Parents: William Ducker (1795-1885) and Sarah (Bradbury) Ducker (1805-1900).
Husband of: 1) Augusta Woodward 2) Cornelia (last name unknown)
Father of: Edward Augustus Ducker (1870-1946), William G. Ducker (1871-1956), Minnie Ducker (b. 1874), and Allie M. Ducker (b. 1879)
Gazette Mariposan (Mariposa, California) [that is the title on the mast head at CDNC]
October 25, 1902 (Saturday)
"THE DUCKER MURDER.
The Shooter Identified, but not Given Up.
The facts of the killing of Benjamin Ducker at Raymond last week by a member of Troop E, U. S. Cavalry, is taken from an account of the Coroner's inquest published in the Madera Mercury, which is as follows: J. Dennis, M. Hand, J. Dunnaway, J. Aiken, B. Atkins and other witnesses testified. Nearly all of them agreed as to the trouble in the saloon which led up to the quarrel. Two of the witnesses swore that Ducker discharged his shotgun before the soldiers fired; the others could not distinguish who fired first. The story of the trouble as gleaned from the testimony is as follows:
A dozen troopers from Troop E went into Ducker's saloon and began drinking heavily. They became noisy and quarrelsome and began to abuse the barkeeper. They took a pistol and knife from behind the bar where Ducker kept them.They then flourished the pistol with which they hammered on the bar and pointed the muzzle at Ducker, telling him to set up the drinks or they would harm him.
Dunnaway, the barkeeper, went from behind the bar and the soldiers grabbed him. He managed to get away and one of them followed him. Another soldier picked up a lighted lantern and threw it through the big mirror behind the bar. Mr. Ducker asked Dunnaway to get his shotgun, but the barkeeper refused. He thought it was better to get the crowd out without more trouble. Ducker started upstairs for his gun, and while he was gone Mrs. Ducker and Dunnaway got the men outside and locked the door.
When the men got across the street, one of them saw Ducker on the porch and called out that if he hadn't enough they would go and burn the building. Ducker then shot and several shots were fired by the soldiers, one of which struck the deceased in the left arm, passed through his liver and struck the ninth rib. Ducker said "I'm gone" and died in three minutes.
The remains of Mr. Ducker were interred at Raymond cemetery Sunday. The funeral was largely attended. The soldier who fired the fatal shot could not be identified before the troop left Raymond. The captain advised the officers to get their witnesses and overtake the troop at the Columbia ranch on the San Joaquin river, saying he would give the man up if identified. Constable Tom Leonard accompanied by Messrs. Skelton and Dennis, went there, but the officers of the troop decided the identification was not complete and refused to let the suspected man go. Concerning the identification the "Mercury" of Monday says: It seems strange that the identification was not satisfactory to the officers, for one of the witnesses, Dennis, saw the soldier just after the shooting. He had a pistol in his hand snapping it. Two other soldiers were attempting to take the weapon away from the trooper, who was very much under the influence of liquor. In the struggle for the possession of the weapon, the piece was broken at the breech throwing the empty shells out. In pulling the pistol out of the trooper's hand, the pistol made a gash across the palm of the soldier's hand. Mr. Dennis helped to wash the blood off the soldier, and had plenty of time to get a good look at him. In view of this fact it seems strange that the officers should refuse to let the man go. The matter will not drop here, as sons of the murdered man will take the matter up to headquarters and have it thoroughly investigated. One of the sons of the deceased is the District Attorney of one of the counties in Nevada and will push the matter."
Contributor: Steve Harrison (46893586)
Evening News (San Jose CA), 27 Oct 1902:
Inoffending Man Killed By Drunken Soldiers
Cavalry Troopers Who Camped In San Jose Under Ban For Committing Atrocious Murder
The two troops of cavalry which camped at Agricultural Park Saturday, broke camp at an early hour Sunday morning and proceeded on their way to San Francisco, where they will go into winter quarters at the Presidion. The boys in blue were the center of attraction for a large crowd of visitations during their stay. The camp was made up of Companies E and F, Third United States Cavalry and was in command of Capitan Thee. The former company is under a ban just at present owing to an incident occurring at Raymond soon after the boys left Yosemite.
