewelry salesman of the staff of Hoover & Smith, wholesale jewelers of Philadelphia, was fatally injured Wednesday when the automobile in which he was riding was struck by a railroad train at Danville, Va. Mr. Crozier was a native of Baltimore, where he made his home. Mr. Crozier died in the hospital at Danville several hours after the accident. His death was a great shock to his friends here.

For a number of years Mr. Crozier had covered Virginia, the Carolinas and large southern cities for the Philadelphia firm. He was widely known to the retail jewelry trade of the south. His body was brought here for burial. Mr. Crozier when in Baltimore lived at the Buford Court Apartments. He is survived by a widow and one daughter. A brother, Bernard L. Crozier, Highways Engineer of Baltimore, also survives.

An investigation is now under way to determine the circumstances of the accident. Operatives of the W. J. Burns International Detective Agency were sent to Danville to obtain thorough reports of all circumstances of the accident.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 19th September 1923

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CORNELIUS CALLAHAN

Hartford, Connecticut


Image


Did he Murder his Namesake ?

Cornelius Callahan is awaiting trial in Hartford jail, charged with a peculiarly atrocious murder. Callahan lived in Hartford, where he worked for the Hartford Silver Plate Company. On Tuesday, October 23, he went to Meriden with a younger cousin, likewise named Cornelius Callahan, to find work if possible in some of the shops. At Meriden they met Daniel Callahan, a brother of the Cornelius now living, and the day was passed in a pleasant manner. The two visitors started for home on the limited express that reached Hartford soon after seven o’clock Tuesday evening. When the train was nearing the outskirts of Hartford the elder Callahan discovered that his cousin had not returned from the platform, where he had gone to pass a few moments. Callahan thereupon sought the conductor and told him that his cousin had been lost from the train. He told the same story to the station master at Hartford and to his relatives.

Early Wednesday afternoon Daniel Callahan, the father of the young man who is now suspected of murder, and the brother of the missing Callahan, started from Hartford to search for the body. They walked down the railroad track, one on each side of the rails. Every place where there was any possible chance of the body being found was searched, and they were beginning to despair, when a short distance down the track, about a mile this side of Berlin, they saw a gang of section men looking at something in the ditch at the foot of a slight embankment. They hurried to the spot, and there, half submerged in the water, and lying with face turned upward, was the corpse of the missing man. They refrained from disturbing the body, knowing the stringency of the law of the last general assembly, and, the place being in New Britain, the medical examiner of that town, Dr. B, F. Comings, was at once sent for. Dr. Comings was soon on the ground and under his direction the corpse was taken from the place where it must have lain for twenty-two hours, it being after five o’clock when the medical examiner reached the spot. The shoes of the deceased were off his feet when found, and the man’s cravat was found tucked inside his vest— very suspicious circumstances certainly. A Wagon was procured and the body placed in it and driven to New Britain, the uncle of the deceased accompanying the remains. Dr. Comings and County Coroner Sperry held a private examination of the remains, and at their direction a warrant of arrest was issued for Cornelius Callahan, the cousin of the dead man.

Callahan was arrested at once and was lodged in jail. It is thought that he killed the deceased to settle an old grudge he harbored against him.


Source: The National Police Gazette - 1st December 1883

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DANIEL J. MURPHY

Newburyport, Massachusetts


Daniel J. Murphy, employed by the Towle Mfg. Co., Newburyport, Mass., was instantly killed, Wednesday afternoon, by a heavy drop hammer, which fell a distance of about 10 feet, striking him on the chest.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 6th January 1904

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W.W. WILMOT

Tasmania


W. W. Wilmot, a native of Tasmania, aged 39 years, and a jeweler by trade, committed suicide aboard the American ship Kennebec, in Seattle, Wash., harbor, a few moments prior to the vessel starting for Sydney. It is believed that Wilmot had been in the jewelry business at Seattle lately, as among his effects were numerous receipted bills showing his good credit with wholesale houses in Chicago. Wilmot had been in the employ of Albert Hansen as an expert watchmaker during the holiday seasons.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 6th March 1901

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G.W. WILLS

Tecumseh, Nebraska


G. W. Wills, Tecumseh, Nebr., was accidentally shot while hunting last week at Enders Lake. The hammer of his gun caught while he was in a boat and the charge went through his boot, completely severing one of his toes.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th November 1914

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JOHN LEVY

Atlantic City, New Jersey


John Levy, formerly of Philadelphia, committed suicide at his seashore residence 227 S. Vermont Ave., Atlantic City, by inhaling gas on Monday, Nov. 9. Mr. Levy was heavily interested in the New Garden Pier at New Jersey Ave., and until a few months ago conducted a large jewelry shop on the boardwalk.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th November 1914

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CHARLES COSTROM

Juneau, Alaska


Charles Costrom, prominent jeweler of Juneau, Alaska, died a short time ago at his home in Juneau from the effects of burns which were caused by gasoline which he poured on a fire in mistake for kerosene. The body will be brought to Seattle for burial.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 9th April 1919

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THOMAS McDONALD

North Attleboro, Massachusetts


Thomas MacDonald, 19 years of age, committed suicide last Thursday afternoon in the Evans Case Co. factory in the Sommer building, by drinking cyanide mixed with whiskey. He died a few minutes after drinking the concoction. It is said that the young man had been drinking all day and had made repeated threats that he would take cyanide, which is used in the jewelry factories for coloring purposes, and is easily obtainable. He was seen dropping the cyanide into the whiskey by two other employes, but before they could interefere he drank it. A physician was called but the young man was dead before his arrival.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 18th March 1925

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