Three San Francisco Homicides

Montgomery Block

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Montgomery Block

The embryo of San Francisco was the Plaza, a short walk back of Yerba Buena Cove. The gambling halls were clustered near its northeast corner, where Washington Street crossed Kearny.

But within five years, at the height of gold production, the center had moved east one block on Washington, to the corner of Montgomery. The waterfront was pushed out in the Bay with landfill from the sand dunes, and a daisy chain of fires caused the City to continually rebuild until all traces of the canvas tents and flimsy wooden structures disappeared. True fireproof brick buildings rose, and San Francisco began to look exactly like an Eastern city.

The pride of this astounding metamorphosis was the Montgomery Block, a four-story giant comparable to anything in New York City. On the east side of Montgomery, it stretched from Washington to Merchant Street. The upper floors were offices for the business and professional elite, and the bottom floor along the street drew retail. The Bank Exchange, the most prestigious drinking place in San Francisco, occupied the northern tip, at Washington. And at the time we now consider, in 1856, the southern end was rented to the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin, in a small space facing a cigar store opposite on Merchant.

*  *  *

From the San Francisco Herald:

A nasty incident occurred around a downtown polling place in yesterday's election, which nonetheless has generated laughter. The Broderick boys were out in force and it was difficult for Gwin's men and their allies to move in. That is, until James Casey came around.

Jim is one of those young Irishmen who, belying their small stature, can be a terrifying force of nature due to an explosive temper, reckless of his safety. He tore into the Broderick men all by himself, unarmed, and scattered them. He was fired on by Mr. Bagley, and very nearly hit. But the crowd got quite a kick out of our little Jimmy scaring off a band of tough professionals and holding down the polling place for his new allies and employers.

We say "new" because this James P. Casey had been part of David Broderick's machine until quite recently, where, coming from New York and trained in the election tactics of that great metropolis, his background was ideal. But Casey broke with Broderick because "The Chief" had failed to offer him political advancement. Although presumably a poor fit for the Chiv wing of the Democratic Party, he was embraced because he hated Broderick and all his operatives.

Now Casey's started up a weekly, The San Francisco Sunday Times. We wish him luck, but we can't help but be surprised he won a supervisor’s seat in yesterday's election because no one seemed to know that he was running. There will be speculation how this miracle occurred, including charges of stuffed ballot boxes. But for the moment, Casey seems to have obtained his first elected office, a big step up from Broderick's street machine.

*  *  *

Judge Edward McGowan and James Casey drinking at the Bank Exchange:

McGowan:

    I know you're angry, Jimbo, but I don't want to see you burn your bridges back to Broderick. The Chivs will never be good company for you. Your place is with your fellow Irish, fellow Northern men. New York City boys. I still consider you a friend and I am sure you can go much, much farther with The Chief than with the Chivs. They're only using you.

Casey:

    I know the Chivalry is not the perfect place for me. But Broderick must learn that I will not be pushed around. As for his gentlemen, I graduated from that grammar school and I ain't never going back. But we can still be friends, Ned. We can still be allies. Do each other favors.

McGowan:

    Glad you said that, Jim, because I think that we can help each other out right now. I've got something on James King of William. Something that will utterly humiliate that asshole and maybe decimate his scandal sheet. But I can't allow it to be traced to me because then it will be linked to Broderick. After that small roughhouse with The Chief's men at that polling place, no one will believe that you're conspiring with Broderick.

Casey:

    Sounds spicy.

McGowan:

    Mighty spicy. It'll put your little journal on the map. That's what's in this thing for you. Some serious attention for the Sunday Times.

Casey:

    What gives?

McGowan:

    I've been sniffing everywhere for this. Everybody's had it with this King of William acting like the voice of civic purity. I've finally got something that will expose him for a hypocrite. As full of what he calls "political corruption" as he accuses Broderick of and everybody else. You know the President gave Latham the Collector's office at the Port. Even for a former congressman, that's the biggest gift of patronage in California. He's paid off all his friends and backers with employment.

Casey:

    That's not news.

