The Prelude to Tragedy

In the late 19th century, the peaceful town of Campbell, California, became the unlikely backdrop for a gruesome tale of murder and mystery. At the heart of this story was James C. Dunham, a man who would become infamous for a single, blood-soaked night on May 26, 1896. James Dunham was born into an era of transformation in America, but his life would be defined by violence and disappearance, leaving law enforcement baffled and families shattered.

The McGlincy Family

The stage for this tragedy was set years before the fateful night. Ada Wells McGlincy, once a schoolteacher, had survived the death of her husband, Oscar C. Wells, who had moved to California in 1867 for health reasons and passed away in 1883. Ada remarried Colonel Richard McGlincy, a former Confederate Army officer who had settled in California around 1888 and served in various public offices. The couple lived on a sprawling 54-acre orchard just south of Campbell, sharing their home with Ada’s children, Hattie and James, and several servants.

Hattie Wells, Ada's daughter, had a romantic history with the Dunham family. Initially engaged to Charles Dunham, she ultimately married James Dunham in 1895. The couple resided with the McGlincys and welcomed a son, Percy Osborne, on May 4, 1896. Hattie, a graduate of the California State Normal School, found herself married to a man of questionable repute.

James Dunham

James Dunham's reputation was far from pristine. At the time of his marriage to Hattie, he was navigating a divorce from a previous elopement. His efforts to support his wife were sporadic, with a failed bicycle business in Stockton marking one of his few ventures. Reports suggested he had pawned Hattie's jewelry during a trip to Sacramento, adding to his infamy. By February 1896, he enrolled in a four-year classics course at Santa Clara College, intending to pursue a law career.

The Night of Horror

Premeditation and Execution

On the eve of May 25, 1896, James Dunham withdrew a significant sum, approximately $1,000, from his bank account. The following day, he hid a bicycle near a dry creek bed—actions that would later be seen as premeditated. As night fell on May 26, Dunham unleashed terror upon his family with an axe and two revolvers.

The massacre began around 10 PM, with Dunham strangling and gagging his wife, Hattie. As Minnie Schlesser, a household servant, rushed to the scene, she was met with a fatal blow to the head. Dunham then descended upon Ada Wells McGlincy, brutally ending her life. The coroner's report noted the excessive violence, as he continued to crush their skulls long after they were dead.

Dunham meticulously removed photographs of himself and certain documents, leaving behind a single tintype photograph that would later adorn reward posters. That night, two unsuspecting men stealing cherries from the orchard witnessed lights going out and Dunham casually smoking on the porch, oblivious to the carnage within.

The Return and Escape

Colonel McGlincy returned home around midnight, accompanied by James Wells and farmhand George Schaible. As Schaible tended to barn duties, the sound of gunshots rang out. McGlincy was struck by an axe but managed to escape through a window, seeking refuge with the hired men. Dunham, relentless in his pursuit, called out to them, only to be met with defiance from McGlincy. In the ensuing chaos, Dunham pursued and killed Robert Brisco, then returned to fatally wound McGlincy.

George Schaible, hiding in the barn, became one of the two survivors. Dunham, failing to locate him, left the scene on a stolen horse.

The Manhunt

The pursuit of James Dunham was swift and intense, with a staggering $11,000 reward fueling the hunt. Despite sightings and reports, including one of Dunham sporting a scratched face and wearing gunnysacks on his feet, he remained elusive. His last trace was a stolen horse found at Indian Gulch, along with discarded clothing and signs of recent camps. The presence of circling buzzards fueled speculation that Dunham had taken his own life, though no body was found.

The search extended beyond Mount Hamilton, with reports of Dunham stealing weapons and possibly moving south. Despite a relentless chase, sightings dwindled, and the manhunt eventually lost momentum. Dunham's escape remained a matter of speculation, with theories suggesting he fled to Mexico or Cuba.

The Unsolved Mystery

Over the years, numerous men were mistakenly identified and arrested as James Dunham, but none matched the fugitive. Skeletal remains were examined, and alternative theories emerged, yet the fate of James Dunham eluded resolution. Some believed he had died by suicide, while others speculated he was killed to cover for the real perpetrators.

The funeral for the McGlincy-Wells family took place on May 29, with poignant headstones echoing biblical vengeance. The infant Percy was adopted by Ada's sister, finding a new home in San Francisco. The McGlincy house stood until the 1960s, a silent witness to the tragedy that unfolded within its walls.