Individual Details
Fred Hodgdon Warren
(18 Dec 1879 - 19 Apr 1964)
Fred was twelve when his mother died. He spent the next years living with the Lovejoys, first with Abial, then with George at Horseshoe Bend in 1895. A hunting accident when he was 15, caused him to lose his right arm after it was was shot and later amputated. Fred studied business in Santa Rosa (Empire College?) He worked up to wharf superintendent at Point Area. He became a wealthy man and held several county offices.
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From the Ukiah Dispatch Democrat, Friday, January 12-1934
POINT ARENA KIDNAPERS KNEW COAST TERRITORY
Leader Showed Knowledge of Hunting and Fishing and Familiarity With County Roads in That Section CRIME IS SERIOUS
The search for three young bandits swung to Santa Rosa last night when Sheriff E.L. Williams , Deputy Sheriff Earl Bishop and Warren, victim of the gang, arrived here for a conference with Sheriff Mike Florh and other local officers. Williams revealed that the bandits trail was picked up in Mendocino county and said that three youths traveling in a light green car, and who during the past week have visited several Mendocino county resorts, have been positively identified as the members of the gang that invaded the Warren residence on the night of December 31.
The Mendocino officers and Warren left Point Arena yesterday and worked their way down the coast to Santa Rosa. They learned that the three youthful strangers were seen in two county stores and that in each instance they stole money and merchandise. Good of the trio were checked with the Warren’s descriptions of the men. Sheriff Williams and Bishop expect to remain in Santa Rosa and Sonoma county until today, continuing their investigation of the strange robbery.
Sheriff E.L. Williams was called to the south Mendocino coast Friday where he learned for the first time of a serious crime of kidnapping and robbery that occurred on Monday evening, December 31, and had been kept a secret through fear of threatened revenge of the kidnappers.
As a result of the crime three young bandits ranging in age from 21 to 30 years of age kidnapped Fred H. Warren, Point Arena wharf owner, and Mrs. Warren, New Years Eve and forced them to drive to an isolated place 40 miles north of Point Arena after robbing them of $14.00 cash and two diamond rings and extorting a promise to pay an additional $150.00 are being sought by north bay officers. the kidnapping g and hold-up was revealed the first of the week by Mendocino and South county officers who have been working on the case since Friday. Warren, fearing retribution at the hands of the hold-up men, had remained silent on the affair until word of it leaked out to a deputy Sheriff, officers said. The bandits entered the Warren home at Point Arena shortly after 7:00 in the evening of December 31, it was revealed. Mrs. Warren , thinking the trio to be friends of her husband, let them in the house. When Warren entered the room one of the trio pulled a gun and said "Sorry, Fred, but this is a stickup". One of the other men held a gun at Mrs. Warren’s side and ordered her to "stick ‘em up". They took several dollars in change from Warren, the took Mrs. Warren’s two diamond rings, valued at several hundred dollars. Demanding more cash the trio threatened to take Warren "for a ride", telling them that they were going to take him 40 miles away and leave him tied to a tree. He pleaded with them to leave, declaring that they could have the money in the wharf office safe, totaling only a few dollars and promising to give them a check for $100. The trio, after opening the wharf office safe, demanded $200. Finally, they compromised on $150, Mendocino officers were told. Warren wrote the check making it out to "Stanley Rogers". The three, after Warren convinced them that he could not open the safe in the general store which he owned but did not operate, forced Warren and his wife to accompany them. Warren drove his own car with one of the armed men riding with him while Mrs.Warren was forced to ride in the bandits car with the other two men. The cars separated in Point Arena after leaving the wharf while Warren had his machine filled with gasoline and oil. Later they met at the cemetery north of town and Mrs. Warren was ordered to get in her husbands car, while the men who accompanied Warren moved to the rear seat. When the two cars traveled approximately 40 miles form Point Arena and wre a short distance from Boonville, Warren who had carried on a conversation on various subjects with the guard in their car, asked why he was being taken to a more thickly settled region, declaring that it would be easier for him to report the holdup than in that area than it would be if he were permitted to return form a point closer to Point Arena. "You can leave here as far as I’m concerned" the bandit guard is reported to have told him. Both cars were stopped and after a consultation, Warren was told that he could go if he would guarantee that the check would not be stopped of reported.
