Double Murder Multi-Cache

Oct. 26th, 1897: Thomas shoots his father Patrick, and then shoots Sheriff McEvoy, who dies two days later. Both men are buried in this cemetery. Thomas is not. He was executed at San Quentin.

If you enjoy this kind of history I recommend you follow the links and read from the original newspapers.

excerpts from The San Francisco Call, October 27, 1897

REDWOOD CITY, Oct. 26. -- Patrick Flannelly, one of Redwood City's most highly respected citizens, lies cold in death at his home in this city, the victim of a son's unnatural crime.

It was a trivial grievance that led the son to take the life of his father... The elder Flannelly had sought, furnished, and presented to his son one of the best ranches in San Mateo County... the son prospered...

But of late.. young Flannelly had resolved upon taking a partner... the old gentleman objected...no reason why an outsider should be taken in to share the fruits of his toll except that the son thought that with a partner he might have more time to devote to his carousals.

There were several quarrels.. finally Flannelly ordered his son ejected from the ranch. Within a few minutes after the papers were served Thomas Flannelly appeared at the home of his father.. forced the way to his bedroom.. Other members of the family heard high words followed by pistol-shots. They rushed to the old man's room to find him dead with blood oozing from his wounds. One of the bullets struck him in the forehead, another in the mouth, and a third had entered his breast and buried itself in his heart.

excerpts from The San Francisco Call, October 28, 1897

Meanwhile the murderer had rushed from the house, jumped on his horse and galoped down the road leading to his ranch.

Sheriff McEvoy and the deputies, who were at the jail, a short distance away, heard the shots and hastened to the scene. Hastily collecting a posse, they started for the ranch, where Sheriff McEvoy rightly conjectured the murderer had fled.

They arrived at the ranch twenty minutes after the shots that took Patrick Flannelly's life were fired... The Sheriff sent two of his men, to watch the window at the back of Flannelly's bedroom to prevent the escape of the murderer that way. Butts, who was armed with a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun, was left to hold the horses and keep watch on the front door of the house to frustrate any attempt of the murderer to escape by that avenue. McEvoy and Mansfield went into the kitchen and thence to the diningroom, where a lamp was burning. The officers expected trouble and had their revolvers ready.

The door leading to the bedroom which was occupied by Flannelly was shut, but not locked. The Sheriff approached the door and called out,

"Are you in there, Tom? Come out; we want you."

"Wait a minute," came the answer from the man inside.

The officer waited, but as Flannelly did not make his appearance, McEvoy kicked open the door. As it flew back against the partition the beams from the lamp threw the officers in bold relief and made them conspicuous objects to the murderer.

As soon as the door swung open Flannelly fired, the bullet from his Winchester striking McEvoy in the arm and plowing its way through the flesh up to the shoulder. Mansfield, who stood a little to the right of the Sheriff, was also struck by the ball that wounded his superior.

McEvoy dropped his pistol when hit and stepped into the hallway out of range of the murderer's gun and began to grope about the floor for his weapon. Flannelly, who was wrapped in blankets, did not lose any time after the first shot, but kept pumping lead in the direction of the officers. Mansfield was not idle. His pistol spoke simultaneously with the second shot from Flannelly's rifle. Then there ensued a perfect fusillade at short range. The smoke hung in the air, partially obscuring the light from the lamp.

Sheriff McEvoy's search for his pistol proving unavailing he shouted to Butts to bring the shotgun. The deputy hurried to the aid of the Sheriff, but before the shotgun was brought into play Flannelly called out: "Don't use the shotgun; come and take me."

excerpts from The San Francisco Call, October 29, 1897

Flannelly was brought to the Redwood City Jail. The presence of the criminal responsible for his father's death and for the Sheriff's critical condition incensed the people of Redwood City more deeply as the day wore on... it was decided to hang Flannelly if McEvoy died... there was but one sentence on every tongue, "Hang him."

A prominent Redwood City citizen went to Under Sheriff Mansfield, who was guarding the prisinor and said, "You know what the people want. What will you do if the best citizens in our town ask to see the murderer?"

The officer replied as he nursed his wounded arm: "I must protect the prisoner at all hazards, just as Phil would do if now able."

"Do you mean to say you would endanger the lives of our best citizens to prolong that of the infamous criminal you are guarding?"

"I would do my duty and protect the prisoner at all hazards," was the laconic reply.

It was then that a consultation was held with Mansfield, who agreed to help spirit the wounded prisoner away to San Jose.

At a given signal, the Chief of the Fire Department turned in an alarm for the vicinity of the city square, far to the northwest of the jail, which is in the extreme eastern part of the town.

It worked perfectly, for while nearly everybody was running toward the supposed fire, Flannelly was hurried to a wagon and was driven full speed to San Jose, twenty-two miles away. By this strategy the prisoner was taken beyond harm.

The doctors agreed at once that there was but one chance to save McEvoy's life, and that was by amputation. No time was lost after Dr. McLean's arrival, for there were many signs of blood poisoning. The patient was anesthetized and the left arm was removed at the shoulder-joint. The Sheriff opposed the operation to the very last and did not give in until the gravity of the situation was set forth by Dr. McLean. He then resigned himself to his fate and calmly awaited the operation, recognizing his friends and chatting with them pleasantly while the surgeons were preparing their antisecptic baths and instruments for the operations.

While there were grave fears that the patient would not survive the shock he recovered and showed remarkable strength. At 5 o'clock he was perspiring, which is considered a good sign, but when the effects of the strychnine and other medicines with which he had been fortified for the operation died away it was seen that he could not live through the night.

Shortly after 8 o'clock the patient's condition grew rapidly worse and Dr. Ross announced that there was no chance of recovery. The pulse bounded to 140 and temperature to 105, with every evidence of approaching dissolution. He became unconscious and died at 9:45 P.M., surrounded by his family and friends.

Officer William Philip McEvoy's 'Officer Down' Memorial Page
He was the first San Mateo County Sheriff killed in the line of duty.

A picture of Thomas Flannelly plus a short recount of the story.