The troop made a brief halt at that place on the night of the 20th of October, when the tragedy resulted, details of which are given in the following dispatch at the time: Between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, the soldiers were taking in the town and visited the saloon of Benjamin Ducker, a well known resident of the San Joaquin Valley.
While there they created a disturbance which resulted in the death of the proprietor. The following facts were brought out at the Coroner's inquest: A number of soldiers under the influence of liquor while in the saloon drew their revolvers, which they flourished in a menacing manner and smashed a valuable mirror. Proprietor Ducker produced a revolver and a knife, but was at once disarmed by the soldiers who left the saloon and proceeded to hurl rocks through the windows. Ducker went upstairs and came out on the balcony with his shotgun firing two shots apparently for the purpose of intimidating the rioters, as the shot charges struck a building on the other side of the road, far above his assailants.
The soldiers opened fire on Ducker from the shelter of a pile of cordwood. The witnesses differed as to the number of shots fired, but there were so many and they came in such rapid succession that they must have been fired by more than one man. Two more witnesses said they could identify the principal actors in the disturbance which took place within the saloon, but could not be certain as to those who fired upon Ducker.
Three bullets were found in the woodwork of the building, close to where Ducker had stood. Another struck his left arm, passing through the body and lodging in the ribs, where it was extricated by Dr. Topp of this place, who gave as his opinion that Ducker could not have lived ten minutes after he received the wound. The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned the following verdict: "That deceased came to his death by a bullet wound inflicted by some member of Troop D, Third United States Cavalry, whose name to them was unknown".
Ducker was a native of Missouri, aged about 58 years. He was a genial host and courteous gentleman, which accounted for his his general popularity and the town of Raymond is still stirred to its depth over his unwarranted murder.
Thank you Linda for the story of his untimely death.
The name of the second wife of Benjamin Ducker was Cornelia Ann VanValkenburg-Rains. She was the daughter of Noah VanValkenburg and Hester/Helen Whitesides. Cornelia/Cora was first married to Joseph Rains.
Contributor: Lisa Rance (47921843)
Husband of: 1) Augusta Woodward 2) Cornelia (last name unknown)
Father of: Edward Augustus Ducker (1870-1946), William G. Ducker (1871-1956), Minnie Ducker (b. 1874), and Allie M. Ducker (b. 1879)
Gazette Mariposan (Mariposa, California) [that is the title on the mast head at CDNC]
October 25, 1902 (Saturday)
"THE DUCKER MURDER.
The Shooter Identified, but not Given Up.
The facts of the killing of Benjamin Ducker at Raymond last week by a member of Troop E, U. S. Cavalry, is taken from an account of the Coroner's inquest published in the Madera Mercury, which is as follows: J. Dennis, M. Hand, J. Dunnaway, J. Aiken, B. Atkins and other witnesses testified. Nearly all of them agreed as to the trouble in the saloon which led up to the quarrel. Two of the witnesses swore that Ducker discharged his shotgun before the soldiers fired; the others could not distinguish who fired first. The story of the trouble as gleaned from the testimony is as follows:
A dozen troopers from Troop E went into Ducker's saloon and began drinking heavily. They became noisy and quarrelsome and began to abuse the barkeeper. They took a pistol and knife from behind the bar where Ducker kept them.They then flourished the pistol with which they hammered on the bar and pointed the muzzle at Ducker, telling him to set up the drinks or they would harm him.
Dunnaway, the barkeeper, went from behind the bar and the soldiers grabbed him. He managed to get away and one of them followed him. Another soldier picked up a lighted lantern and threw it through the big mirror behind the bar. Mr. Ducker asked Dunnaway to get his shotgun, but the barkeeper refused. He thought it was better to get the crowd out without more trouble. Ducker started upstairs for his gun, and while he was gone Mrs. Ducker and Dunnaway got the men outside and locked the door.
When the men got across the street, one of them saw Ducker on the porch and called out that if he hadn't enough they would go and burn the building. Ducker then shot and several shots were fired by the soldiers, one of which struck the deceased in the left arm, passed through his liver and struck the ninth rib. Ducker said "I'm gone" and died in three minutes.
