Emil Weber
Emil Weber was a gambler with a bad reputation, who was shot to death by Charles Olds on May 10th, 1899.
Weber in Portland
An advertisement in an 1884 issue of the Oregonian indicated that Weber, at that time, was the proprietor of the "Sunnyside" across SW 1st Avenue (then "First Street") from the New Market Theater.
He's next mentioned in the Oregonian in a May 7th, 1885, article, describing him as the victim of an extortion scheme. Weber, along with others, had been accused of gambling by ex-policeman O. H. Cambridge. Cambridge then sent an intermediary to Weber, explaining that the charges could be made to go away by giving Cambridge $50. Weber feigned interest, and had Cambridge himself meet Weber at the office of his attorney, F. A. E. Starr, where Cambridge raised the price to $100. Unbeknown to Cambridge, two witnesses to this event were hiding in Starr's office at the time.[1] A later Oregonian article describing Cambridge's sentence (six months in the county jail), paints this as less of an extortion on the part of Cambridge, and more of a bribery on the part of Weber, who they indicated would like to "send a message" to those that might turn him in.[2]
A February 11, 1888, article describes a con pulled by Weber in which he won ownership of the Club Saloon (old address of 121 Front Street) from Frank Lynch and his partner Anderson. Apparently, working in concert with his second wife, Weber convinced both Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Lynch that there husbands were making a good deal more money on the saloon than they were aware of and were spending it on "interests outside the family". The deed to the property was in the names of the women, and Mrs. Lynch sold her stake to Mrs. Anderson and moved out of town, and Mrs. Anderson sold the entire property to Weber before leaving town.[3]
The former mention of in the Oregonian prior to his murder is an article noting that he has filed suit against his ex-wife, [Mary J. Gratton]], and her husband Isaac Gratton in an attempt to reclaim some furniture.[4]
Weber's Relationship to Olds
Weber's Death
At approximately 1pm on May 10th, 1899, Weber was crossing SW 3rd Avenue (then called 3rd Street) on SW Alder Street with a companion, John Bose, when they spotted Charles Olds, leaning against a water-plug (a fire hydrant). According to both Olds and Bose, Olds said,"Mr. Weber, I here you have been looking for me." Weber responded,"You son of a bitch, what do you want of me?" According to Olds' account (backed up by witness M. J. Kochman), Weber went for his hind pocket. Olds' pulled a pistol and fired at Weber, missing him. After a brief pause (which Bose attributed to a possible mis-fire), Olds shot again, this time hitting Weber in the neck. Weber turned and fell, and Olds stood over him and fired three more shots into him, the last into the back of Weber's head. Olds allegedly threatened Bose, then pocketed his pistol, wiped his brow with a handkerchief, and then started strolling away towards SW Washington Street, where he was apprehended.