Crime nothing new in Modesto

Like the Modesto of today, the city of 100 years ago also celebrated Memorial Day and had to deal with crime along with many other little things that separate us from our city ancestors. One difference was the case of W.H. Cornell, who was on trial for embezzlement – of a horse. Another difference was that in those days Memorial Day was traditionally held on May 30 instead of the last Monday of May. The last Monday became official in 1971 after a congressional act moved several fixed-date holidays to Mondays so that workers could get three-day holidays.

On the front page of The Evening News a little blurb was found that explained why there would be no Memorial Day edition of the paper:

“The News in common with all the business houses and residents of Modesto will observe Memorial Day tomorrow. The day is one in which all should pay tribute to the nation’s soldier-dead and show respect to the still surviving. Loved ones generally who have passed on are also not forgotten on this day. The News joins in tribute and respect. No paper will be issued.”

The headline of the next edition would also show why this would be the last peaceful Memorial Day for several years.

The courts were busy on the 29th with cases being quickly heard and concluded. H.W Stanage, sexton at the Modesto cemetery, was arrested that day for the crime of shooting doves out of season. He pleaded guilty and paid his fine of $25, bringing that case to its very quick conclusion. George Soares, who was visiting from Concord, had been arrested May 6 for speeding through Keyes on his motorcycle. He pleaded guilty to his crime of driving 35 miles an hour and paid his $10 fine.

A more serious crime was being overseen by Judge Fulkerth in Superior Court as Joe Taylor was charged with a crime still seen today of stealing copper wire, which was becoming a frequent occurrence, at the Sierra and San Francisco Power Co.’s warehouse on Eighth and M streets during the first week of April.

Taylor had a most reasonable explanation for how the valuable cooper wire was found on his person. Taylor claimed in court that he had found a barrel of wire by the railroad tracks near Eighth Street and did what anyone would have done when greeted by such a windfall – he took it. The police observed him hauling his windfall away and arrested him. On the 31st the jury found him guilty and sentenced him to one year in San Quentin. After the verdict, Sheriff George Davis promptly drove Taylor to San Quentin, where the dawn of June 1 would greet him.

On the 30th, Memorial Day ceremonies were held at the cemetery to honor the war dead with the Grant Post of the Grand Army of the Republic “crowning of the cenotaph with a wreath of flowers in memory of the unknown dead” from the Civil War.

A banquet was held at the Odd Fellows Hall in honor of the Grant Post and was attended by 135 members and guests. After the banquet the attendees went to the Court House Park for an afternoon of speeches. The speeches would be about wars of the past, while the headline of the May 31 Modesto Evening News concerned the ongoing war in Europe: “Million Germans in Verdun Assault. Final and Supreme Effort by Teutons.”

World War I was still raging in Europe and the Germans were attempting a final push toward Paris, which the French army was struggling mightily to stop and eventually succeeded, but at a tremendous cost. The Germans lost more than 400,000 soldiers while the French sacrificed more than a half-million soldiers in a battle that would be fought until December of that year. Even though France won the battle, it had suffered such staggering loses – as had Great Britain and Russia in two years of fighting – that to stop the Germans the United States and its vast resources would have to enter the war. On April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson would lead the United States into World War I. On future Memorial Days the dead from that war and future ones are still being honored.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Crime nothing new in Modesto."