The remains of Mr. Ducker were interred at Raymond cemetery Sunday. The funeral was largely attended. The soldier who fired the fatal shot could not be identified before the troop left Raymond. The captain advised the officers to get their witnesses and overtake the troop at the Columbia ranch on the San Joaquin river, saying he would give the man up if identified. Constable Tom Leonard accompanied by Messrs. Skelton and Dennis, went there, but the officers of the troop decided the identification was not complete and refused to let the suspected man go. Concerning the identification the "Mercury" of Monday says: It seems strange that the identification was not satisfactory to the officers, for one of the witnesses, Dennis, saw the soldier just after the shooting. He had a pistol in his hand snapping it. Two other soldiers were attempting to take the weapon away from the trooper, who was very much under the influence of liquor. In the struggle for the possession of the weapon, the piece was broken at the breech throwing the empty shells out. In pulling the pistol out of the trooper's hand, the pistol made a gash across the palm of the soldier's hand. Mr. Dennis helped to wash the blood off the soldier, and had plenty of time to get a good look at him. In view of this fact it seems strange that the officers should refuse to let the man go. The matter will not drop here, as sons of the murdered man will take the matter up to headquarters and have it thoroughly investigated. One of the sons of the deceased is the District Attorney of one of the counties in Nevada and will push the matter."
Contributor: Steve Harrison (46893586)
Evening News (San Jose CA), 27 Oct 1902:
Inoffending Man Killed By Drunken Soldiers
Cavalry Troopers Who Camped In San Jose Under Ban For Committing Atrocious Murder
The two troops of cavalry which camped at Agricultural Park Saturday, broke camp at an early hour Sunday morning and proceeded on their way to San Francisco, where they will go into winter quarters at the Presidion. The boys in blue were the center of attraction for a large crowd of visitations during their stay. The camp was made up of Companies E and F, Third United States Cavalry and was in command of Capitan Thee. The former company is under a ban just at present owing to an incident occurring at Raymond soon after the boys left Yosemite.
The troop made a brief halt at that place on the night of the 20th of October, when the tragedy resulted, details of which are given in the following dispatch at the time: Between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, the soldiers were taking in the town and visited the saloon of Benjamin Ducker, a well known resident of the San Joaquin Valley.
While there they created a disturbance which resulted in the death of the proprietor. The following facts were brought out at the Coroner's inquest: A number of soldiers under the influence of liquor while in the saloon drew their revolvers, which they flourished in a menacing manner and smashed a valuable mirror. Proprietor Ducker produced a revolver and a knife, but was at once disarmed by the soldiers who left the saloon and proceeded to hurl rocks through the windows. Ducker went upstairs and came out on the balcony with his shotgun firing two shots apparently for the purpose of intimidating the rioters, as the shot charges struck a building on the other side of the road, far above his assailants.
The soldiers opened fire on Ducker from the shelter of a pile of cordwood. The witnesses differed as to the number of shots fired, but there were so many and they came in such rapid succession that they must have been fired by more than one man. Two more witnesses said they could identify the principal actors in the disturbance which took place within the saloon, but could not be certain as to those who fired upon Ducker.
Three bullets were found in the woodwork of the building, close to where Ducker had stood. Another struck his left arm, passing through the body and lodging in the ribs, where it was extricated by Dr. Topp of this place, who gave as his opinion that Ducker could not have lived ten minutes after he received the wound. The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned the following verdict: "That deceased came to his death by a bullet wound inflicted by some member of Troop D, Third United States Cavalry, whose name to them was unknown".
Ducker was a native of Missouri, aged about 58 years. He was a genial host and courteous gentleman, which accounted for his his general popularity and the town of Raymond is still stirred to its depth over his unwarranted murder.
Thank you Linda for the story of his untimely death.
The name of the second wife of Benjamin Ducker was Cornelia Ann VanValkenburg-Rains. She was the daughter of Noah VanValkenburg and Hester/Helen Whitesides. Cornelia/Cora was first married to Joseph Rains.
Contributor: Lisa Rance (47921843)
Parents: William Ducker (1795-1885) and Sarah (Bradbury) Ducker (1805-1900).
