Contra Costa County CA Archives History - Books .....Murder Of Nicholas Brenzel 1882
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com November 23, 2005, 12:09 am

Book Title: History Of Contra Costa County, California

   MURDER OF NICHOLAS BRENZEL.—A most atrocious murder was committed near the
San Domingo Rancho on Saturday, May 21st, 1859. A man named John Mohr was
accused of killing Nicholas Brenzel by striking him with a scythe, and was duly
arrested in Martinez. From the testimony of the wife of the deceased, it would
appear that Brenzel and Mohr, who were both Germans, had engaged during the year
in cultivating a ranch together. The latter owed the first named several hundred
dollars, borrowed money, and Brenzel asked him if he would not pay a portion of
it, as he wished to purchase some grain sacks. On Mohr's refusal to let his
partner have any money, Brenzel replied that he would go to San Francisco,
borrow the money there, and purchase the sacks on his own account. This
conversation took place in the house on the Saturday morning. A few minutes
afterwards the wife of Brenzel heard a cry of distress, and on going to the
door, saw Mohr with a scythe-blade in his hand, and near by was the prostrate
and bleeding form of her husband. She asked Mohr why he had killed her husband;
he replied, "I did it because I wanted to," and then threw down the scythe,
seized a spade and endeavored to strike the dying man again.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.


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