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On Wednesday
evening about 7:30 o'clock Charles Goslaw entered the house of Henry A. Grant,
on Johnson avenue, Los Gatos, and after speaking a few words with the latter
knocked him down and inflicted injuries which resulted fatally. Grant remained
unconscious until 6:45 last evening, when the spark of life went out-forever.
The assault was brutal and cowardly, Goslaw being a heavy set, muscular man of
35, or thereabouts, while his victim was over 60 years of age, and physically
weak. The assassin delivered himself up to Constable E. F. Reynolds, and
Thursday forenoon was brought to San Jose and lodged in the County Jail. He has
a wife, who is highly esteemed in Los Gatos, and two bright, interesting
children. Grant was unmarried. When the news of the dangerous condition of the
old man reached San Jose, Deputy Sheriff Hall was detailed to work up the case
for the prosecution, his former training and great experience rendering him
peculiarly fitted for the work in view. Accompanied by a representative of the
MERCURY, he left San Jose for Los Gatos at 3 P. M., and after arriving at the
pretty mountain town, the following facts in relation to the murderous assault
were ascertained: |
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THE CAUSE OF THE MURDER. |
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Grant resided in
San Jose for many years, and while here was engaged in the house-moving
business. About two months ago he went to Con. Brown, said he had a job at Los
Gatos, and wanted to borrow some tools. At that time Brown had a bridge
building contract on hand, and having no immediate use for the tools, loaned
them to Grant, with the understanding that he could have them back whenever he
wanted them. Three weeks passed, and Brown went to Los Gatos and there met
Grant, who offered to pay $15 for the tools. Brown accepted the offer, and also
agreed to give Grant the use of the wooden rollers until he should require them
himself. Some time afterwards Brown learned that Goslaw, a man he did not like,
had gone in partnership with Grant. He therefore directed his wife to write to
Grant requesting the immediate return of the rollers. She forgot to write, and
on Thursday last Grant came to town, saw Mrs. Brown, said that Goslaw had
cheated him out of the tools he had purchased, and that he wanted
to |
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BORROW SOME MORE. |
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Mrs. Brown referred
him to her husband, and on the latter's arrival at home, he directed a letter
to be written to Grant demanding the immediate return of the rollers. The
latter reached Los Gatos on Wednesday and the same day the rollers were taken
from the Episcopal Church, where they had been taken by Goslaw, and shipped to
San Jose. Goslaw, who had dissolved partnership with Grant, was in San Jose
Wednesday and, failing to borrow tools of Brown, return to Los Gatos in the
evening. On reaching the depot he was met by his brother, John, and informed
that the rollers he had been using to move the Episcopal Church had been
shipped by Grant to San Jose. What he said is not known, but this is certain,
that he proceeded directly to Pete Fischer's saloon and then inquired if Grant
was at home. One being informed |
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THAT THE OLD MAN |
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Was probably at
his house on Johnson avenue, Goslaw and his brother set out post haste fro the
place. When they reached the gate, John Goslaw stopped. J. H. Hill, who lives
next door, was in his yard, and on hearing Charles Goslaw say "That's all
right; I won't hurt him," turned to look at the men and observe their
movements. He saw Charles Goslaw walk down the path and enter the kitchen door,
he heard him say on entering, "Good day, Mr. Grant," but he heard no response.
A moment later there was a sound of a heavy fall, immediately succeeded by the
noise of several dull heavy blows as if given with a muffled hammer. While Hill
stood wondering what it all meant, John Goslaw entered the yard and called his
brother out, saying that he must get in no further trouble. The brother then
left the place. As they came opposite Hill's gate, |
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THE GENTLEMAN SAID: |
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"Charles Goslaw, I
want you to understand that I am a living witness to what you have done." The
assassin grew indignant at this and remarking that he would give Hill some of
the same medicine, invited him to step outside. Hill declined, at the same time
warning Goslaw not to step a foot into his yard. The latter struck his clinched
hand against the gate, drawing blood, at the same time muttering the fiercest
imprecations against the man who had reminded him of his misdeed. No trouble
resulted and Goslaw finally left to give himself up to Constable Reynolds. On
the departure of the brothers, Hill went to Grant's house, and entering the
kitchen, a small room 10x10, was horrified to find the old man stretched on the
floor in a pool of blood, with his head, apparently beaten to a jelly. He was
unconscious and appeared to be in a dying condition. The tea kettle had been
knocked from the stove, and the hot water |
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HAD POURED OUT |
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Upon Grant's arm,
frightfully scalding it. After exhausting every means to revive the aged victim
of Goslaw's murderous fury, Hill notified Constable Reynolds. That officer on
reaching the spot discovered in one corner of the room and with a short
distance of the old man's head, a section of redwood bark, four inches wide and
sixteen inches long, with blood and bloody flesh and gray hairs adhering to it.
Under the body was a butcher knife which Grant had used in cooking. The fire in
the stove and other evidences showed that the old man was preparing supper when
Goslaw entered. From appearances and from the testimony of Hill the old man was
struck down by Goslaw before he had a chance to utter a word, and upon falling
was dealt several murderous blows with the redwood bark. Dr. Knowles of Los
Gatos was called in to attend the injured man, and on examination
found |
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THAT SEVEN WOUNDS |
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Had been inflicted,
as follows: In the center of the forehead, half an inch long; across the bridge
of the nose, crushing the bone, affecting the base of the brain and causing a
dangerous hemorrhage; one on the right side of the nose; at the outer angle of
the right eye, upward and downward and V shaped; over the right eye; on the
back of the head. The fatal wound was the one across the bridge of the nose,
and the Doctor declared that had a younger man received it, he could not have
lived. Grant was carefully nursed until the time of his decease. He never spoke
from the time he received the blows, but remained in a comatose condition. On
Friday morning his lower limbs became paralyzed, and in the afternoon when the
MERCURY representative was present his death was but a question of a few hours.
The feeling in Los Gatos was wholly against Goslaw. Grant had been regarded as
a feeble, harmless old man, who greatest fault was a love for intoxicating
liqueurs; while |
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ON THE OTHER HAND |
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Goslaw had posed
for years as a shoulder striker and a bully. The attack, under the
circumstances, was cowardly and brutal in the extreme. Last evening Coroner
Tomkin was notified of Grant's death. He will hold an inquest at Los Gatos this
forenoon. The District Attorney will be present. Goslaw after committing the
deed remarked that he had it out with old Grant and was glad of it. When
arrested he claimed that he went to the house to see about his tools, and was
assaulted by Grant with a knife. In self-defense, he then knocked the old man
down. This does not tally with Hill's story, and is not
believed.
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