Husband of: 1) Augusta Woodward 2) Cornelia (last name unknown)
Father of: Edward Augustus Ducker (1870-1946), William G. Ducker (1871-1956), Minnie Ducker (b. 1874), and Allie M. Ducker (b. 1879)
Gazette Mariposan (Mariposa, California) [that is the title on the mast head at CDNC]
October 25, 1902 (Saturday)
"THE DUCKER MURDER.
The Shooter Identified, but not Given Up.
The facts of the killing of Benjamin Ducker at Raymond last week by a member of Troop E, U. S. Cavalry, is taken from an account of the Coroner's inquest published in the Madera Mercury, which is as follows: J. Dennis, M. Hand, J. Dunnaway, J. Aiken, B. Atkins and other witnesses testified. Nearly all of them agreed as to the trouble in the saloon which led up to the quarrel. Two of the witnesses swore that Ducker discharged his shotgun before the soldiers fired; the others could not distinguish who fired first. The story of the trouble as gleaned from the testimony is as follows:
A dozen troopers from Troop E went into Ducker's saloon and began drinking heavily. They became noisy and quarrelsome and began to abuse the barkeeper. They took a pistol and knife from behind the bar where Ducker kept them.They then flourished the pistol with which they hammered on the bar and pointed the muzzle at Ducker, telling him to set up the drinks or they would harm him.
Dunnaway, the barkeeper, went from behind the bar and the soldiers grabbed him. He managed to get away and one of them followed him. Another soldier picked up a lighted lantern and threw it through the big mirror behind the bar. Mr. Ducker asked Dunnaway to get his shotgun, but the barkeeper refused. He thought it was better to get the crowd out without more trouble. Ducker started upstairs for his gun, and while he was gone Mrs. Ducker and Dunnaway got the men outside and locked the door.
When the men got across the street, one of them saw Ducker on the porch and called out that if he hadn't enough they would go and burn the building. Ducker then shot and several shots were fired by the soldiers, one of which struck the deceased in the left arm, passed through his liver and struck the ninth rib. Ducker said "I'm gone" and died in three minutes.
The remains of Mr. Ducker were interred at Raymond cemetery Sunday. The funeral was largely attended. The soldier who fired the fatal shot could not be identified before the troop left Raymond. The captain advised the officers to get their witnesses and overtake the troop at the Columbia ranch on the San Joaquin river, saying he would give the man up if identified. Constable Tom Leonard accompanied by Messrs. Skelton and Dennis, went there, but the officers of the troop decided the identification was not complete and refused to let the suspected man go. Concerning the identification the "Mercury" of Monday says: It seems strange that the identification was not satisfactory to the officers, for one of the witnesses, Dennis, saw the soldier just after the shooting. He had a pistol in his hand snapping it. Two other soldiers were attempting to take the weapon away from the trooper, who was very much under the influence of liquor. In the struggle for the possession of the weapon, the piece was broken at the breech throwing the empty shells out. In pulling the pistol out of the trooper's hand, the pistol made a gash across the palm of the soldier's hand. Mr. Dennis helped to wash the blood off the soldier, and had plenty of time to get a good look at him. In view of this fact it seems strange that the officers should refuse to let the man go. The matter will not drop here, as sons of the murdered man will take the matter up to headquarters and have it thoroughly investigated. One of the sons of the deceased is the District Attorney of one of the counties in Nevada and will push the matter."
Contributor: Steve Harrison (46893586)
Evening News (San Jose CA), 27 Oct 1902:
Inoffending Man Killed By Drunken Soldiers
Cavalry Troopers Who Camped In San Jose Under Ban For Committing Atrocious Murder
The two troops of cavalry which camped at Agricultural Park Saturday, broke camp at an early hour Sunday morning and proceeded on their way to San Francisco, where they will go into winter quarters at the Presidion. The boys in blue were the center of attraction for a large crowd of visitations during their stay. The camp was made up of Companies E and F, Third United States Cavalry and was in command of Capitan Thee. The former company is under a ban just at present owing to an incident occurring at Raymond soon after the boys left Yosemite.
