Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
News Article - The Reporter, April 21, 1933
KILLS SISTER-IN-LAW TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
As a climax of marital difficulties, Fred Caballero, 34, of Woodland, shot and killed his sister-in-law, Mrs. Nellie Poppin, at her home three miles southeast of Vacaville, last Friday evening, and three hours later ended his own life with the same shotgun on the doorstep of a friend, Louis Muller, in Yolo.
The trouble between Caballero and his wife came to a head over a month ago when Mrs. Caballero fled from Woodland in company with a friend, Nick Miller. The woman and Miller were apprehended in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March l9th.
Caballero hurried to the Utah metropolis and returned later with Mrs. Caballero to Woodland. He said he had dropped the charges against the couple when the woman agreed to return with him to Woodland.
Several days later Mrs. Caballero again left her husband, this time fleeing to the home of her brother, William Poppin, husband of the murdered woman.
Mrs. Caballero, Mrs. Poppin and the latter's six children were in the house Friday evening when Caballero arrived. Mrs. Caballero had hidden in the bedroom when she saw her husband get out of his car, and Mrs. Poppin met him at the back door. After an argument that followed her refusal to let him see his wife, she re-entered the house. Caballero then fired at her through the kitchen window, the shot lodging in her back. She then ran through the house to the front door, where Caballero fired at her the second time. This time the shot struck her left shoulder and entered her heart. She dropped at the foot of the steps dead.
Immediately after the shooting, Caballero hastened back to his car and drove away.
Chief of Police Alley of Vacaville and the sheriff's office were immediately notified, and word was sent [to] the officers of surrounding towns to look out for the murderer. Chief of Police Grove of Dixon attempted to halt Caballero as he drove through that city, but he abandoned his car between two warehouses and made his escape on foot. He apparently caught a ride to Yolo and reached the home of Louis Muller, who was aroused by the sound of two shots about 10 o'clock that night, and on investigating found Caballero dead on the steps of the Muller home.
Mrs. Poppin leaves six children and the Caballeros have two-Fred, 3 years old and Edward 13 months.
The day before the shooting Mrs. Caballero had conferred with Attorney S. M. Dobbins in regard to starting divorce proceedings.
Back in 1927 Caballero conducted a feed store in Vacaville, in a building next to the Sacramento Northern depot, which has since been torn down.
====================
Vacaville Man Killed Sister-in-Law and Then Ended His Life Last Night
Vacaville - Fred Caballero, 29, former local business man, killed his sister-in-law, Mrs. Nellie Poppin, 28, here last night at 8 o'clock. Three hours later Caballero ended his life at the Muller ranch in Yolo county. Mrs. Caballero hid in the house when Caballero called at the Poppin home in search of her last evening. Mrs. Poppin went to the door and told Caballero that his wife was away. He became so enraged that he shot and killed Mrs. Poppin with a 20 gauge shotgun. He then drove to Yolo county and used the same gun to end his life. County officials took Mrs. Caballero to Fairfield last night for protection. Poppin, the husband of the dead woman, was in Elmira at the time of the shooting. Mrs. Poppin is survived by six children, namely Mary Ann, 10; Priscilla, 7; Annie, 5; Billy, 4; Doris, 2, and Juney, 1
[Vallejo Evening News, Saturday, 15 April 1933, page 1]
====================
Man Slays Mother of Six; Ends Own Life
The "eternal triangle" last night claimed the lives of a Vacaville mother of six children and a local man who three weeks ago attempted to commit suicide by hanging.
Mrs. Will Papin, 35, died the victim of two blasts from a shotgun in the hands of Fred Caballero, 34, of Woodland, who about two hours later leaned over the muzzle of the same gun near Yolo, pressed the trigger with a stick and ended his own life.
Wife Hides
Caballero Friday evening went to Vacaville in an effort to see his estranged wife, Hazel, who was living with her sister, Mrs. Papin. Seeing his approach, Mrs. Caballero hid in the house and Mrs. Papin went to the door. An argument resulted, and Mrs. Papin reentered the house.
Caballero opened fire through a window, the charge striking Mrs. Papin in the shoulder as her children, aged from two to ten years, looked on in horror. Screaming, she ran from the house and Caballero pursued her, firing a second charge of shot into her chest and killing her instantly.
Flees Scene
Fleeing the scene, Caballero headed toward Dixon, and an alarm for his capture was broadcast throughout Solano, Yolo and Napa counties. Chief of Police Clay Grove at Dixon sighted Caballero passing through town, and attempted to stop him, but the fleeing man drove into a dark street and abandoned his car. He telephoned to Woodland from Dixon for a taxicab, but when it arrived, he could not be found. How he got to Yolo has not been learned by officers.
The next that was heard of him was at about 9:45 o'clock last night when Louis Muller of Yolo summoned Coroner W. C. McNary, stating that Caballero had committed suicide on his doorstep. Muller was a friend of the dead man, and Caballero had evidently gone directly there after his flight from the v=Vacaville section. The man had fired two shots into his body, the first entering his abdomen and the second his chest.
First to arrive at the scene of the suicide were Undersheriff Forrest Monroe and Deputy Sheriff Cliff Garrison. As soon as the alarm was spread from Vacaville, they went to the house here where the children had been left, believing that Caballero would return there to get them.
Note Discovered
A blood-soaked suicide note was found in his pocket. It read: "Mike: I couldn't kill my boy to take with me and I didn't kill Hazel either. Please take care of my boys forever. They're at the Mexican's the same street I live on. If she wants the kid, its up to you."
The slaying of his sister-in-law and his suicide marked the climax of two months of domestic strife in the Caballero family. The Caballeros four years ago fled to Reno to be married over the protests of Mrs. Caballero's parents.
Then, a man named Nick Miller, was taken in as a boarder at the Caballero home, 144 Oak street, and early in March, Mrs. Caballero and Miller left, taking with them Edward Caballero, one-year old son, and leaving Fred, Jr., three.
Seeks Arrest
Caballero swore out a complaint charging his wife with child desertion and Miller with being an accomplice. The couple were captured in Salt Lake City, and Caballero went there in an effort to persuade his wife to return home. She agreed to come back to California and live with her sister, but would not return to her home here.
Three weeks ago, Caballero took his three-year old son to the Vacaville section, and after failing to reach an agreement with his wife, returned here and attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in the woodshed at the rear of his home. He first called his sister, Mrs. Anna Marino, who arrived in time to cut him down before he had strangled to death. He recovered at the Woodland Clinic.
Since that time, Caballero had made frequent attempts to reach an agreement with his wife, and had recently brought both of the children back to the home in Woodland.
Mrs. Caballero earlier Friday attempted to start divorce proceedings, conferring with Sinclair Dobbins, attorney.
The children of Mrs. Papin are Mary Ann, 10; Priscilla, 7; Annie, 6; Billy, 4; Doris, 3, and June, 1.
Notify Administrator about this message?
Followups:No followups yet |
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/caballero/messages/141.html | ||
 |
Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|