McGowan:

    Agreed. But he recently hired someone for the Port that no one’s ever heard of and who would seem to bring him nothing. Then I noticed how the Evening Bulletin was complimenting Latham suddenly. King of William never says a nice thing about anyone. Everyone's corrupt and criminal. So this nicey-nice with Latham popped right out, especially since everybody knows he's bucking for the U.S. Senate. And you'll never guess what I found out.

Casey:

    Well?

McGowan:

    Turns out that this mystery employee is someone by the name of Thomas King. And he's the brother of James King of William of the Bulletin. It seems that Tom came out to California months ago and bagged that job with Latham right away. But it's been kept a deep, dark secret. Almost no one at the Port, apart from Latahm, knows he's King of William's brother. And this Tom was also given a small interest in his brother's paper.

Casey:

    You're sure of this? Christ, this is hot!

McGowan:

    You bet it's hot. White hot. It's obvious that King of William's whored his paper to Collector Latham for a government position for his brother.

Casey:

    So what's the plan?

McGowan:

    I'll write out the whole thing for you, but you rewrite it for yourself, because I don't want anyone to recognize my style. Run it as a notice, an anonymous submission that sounds plausible to you. Make up a pen name for the writer. But get it out this weekend. And run as many copies as you can, because the Times will be the talk of San Francisco.

*  *  *

From the Sunday Times:

We include this from a correspondent who prefers to stay anonymous. While this paper cannot vouch for its veracity, the gentleman is known to us and his charges are significant enough to air and let our readers judge themselves. 

:Editor

Have other people noticed how the Evening Bulletin is heaping praises on our Mr. Latham at the Port? The other day alone, that paper noted that the new Collector has revealed a “fine, judicious character in filling up his patronage positions with only men of quality, instead of hack supporters.” This is obviously at odds with how its editor treats all other politicians, so there must be some good reason.

It turns out that the brother of James King of William, Thomas King, has snagged a cozy office under Latham, despite the fact that he has never been the congressman's supporter and arrived here much too recently to play any role in politics at all. The fact that they are brothers has been studiously kept from everyone, and it was only by sheer accident that I discovered it. I'm not making any charges, but it seems the Evening Bulletin has some serious explaining to provide about this secretive employment, and whether it amounted to a private deal between its editor and Latham whereby the former praised the latter in its columns in exchange for a financial favor to the Kings.

(signed) “Caliban”

*  *  *

James King of William in the Evening Bulletin:

The Evening Bulletin requests the public to withhold judgment on the subject raised by “Caliban” in the Sunday Times. 

*  *  *

Ned McGowan and James Casey drinking at the Bank Exchange:

Casey:

    I can't tell you how much Tom King's hounding me. He accosted me right on the street, demanding that I tell him who the author was.

McGowan:

    Well, it's unfortunate that you used "Caliban."

Casey:

    I didn't know you'd used that name before. I've seen a lot of people use it when they write something controversial to a paper. You really think it will be linked to you?

McGowan:

    It might be, because I've used it many times and people know it. It probably explains why Tom is being so aggressive. Hiis brother would just love to trace the story back to me if possible, so it could frame it as a smear from Broderick. Just ignore him.

Casey:

    I'm thinking he may challenge me to arms.

McGowan:

    Don't be silly, Jimbo! King of William definitely carries a revolver. But this Tom boy is a clown and a poltroon.

Casey:

    I don't know, Ned. He's been threatening me in public.

McGowan:

    He's embarrassed to have been exposed, and his brother must be furious. Probably blaming him for letting out their secret by telling it to somebody he shouldn't have.

Casey:

    Bet you that he's on the street right now, looking for me. And you're probably right. He wants me to confess that you're my source.

McGowan:

    Then why don't we walk down the block and see if we can find him? You're plenty tough when necessary, Jimmy. Shut him down in public. Don't let him get the upper hand. Now that you're a County Supervisor, you can't afford to not stand up to enemies. You can't look scared. Run him down yourself, and tell him to drop dead. He knows that you can be a handful if he dared to take you on.

*  *  *

At the Merchant Street corner of the Montgomery Block. Tom King steps out  the doorway of the Evening Bulletin and approaches Casey. McGowan watches from the cigar stand across the street.