The troop made a brief halt at that place on the night of the 20th of October, when the tragedy resulted, details of which are given in the following dispatch at the time: Between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, the soldiers were taking in the town and visited the saloon of Benjamin Ducker, a well known resident of the San Joaquin Valley.
While there they created a disturbance which resulted in the death of the proprietor. The following facts were brought out at the Coroner's inquest: A number of soldiers under the influence of liquor while in the saloon drew their revolvers, which they flourished in a menacing manner and smashed a valuable mirror. Proprietor Ducker produced a revolver and a knife, but was at once disarmed by the soldiers who left the saloon and proceeded to hurl rocks through the windows. Ducker went upstairs and came out on the balcony with his shotgun firing two shots apparently for the purpose of intimidating the rioters, as the shot charges struck a building on the other side of the road, far above his assailants.
The soldiers opened fire on Ducker from the shelter of a pile of cordwood. The witnesses differed as to the number of shots fired, but there were so many and they came in such rapid succession that they must have been fired by more than one man. Two more witnesses said they could identify the principal actors in the disturbance which took place within the saloon, but could not be certain as to those who fired upon Ducker.
Three bullets were found in the woodwork of the building, close to where Ducker had stood. Another struck his left arm, passing through the body and lodging in the ribs, where it was extricated by Dr. Topp of this place, who gave as his opinion that Ducker could not have lived ten minutes after he received the wound. The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned the following verdict: "That deceased came to his death by a bullet wound inflicted by some member of Troop D, Third United States Cavalry, whose name to them was unknown".
Ducker was a native of Missouri, aged about 58 years. He was a genial host and courteous gentleman, which accounted for his his general popularity and the town of Raymond is still stirred to its depth over his unwarranted murder.
Thank you Linda for the story of his untimely death.
The name of the second wife of Benjamin Ducker was Cornelia Ann VanValkenburg-Rains. She was the daughter of Noah VanValkenburg and Hester/Helen Whitesides. Cornelia/Cora was first married to Joseph Rains.
Contributor: Lisa Rance (47921843)
Husband of: 1) Augusta Woodward 2) Cornelia (last name unknown)
Father of: Edward Augustus Ducker (1870-1946), William G. Ducker (1871-1956), Minnie Ducker (b. 1874), and Allie M. Ducker (b. 1879)
Gazette Mariposan (Mariposa, California) [that is the title on the mast head at CDNC]
October 25, 1902 (Saturday)
"THE DUCKER MURDER.
The Shooter Identified, but not Given Up.
The facts of the killing of Benjamin Ducker at Raymond last week by a member of Troop E, U. S. Cavalry, is taken from an account of the Coroner's inquest published in the Madera Mercury, which is as follows: J. Dennis, M. Hand, J. Dunnaway, J. Aiken, B. Atkins and other witnesses testified. Nearly all of them agreed as to the trouble in the saloon which led up to the quarrel. Two of the witnesses swore that Ducker discharged his shotgun before the soldiers fired; the others could not distinguish who fired first. The story of the trouble as gleaned from the testimony is as follows:
A dozen troopers from Troop E went into Ducker's saloon and began drinking heavily. They became noisy and quarrelsome and began to abuse the barkeeper. They took a pistol and knife from behind the bar where Ducker kept them.They then flourished the pistol with which they hammered on the bar and pointed the muzzle at Ducker, telling him to set up the drinks or they would harm him.
Dunnaway, the barkeeper, went from behind the bar and the soldiers grabbed him. He managed to get away and one of them followed him. Another soldier picked up a lighted lantern and threw it through the big mirror behind the bar. Mr. Ducker asked Dunnaway to get his shotgun, but the barkeeper refused. He thought it was better to get the crowd out without more trouble. Ducker started upstairs for his gun, and while he was gone Mrs. Ducker and Dunnaway got the men outside and locked the door.
When the men got across the street, one of them saw Ducker on the porch and called out that if he hadn't enough they would go and burn the building. Ducker then shot and several shots were fired by the soldiers, one of which struck the deceased in the left arm, passed through his liver and struck the ninth rib. Ducker said "I'm gone" and died in three minutes.
