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Reward offered for information about two murders in Globe, unsolved today.
In the early 1900s, the International Lodging House in Globe, Arizona was the scene of not one, but two suspicious deaths that left officials struggling to solve.
In October of 1906 the International Lodging House was the scene of what the Daily Arizona Silver Belt newspaper called the “worst murder in Globe history.” The article began, “What is believed to be the most horrible and mysterious murder in the annals of Gila County history was disclosed Sunday afternoon when the body of Joseph Ludwig, a miner most recently employed at the Big Johnny mine, was found in a canyon leading into the foothills about a mile from the city and several hundred yards south of Bohse’s Laundry.”
The article went on to tell the story of the murder and what was known so far. The body had been found by H.C. Houser, an employee of the Arizona Silver Belt. He had been out hunting with two small boys, Glenn Schuck and Warren Davies. Houser immediately reported the finding to the Sheriff’s office. After viewing the murder scene authorities took the body to the undertaking establishment of F.L. Jones & Son. Within a few days a $350 reward was offered for information leading to the capture and conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators.
Thirteen months after Ludwig’s murder another incident at the International Lodging House brought the unsolved case to the public’s attention again. Some of the circumstances of the incident in a way added to the mystery of the Ludwig murder. On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 17, 1907, the body of Richard Vecklund was found in room #18 of the International Lodging House. The November 19th issue of the Arizona Silver Belt reported that “Hattie Jackson, the colored woman who does the chamber work, discovered the remains at 2 o’clock and notified the authorities. A post mortem examination held Sunday evening showed that Vecklund came to his death by poisoning. The stomach will be sent to San Francisco for chemical analysis.”
The article went on to recall the tale of the Ludwig murder and the perhaps coincidental connection with circumstances in Vecklund’s death. “For the second time in 13 months Room 18 in the International hotel on Lower Broad Street has become involved in a murder mystery and, although the latest crime is not so puzzling, there is something so uncanny about it that already there has been traced a possible connection between the two. Could the musty walls of Room 18 talk, two tales of crime that would rival many of the Lecoq and Holmes style would probably be told.” The referral was to Monsieur Lecoq a policeman in detective novels by French writer Emile Gaboriau and of course Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The books were popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
On Saturday night close to midnight, officers Floyd Blevins and Pollard Pearson came upon a man who appeared to be passed out lying in front of a house in the “red light district.” The two officers attempted to awaken the man but were unable to and determined that he had been drugged. As they attempted to lift him he opened his eyes. The officers asked him where he lived. In a weak voice he said “Room 18, International.” The officers took him to the International and placed him in the bed in room 18.
It was reported by the Silver Belt, “But the uncanny as well as most mysterious feature of the affair is that Vecklund did not room in ‘Room 18, International,’ three of his friends who had been with him earlier in the evening testifying at the coroner’s inquest yesterday morning that the deceased during his short stay in Globe roomed at the Central house, on Broad street, near Cedar, four blocks from the International, and so far as they knew had never taken a room at the latter.”
What made Vecklund say Room 18? The newspapers asked, “Was Vecklund in some mysterious manner involved in the Ludwig crime and did he in his drugged condition
give that answer because the effect of the drug brought back to his benumbed brain recollection of that crime?” They also pointed out the Hattie Jackson connection. Jackson had testified that she had seen Ludwig walk out of the International with something around his neck even though four prominent physicians said that Ludwig would not have been able to leave the room without assistance if at all. Now she had found the body of Vecklund, himself a victim of murder.
On the night of the crime, Vecklund, along with three of his friends, Felix Hendrickson, John Hoffman and Victor Hargulin, had gone to the “tenderloin district” looking for a
good time. The friends testified at the inquest that they last saw him around 9:30 and that he had $100 on him. The police officers said that he did not have any money on him when they found him. It was believed he had been given “knock out drops” by one of the
prostitutes who worked the area.
Vecklund was 25 years old and a native of Finland. He had been in the United States for 10 years and had lived in Globe for the past two years. He had worked as a miner on Lower Pinto Creek and was a member of the Pinto Creek Miner’s Union. His latest job was at Power’s Gulch.
The Silver Belt reported on November 20th that three people had been arrested for suspicion of the murder of Vecklund. Ada Berry, colored; Elena Mendoza and George Young, colored, were “charged with complicity in causing the death of Richard Vecklund by use of drugs.” They were bound for the grand jury. It was alleged that Mendoza had been overheard talking to someone about drugging Vecklund. The witness said that she had pointed to the passed out Vecklund and told the “negro” she had been talking to, “Do you see that guy there? Well he had a big roll when he came here and it took four bottles to get it away from him.” Ada Berry had been overheard arguing with a man. He had been telling her to give him back the money she had taken from him. George Young lived with Berry and was believed to be her pimp. The newspaper said, “All of the suspects are confirmed dope fiends.”
On November 21st the Silver Belt reported that Pasqual Nigro the owner of the International had complained that the publicity that his rooming house had received over the murder of Vecklund had “greatly injured the business of the place.” He threatened to bring charges against the officers that took Vecklund to the International.
“Mr. Nigro claims that the officers took Vecklund to the International without authority because it was nearby, and unlocked the door of Room 18 with their own keys and put Vecklund to bed there without authority from him, although they knew where he could be found. He states that the room has been unoccupied for over a month and had been kept locked, it being only through accident that Vecklund’s body was discovered. Mr. Nigro claims that the officers knew that the young miner had been drugged and that they should have seen that he secured medical attendance.” Pasquale Nigro would die on Jan. 4, 1908 from injuries he suffered after being thrown from his buggy.
At the grand jury hearing, Elena Mendoza was indicted for the murder of Vecklund. Ada Berry and George Young were released. On December 14, 1907 Mendoza was given her
freedom when the results of the chemical tests came back from San Francisco. The test showed there were no traces of poison in Vecklund’s stomach. Because the indictment had said the death was caused by poisoning, charges had to be dropped.
The murder of Joseph Ludwig was never solved nor was the death of Richard Vecklund. Perhaps their spirits still roam the building which is alleged to be haunted, searching for justice.
Missed the first half of the story? Read it online.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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