Tom King:

    Casey! You hold up there!

Casey:

    Going to bother me again?

Tom King:

    I'm giving you just twenty-four hours to provide me with the true identity of “Caliban.”

Casey:

    And then what? What should I be scared of?

Tom King:

    I'm warning you, Casey. You won't like it.

Casey:

    I'll take the risk. Do your worst. I'd like to see it. I've got a little reputation of my own if it comes down to it. Maybe you read about it in the papers.

Tom King:

    You're asking for it, Casey. Give me “Caliban's” real name!

Casey:

    I wasn't asking for "it" before, but on second thought, I will. I'm “Caliban!” I wrote the notice by myself. Got that, King? I'm the man you're looking for! So like I said before, you do your worst. I dare you!

Tom King:

    And I thought it was a gentleman! Good day!

McGowan:

    Didn't I tell you? I said he was a coward! Did you see how he turned back and snarled at me? You completely shut him down. I'm proud of you! If this all leads to the demise of King of William and his reign of terror, they'll raise a statue to you on this very spot!

*  *  *

Casey and McGowan in the Bank Exchange that evening, drinking with the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle:

McGowan:

    You should have been there, Frank! What an ass this Thomas King turned out to be! And the way that Jimmy here stood up to him. Despised his threats. Told him to his face that he himself was “Caliban,” and dared him to do anything about it.

Chronicle Editor:

    What could they really do? Him and his brother.

McGowan:

    Who knows? Jimbo thought that Tom might call him out. But I knew he was a coward. And everybody knows his brother refuses to accept a duel. He's always saying that in print.

Chronicle Editor:

    Well, I don't know about this Tom, but King of William's not a coward. He may not like a formal duel, but he's always daring people to attack him. Like that time that he dared Selover to attack him in the street.

Casey:

    I didn't see that.

Chronicle Editor:

    It was a couple months ago. He wrote some lies about those loans the Major made to Broderick, and Selover was furious. So King of William dared him to attack him. It was in the Bulletin. He said he always carries a revolver and if the Major felt aggrieved he should approach him in the street. But he preferred it be a little ways down Market Street as he walked home so that the streets would be less crowded.

McGowan:

    Sheer bravado.

Chronicle Editor:

    I don't know. James King of William's pretty tough. He went through plenty in the early days. But let me tell you something confidentially. I got so angry with him three or four months back for something that he wrote about my paper that I actually went out and bought a shotgun. I was determined to finally eliminate the son of a bitch and cleanse the City of his poison. My partner was so worried that he stole the gun and hid it til I cooled completely down.

Casey:

    No kidding?

Chronicle Editor:

    God's truth. One day someone's going to do it. Everybody hates him.

McGowan:

    We've got him now, and it's better than killing him. He's effectively admitting that the story's true, or he'd publicly deny that Tom's his brother. Everybody's noticed that he hasn't. The man's his brother and there's no other way to understand the situation than that Latham's taken on the brother in exchange for pretty handling in the Bulletin.

Chronicle Editor:

    King of William's going to hit back hard, if only to confuse the issues. I know him.

McGowan:

    What can he do? He'll probably trash Jimmy over his election. Say he cheated. Jimbo here can live with that. If he can't, he shouldn't run for office.

Casey:

    I can live with it. I'm taking lots of shit about the vote, but no one's pushed me out. I'm not afraid of anything the Bulletin can throw me.

McGowan:

    Spoken like an Irishman! And this must be doing wonders for your paper.

Casey:

    Sold ten times as many copies as I ever had before. Can't complain. Another round?

Chronicle Editor:

    I'd best be getting on, boys. Congratulations, Casey! You pierced that bastard's underbelly. But I'm still warning you to be prepared for something ugly. The man fights dirty. And he’s up against a wall.

*  *  *

James King of William in the next day's Evening Bulletin:

We hear from Mr. Bagley, the Broderick operative, that Jimmy Casey "won" his supervisor's seat by stuffing ballots in a box with a trick bottom. We cannot say for certain if that's true, but we do admit that no one could know more about the subject than friend Bagley.

