PONCIANO IS BELIEVED "BIG MAN"

Tony Ponciano, 58, 120 Main Street, last night led suspects in the hunt for the mysterious "big man" for whom Elmer Schutrum was searching when he murdered Officer C.J. (Dick) Bruce Tuesday evening.

Investigation pressed by Chief of Police C.E. Tovee singled out three big men who might have been Schutrum's intended victims. They were Ponciano, father of Tony Ponciano, Jr., proprietor of the bar adjoining Joe's Tamale Parlor; Mark Williams, bartender at Mac's Liquor Store, 134 Main; Manuel Marshall, a carpenter.

TWO ELIMINATED - The latter two were eliminated, Tovee pointed out, because Schutrum had numerous chances to shoot them before Bruce came into the establishment.
Marshall was seated at a table reading the paper, in full view of the killer and Williams, with Joe Silva, proprietor of the tamale parlor, was attempting to persuade Schutrum to put down the gun.

Silva said last night that the elder Ponciano had been in the upstairs apartment sleeping at the time Schutrum entered. A few minutes later and several minutes prior to the shooting, however, he dashed through the Record office and made his way down Broadway toward the Children's Playground.

FURTHER QUESTIONING - Officers contemplated further questioning today. Tovee yesterday reconstructed Schutrum's actions since Monday night when he allegedly had an argument with his "big man" in Ponciano's bar.

Though young Ponciano and Silva both denied that Schutrum had argued with anyone in their establishment either Monday or Tuesday, Tovee said he had learned that Schutrum came into Mac's Liquor Store Monday evening and describing an argument he had in the adjoining bar said: "I'll get my rifle and kill that ---------!"

TOO BIG TO FIGHT - Schutrum had said that the man he argued with was too big for him to fight and that he would have to get a gun to settle the dispute. Howard McQuone, proprietor of Mac's store, reported that he argued with Schutrum, attempting to dissuade him and took him to his cabin late Monday evening. "I thought that he had been argued out of any shooting," McQuone said.

Tovee stated he had learned that Schutrum had been spiking his beer for the past several days from a bottle of whiskey. "Undoubtedly the man was crazed with drink," the chief reported, "and the obsession to kill some man who had insulted him grew."

ARRANGES EFFECTS - Tuesday the German unscrewed the stock from the well-oiled gun, enabling him to carry it in a sweater, emptied a box of 20 .30-30 shells, loaded the gun and placed the remainder in his pocket. He placed the deeds to five acres of property in Willows and all his personal effects in two small green tin boxes and locked them.

According to Assistant District Attorney P.M. Barceloux his estate will reach $2,000.
He then wrote on the empty cartridge box: "NOTICE DEAD MEN DON'T TALK."
This note was placed on a table.

PLANNED GETAWAY - "Schutrum never intended to return, as is shown by this note. He planned to get his man and then shoot the first man who tried to halt his getaway. When he was captured his only other means of escape was suicide." Tovee said.

Sheriff Herbert Taylor and Officer Russell Northrup searched the cabin.
Following questioning of all eye witnesses to the shooting, Tovee commented that proof was all that was lacking in the search for the "big man."

SAYS NO QUARREL - Young Ponciano said last night that Schutrum had been in his bar both Monday and Tuesday but that he had not been in during the evening and that he quarreled with nobody.

It was learned yesterday that a call to the police station prior to the one made from the Chico Record had summoned Bruce and Jones to the scene. The first call merely had stated that "a policeman is wanted at Joe's Tamale Parlor." Record employees reported a shooting was in progress, but Jones and Bruce had left, not aware a man was wielding a gun.

Mark Williams, a bartender, who with Joe Silva attempted to subdue Schutrum, told Tovee yesterday that if Bruce has waited one minute longer before entering the parlor, there would have been no shooting.

NEEDED MORE TIME - "I believe that in that time I could have taken the gun from the man." Williams was quoted as saying.

The inquest will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the city hall it was announced last night by Deputy Coroner W.V. West following a conference with Sheriff Herbert Taylor.

FUNERAL IS SET - Funeral services for Bruce will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Harris Pillsbury of the Presbyterian church officiating. Burial will be in Chico cemetery.
Mrs. Mae Skinner, Pasadena, a sister of Schutrum, notified West yesterday that she would arrive in Chico today to make funeral arrangements.

(Chico Record, Feb. 24, 1938)