The remains of Mr. Ducker were interred at Raymond cemetery Sunday. The funeral was largely attended. The soldier who fired the fatal shot could not be identified before the troop left Raymond. The captain advised the officers to get their witnesses and overtake the troop at the Columbia ranch on the San Joaquin river, saying he would give the man up if identified. Constable Tom Leonard accompanied by Messrs. Skelton and Dennis, went there, but the officers of the troop decided the identification was not complete and refused to let the suspected man go. Concerning the identification the "Mercury" of Monday says: It seems strange that the identification was not satisfactory to the officers, for one of the witnesses, Dennis, saw the soldier just after the shooting. He had a pistol in his hand snapping it. Two other soldiers were attempting to take the weapon away from the trooper, who was very much under the influence of liquor. In the struggle for the possession of the weapon, the piece was broken at the breech throwing the empty shells out. In pulling the pistol out of the trooper's hand, the pistol made a gash across the palm of the soldier's hand. Mr. Dennis helped to wash the blood off the soldier, and had plenty of time to get a good look at him. In view of this fact it seems strange that the officers should refuse to let the man go. The matter will not drop here, as sons of the murdered man will take the matter up to headquarters and have it thoroughly investigated. One of the sons of the deceased is the District Attorney of one of the counties in Nevada and will push the matter."
Contributor: Steve Harrison (46893586)
Evening News (San Jose CA), 27 Oct 1902:
Inoffending Man Killed By Drunken Soldiers
Cavalry Troopers Who Camped In San Jose Under Ban For Committing Atrocious Murder
The two troops of cavalry which camped at Agricultural Park Saturday, broke camp at an early hour Sunday morning and proceeded on their way to San Francisco, where they will go into winter quarters at the Presidion. The boys in blue were the center of attraction for a large crowd of visitations during their stay. The camp was made up of Companies E and F, Third United States Cavalry and was in command of Capitan Thee. The former company is under a ban just at present owing to an incident occurring at Raymond soon after the boys left Yosemite.
The troop made a brief halt at that place on the night of the 20th of October, when the tragedy resulted, details of which are given in the following dispatch at the time: Between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, the soldiers were taking in the town and visited the saloon of Benjamin Ducker, a well known resident of the San Joaquin Valley.
While there they created a disturbance which resulted in the death of the proprietor. The following facts were brought out at the Coroner's inquest: A number of soldiers under the influence of liquor while in the saloon drew their revolvers, which they flourished in a menacing manner and smashed a valuable mirror. Proprietor Ducker produced a revolver and a knife, but was at once disarmed by the soldiers who left the saloon and proceeded to hurl rocks through the windows. Ducker went upstairs and came out on the balcony with his shotgun firing two shots apparently for the purpose of intimidating the rioters, as the shot charges struck a building on the other side of the road, far above his assailants.
The soldiers opened fire on Ducker from the shelter of a pile of cordwood. The witnesses differed as to the number of shots fired, but there were so many and they came in such rapid succession that they must have been fired by more than one man. Two more witnesses said they could identify the principal actors in the disturbance which took place within the saloon, but could not be certain as to those who fired upon Ducker.
Three bullets were found in the woodwork of the building, close to where Ducker had stood. Another struck his left arm, passing through the body and lodging in the ribs, where it was extricated by Dr. Topp of this place, who gave as his opinion that Ducker could not have lived ten minutes after he received the wound. The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned the following verdict: "That deceased came to his death by a bullet wound inflicted by some member of Troop D, Third United States Cavalry, whose name to them was unknown".
Ducker was a native of Missouri, aged about 58 years. He was a genial host and courteous gentleman, which accounted for his his general popularity and the town of Raymond is still stirred to its depth over his unwarranted murder.
Thank you Linda for the story of his untimely death.
The name of the second wife of Benjamin Ducker was Cornelia Ann VanValkenburg-Rains. She was the daughter of Noah VanValkenburg and Hester/Helen Whitesides. Cornelia/Cora was first married to Joseph Rains.
Contributor: Lisa Rance (47921843)
Gravesite Details
news reports indicated the troops were in town on October 20th, his death date would indicate they were there on October 16th instead
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