Bagley tried to shoot James Casey recently, but missed. We can't approve of this approach. However much this Casey may deserve to have his neck stretched, it's the public's job to kill him, not a private citizen's. After all, his crime, if it be true, has harmed the public and its confidence in our elections. If Casey demonstrates integrity in office, we'd be inclined to pass up charges of election fraud. But that outcome isn't likely given what we've learned about his past. A man who came here from New York as a convicted felon, a man who served two years for larceny in that notorious state prison they call Sing Sing, is the last man we should trust with handling the County's funds. We don't quite understand how Casey managed to suppress word of his prison term, but by and by the truth will out. The reader should consider this when reading Casey's paper.

*  *  *

James Casey and James King of William in the office of the Evening Bulletin:

King of William:

    What do you want, Casey? I'm busy.

Casey:

    I want you to retract that line about me being in prison. You can attack me all you want for anything I've done in California. But I was barely an adult when this thing happened in New York, and I was railroaded. It was never a real crime.

King of William:

    But it's true you served in Sing Sing. And true you were convicted of a felony. Nothing that I wrote was false, so there's no call for a retraction. Now get out of here and let me work. If there's something that you want to tell the public, you've got a paper of your own.

Casey:

   I'm very sensitive about this subject.

King of William:

    Am I supposed to care what you are sensitive about? 'Cause if you're sensitive, get ready for the things I'll print tomorrow. We're at war now, Casey! You and me. Now you get out of here right now before I throw you in the street!

Casey:

    Prepare to defend yourself! I'll be attacking you on sight!

King of William:

    I'm shivering with terror, Casey. Disappear!

*  *  *

Casey and McGowan at the Bank Exchange:

Casey:

    Here you are! I've looked everywhere!

McGowan:

    I was tied up in a courtroom. I've just seen the Bulletin.

Casey:

    How did he find out?

McGowan:

    I knew about it. Told me by some New York boys, but never mentioned it because they said it made you crazy.

Casey:

    It was totally unfair! I just took back some furniture I'd given to a woman I set up in an apartment, and she reported it as stolen. She was angry that I dropped her. It's not like I committed a real crime.

McGowan:

    Then don't let it get to you.

Casey:

    I told him to defend himself. That I was going to attack him.

McGowan:

    What?

Casey:

    I was furious and he said he would be printing more on me tomorrow. I was just up on the third floor here, with a lawyer making out a will, 'cause there's a good chance that I'll fall. But I can't let him go unchallenged. And if I don't attack, he'll mock me in tomorrow's paper, for threatening and backing down. I'll look ridiculous.

McGowan:

    I certainly was not expecting this. What's your plan?

Casey:

    His office closes up at five. I'll call him out when he steps out into the street. He says he always carries a revolver. I'll need one, too. I've only got a Derringer. Can you help get me a revolver?

McGowan:

    You're sure you want to do this? He could kill you.

Casey:

    I told him I'd attack on sight. If I don't, he'll skewer me in print. Call me a coward. You told me yesterday that I can't look like a coward. Just find me a revolver, Ned. I'll need it in, what, twenty minutes. You know everyone. You'll dig one up.

McGowan:

   Get out of here. Send someone back in fifteen minutes. Have him ask for Whiteman. You know Whiteman. He's got that giant Colt’s dragoon he always carries. I'll go over to him now and ask him. He's in the back room here this time of day.

Casey:

    Thanks, Ned. But stay away. Don't be around here when it happens. I don't want to draw you into any trouble. There's already word that you're involved with me because of "Caliban."

McGowan:

    I'm not worried, Jimbo. But I'll duck out if that will make you easy.

*  *  *

McGowan and Whiteman in the back room of the Bank Exchange:

Whiteman:

    You think he'll really do it?

McGowan:

    I'm not sure. But if he’s going to, his only chance is with your gun. King of William's a large man and Casey's not the coolest shot. And he's had little practice with revolvers. He needs a cannon like your Walker so that if he hits the man at all, he'll likely kill him.

Whiteman:

    Can he handle it? Might knock him backwards.

McGowan:

    Jimmy's a lot tougher than he looks. Much stronger. Give him some pointers.