Warren told them he would not report the incident and that the check could be cashed anywhere. "If you prefer, give me back the check and I’ll send you $150 in currency to any address you choose wish."
He asked that the rings be returned upon receipt of the money. The bandit agreed to this ordering Warren to send the money to "Stanley Rogers, general delivery, Santa Rosa", obtaining a promise from him that he would not report the incident nor take a number of the numbers of the currency. Warren was permitted to return to his home, the bandits driving on toward Boonville down the McDonald-to-the-Sea Highway.
The following day Warren mailed the $150 in bills, one of which was a $50 note to the address in Santa Rosa. Yesterday, he received a letter from "Stanley Rogers", mailed from San Francisco acknowledging receipt of the money. The diamond rings, however, have not been returned.
Mendocino county officers did not hear of the incident until Friday. Sherrif E.L.Williams told the Dispatch today he was in Mendocino city on business when he received a call form his deputy at Point Arena. At 10:00 o’clock Friday night when Williams arrived in Point Arena he was told of the holdup and learned of the details from Warren.
Warren was still loathe to talk about the incident, fearing the bandits might return. He professed not to know where the first word of the incident was released to the officers. An attempt was made by Sonoma county officers late last week to check the letter throughout the Santa Rosa post office. Since general delivery letters are not recorded, no trace could be made. Mendocino county officers are working on the theory that the bandits were amateurs since the youngest of the three, described by Warren and his wife as appearing to be about 21 years of age, was extremely nervous while they were in the wharf office.
Sherrif Williams, working on the case, is of the opinion that at least one of the trio was familiar with Warren’s habits and knew the route over which they traveled. Giving strength to this is Warren’s report that the man in his car recognized landmarks in the area and thoroughly knew that coast road.
The three were courteous all during the hold up, Warren reported, none of the bandits were rude to Mrs.Warren and none of the three was rough with him during any of the proceedings, he said. The trio if caught will face life imprisonment under the Slater kidnapping law in addition to charges of theft and burglary, officers said. The kidnapping at the point of a fun would place the trio under provisions of the new California law.
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From the Ukiah Dispatch Democrat, Friday, January 22, 1937, sent to Susan D Slade Grossl on Sept 3rd, 1997 via email by Kathy Clarke Smith.
EXTORTIONIST TRIO QUIZZED BY WARREN'S KIDNAP VICTIMS INSPECT PRISONERS AT COUNTY JAIL IN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY EITHER AS MEMBER OF 1933 GANG
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Warren of Point Arena were in Ukiah last Sunday morning to see if either of the prisoners held in the county jail on charges of extortion tallied with their recollection of the three men who took them captive from their Point Arena home three years ago.
From a photograph of Victor Regoni the Warrens told attaches of Sheriff Williams office that his features resemble the shortest of the three men who kidnapped them.
At the county jail Sunday morning each of the trio was brought out for questioning by Mr. Warren. All three denied ever being at Point Arena, two of them, Rossi and Roberti, claimed to know nothing of the town, not even of it's existence.
It will be remembered that the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warren was entered by three men on New Years Eve, three years ago and that Mr. Warren was compelled to accompany one of the three men to his place of business, the Point Arena Wharf Company and turn over to the kidnapper what money that the safe contained. Mrs. Warren meanwhile was being held prisoner in her home.
After visiting the company office the gang gathered the Warren's jewelry and forced them to take their car and go with them, setting them free on the highway after their promise to send $150 to Santa Rosa addressed to Stanley Rogers, General Delivery.
Fear of reprisals induced Mr. and Mrs. Warren to comply with the demands and no word of the kidnapping reached the office of Sheriff Williams until too late to lay hands on the one who called for the money in Santa Rosa.