Whiteman:

    I'm more afraid he'll miss his man and kill somebody on the street. This block is packed at five o'clock.

McGowan:

    That's Casey's problem. Look, I didn't set this up or even see it coming. But as long as there's no stopping Casey, we should use the chance to kill this rat if there is any possibility at all. Jim's only chance is with your Walker. If Casey dies, well then he asked for it. But if King of William dies, Jim will be a hero and the ogre will have vanished in a puff of smoke. It's definitely worth the gamble.

Boy:

    Mr. Whiteman? Mr. Casey wants to see you on the street if you're available.

McGowan:

    He'll be out there in a minute.

Whiteman:

    You're sure about this, Ned?

McGowan:

    Is it loaded? Every chamber?

Whiteman:

    You're talking to a former Texas Ranger.

McGowan:

    Silly question. Show him how to use it and give him any pointers you think useful.

*  *  *

McGowan drinking with another politician at the Boomerang, a block away at Washington and Kearny:

Politician:

    Rumor says Jim Casey is out gunning for James King of William. Any truth?

McGowan:

    Heard that, too. There was a crowd in front of the Montgomery Block at five o'clock.

Politician:

    There's always a crowd then.

McGowan:

    This felt different. People were milling around, clearly waiting for some action. I'd heard the rumor about Casey, so I figured that's what they were waiting for. Stuck around myself a little while. It's a weakness with me. Can't resist the sight of a real gunfight.

Politician:

    I gather it did not come off.

McGowan:

    I waited ten or fifteen minutes and moved on. Casey must have changed his mind. Or the rumor wasn't true.

Politician:

    Best for Casey. Can't see him living through a gunfight with James King of William. Jim's a crazy kind of fighter. Good man with his fists or in a battle royale. But King of William is a cool head under fire. I remember from the old days. He's close to a dead shot.

McGowan:

    Not sure I knew that.

Politician:

    The man is the most arrogant and offensive individual that's ever lived in San Francisco. He'd have been shot down long ago if people weren't afraid to challenge him. His draw is strong and his aim is even better. Better Casey stay away.

McGowan:

    Maybe so.

*  *  *

Inquest on the death of James King of William:

Coroner:

    Where were you when you first noticed the decedent?

Witness:

    I was standing on the northwest corner of Montgomery and Washington, in front of the express office. I was waiting for someone, an acquaintance, to come from the Montgomery Block. So I was looking out in that direction.

Coroner:

    Did you note the time?

Witness:

    Last I noticed it was 5:15, which was when we were supposed to meet. So this was about five minutes later.

Coroner:

    5:20 P.M.

Witness:

    Yes.

Coroner:

    So what did you see regarding the decedent?

Witness:

    James King of William was walking up in front of the Montgomery Block, toward Washington. Must have left his office for the day.

Coroner:

    Did you have any reason to pay particular attention to the decedent?

Witness:

    No. I was just scouting that direction for my friend. But I definitely noticed him, especially when he began to cross the street in my direction.

Coroner:

    Where did he begin to cross?

Witness:

    At the corner of the Bank Exchange. Diagonal from where I stood.

Coroner:

    Diagonal from the Express Office.

Witness:

    That's right.

Coroner:

    Tell us what you saw from there.

Witness:

    I watched King of William cross the intersection, walking toward me. 

Coroner:

    How far away from you was this?

Witness:

    I'd guess thirty yards when he stepped off the pavement.

Coroner:

    Was there anything unusual in the way he was approaching you? Did he appear to be aware of anything around him?

Witness:

    Not that I could tell. He was just walking straight in my direction toward the corner. Didn't look around.

Coroner:

    When did you first see James P. Casey?

Witness:

    Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some commotion in the middle of Montgomery Street. The crowd was breaking up. Like a parting of the waves. That got my attention and I saw a small man carrying a very large revolver marching toward the intersection. Gripping it with both his hands.

Coroner:

    Did you recognize James Casey?

Witness:

    Not at first. But by the time he reached the intersection. I know Casey.

Coroner:

    Please describe exactly what you saw from that point.

Witness:

    King of William almost reached the corner when we heard a noise of someone shouting. I could see that it was Casey but I couldn't tell exactly what he said. Of course, I understood what it must be because I saw his gun. He was calling out to someone to defend himself.

Coroner:

    Did the decedent hear the shout?

Witness:

    He must have heard it because he stopped and turned around. But I don't think he understood it.

Coroner:

    Why do you say that you don't think he understood it?

Witness:

    He didn't act alarmed. He turned around the way that anyone might turn around that heard a noise behind him. Just to look.

Coroner:

    At this point, when the decedent turned around in response to Casey's shouting, how far was he from Casey?

Witness:

    Casey'd walked into the intersection. So he was maybe twenty yards away from King of William.

Coroner:

    Did the decedent seem to recognize James Casey?

McGowan:

    He might have. I'm not sure. He didn't make a motion to defend himself. But he did stay stopped in place as if the man was coming for him personally. I can't say for certain that he recognized him, but he might have.

Coroner:

    Did the decedent do anything before Casey fired at him?

Witness:

    He pulled his talma tight around him. It was windy.

Coroner:

     Was it possible that he was reaching for a pistol?

Witness:

    Casey might have thought so. But from where I stood so close behind him, it was clear that he was only trying to close his cape.

Coroner:

    What happened next?

Witness:

    Casey fired. Report was like a cannon going off. Everybody scattered.

Coroner:

    How far was Casey from James King of WIlliam when he fired?

Witness:

    He was walking fast in our direction. I'd say ten to fifteen yards away.

Coroner:

    Go on.

Witness:

    King of William grabbed his shoulder. Then two men ran up and helped him up the curb and into the Express Office. Happened right in front of me. He was in a lot of pain.

Coroner:

    Did he ever draw a weapon?

Witness:

    No. I understand that he was carrying a revolver underneath his talma, but I never saw it in his hand. Or even saw him reach for it. I think he was surprised and didn't realize exactly what was happening. Like I said, I'm not sure he even knew it was Jim Casey.

Coroner:

    Then what about James Casey? What did you see him do after firing his revolver?

Witness:

    I didn't see quite everything because I was more concerned with King of William being wounded close to me. But I saw when Casey realized he'd hit him, he threw up his arms in celebration. He held his gun out in a way to show he’d finished shooting and was inviting anyone to take it from his hand.

Coroner:

    Did someone take it?

Witness:

    Yes, but I didn't see exactly whom. There was a sudden crush around him, and I ran over, too, about a minute later. I noticed a policeman take him into custody, and that he treated that policeman like a friend. Almost hugged him. Seemed surprised to be arrested. Acted like he thought he was a hero. Like he thought he'd be congratulated.

Coroner:

    If the decedent didn't make a move to draw his weapon, why, in your opinion, did Casey fire?

Witness:

    Difficult to say. My impression at the moment was that he was overwrought and too excited. Lost control of his emotions. When he saw James King of William reaching for his talma, he might have figured he was drawing his revolver. But maybe he just lost control and fired because of all the tension. Or because he was worked up. Jim can get that way sometimes.

Coroner:

    So just to clarify, you’re saying Casey fired before a gunfight had commenced in any sense. That he shot down the decedent before he had a chance to draw.

Witness:

    That's right, though I don't really understand why all this matters anymore. The Vigilance Committee's got him and they’ll hang him right away. This inquest doesn't mean a thing. Our entire legal system doesn't mean a thing right now. The district attorney may pretend that he's investigating this, but that's a mere charade to make it seem like he is still important. But he's not. The Committee is in charge. The public wants to see Jim Casey hung with no delays or arguments. He killed the most important editor in San Francisco right in front of the Montgomery Block.

Coroner:

    Everybody understands the situation, sir. But we still believe we have a job to do. So, to conclude, do you believe that the decedent was shot down in a gunfight? Or was he simply murdered in the street?

Witness:

    No matter how you look at it, the man was murdered. They say that Casey saw a lawyer for a will, so he must have thought there'd be a gunfight. But he fired before James King of William had a chance to draw. So now the Vigilance Committee's gonna hang him out a window. At least he's getting something out of what he paid his lawyer.

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