Since that time, members of the sheriffs office have been constantly on the lookout for a clue as to the identity of the kidnappers. With the capture of the extortionist hope sprang to life. The story told by Victor Sciani of the manner and method of the three men he claimed scared him into sending two $100 mail orders to a San Francisco address appeared to dovetail with the actions of the kidnapping crew.
Hopes were blasted again Sunday when Regoni in person failed to be the man his photograph had accused him of being.
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From the Ukiah Dispatch Democrat, Friday, January 12-1934
POINT ARENA KIDNAPERS KNEW COAST TERRITORY
Leader Showed Knowledge of Hunting and Fishing and Familiarity With County Roads in That Section CRIME IS SERIOUS
The search for three young bandits swung to Santa Rosa last night when Sheriff E.L. Williams , Deputy Sheriff Earl Bishop and Warren, victim of the gang, arrived here for a conference with Sheriff Mike Florh and other local officers. Williams revealed that the bandits trail was picked up in Mendocino county and said that three youths traveling in a light green car, and who during the past week have visited several Mendocino county resorts, have been positively identified as the members of the gang that invaded the Warren residence on the night of December 31.
The Mendocino officers and Warren left Point Arena yesterday and worked their way down the coast to Santa Rosa. They learned that the three youthful strangers were seen in two county stores and that in each instance they stole money and merchandise. Good of the trio were checked with the Warren’s descriptions of the men. Sheriff Williams and Bishop expect to remain in Santa Rosa and Sonoma county until today, continuing their investigation of the strange robbery.
Sheriff E.L. Williams was called to the south Mendocino coast Friday where he learned for the first time of a serious crime of kidnapping and robbery that occurred on Monday evening, December 31, and had been kept a secret through fear of threatened revenge of the kidnappers.
As a result of the crime three young bandits ranging in age from 21 to 30 years of age kidnapped Fred H. Warren, Point Arena wharf owner, and Mrs. Warren, New Years Eve and forced them to drive to an isolated place 40 miles north of Point Arena after robbing them of $14.00 cash and two diamond rings and extorting a promise to pay an additional $150.00 are being sought by north bay officers. the kidnapping g and hold-up was revealed the first of the week by Mendocino and South county officers who have been working on the case since Friday. Warren, fearing retribution at the hands of the hold-up men, had remained silent on the affair until word of it leaked out to a deputy Sheriff, officers said. The bandits entered the Warren home at Point Arena shortly after 7:00 in the evening of December 31, it was revealed. Mrs. Warren , thinking the trio to be friends of her husband, let them in the house. When Warren entered the room one of the trio pulled a gun and said "Sorry, Fred, but this is a stickup". One of the other men held a gun at Mrs. Warren’s side and ordered her to "stick ‘em up". They took several dollars in change from Warren, the took Mrs. Warren’s two diamond rings, valued at several hundred dollars. Demanding more cash the trio threatened to take Warren "for a ride", telling them that they were going to take him 40 miles away and leave him tied to a tree. He pleaded with them to leave, declaring that they could have the money in the wharf office safe, totaling only a few dollars and promising to give them a check for $100. The trio, after opening the wharf office safe, demanded $200. Finally, they compromised on $150, Mendocino officers were told. Warren wrote the check making it out to "Stanley Rogers". The three, after Warren convinced them that he could not open the safe in the general store which he owned but did not operate, forced Warren and his wife to accompany them. Warren drove his own car with one of the armed men riding with him while Mrs.Warren was forced to ride in the bandits car with the other two men. The cars separated in Point Arena after leaving the wharf while Warren had his machine filled with gasoline and oil. Later they met at the cemetery north of town and Mrs. Warren was ordered to get in her husbands car, while the men who accompanied Warren moved to the rear seat. When the two cars traveled approximately 40 miles form Point Arena and wre a short distance from Boonville, Warren who had carried on a conversation on various subjects with the guard in their car, asked why he was being taken to a more thickly settled region, declaring that it would be easier for him to report the holdup than in that area than it would be if he were permitted to return form a point closer to Point Arena. "You can leave here as far as I’m concerned" the bandit guard is reported to have told him. Both cars were stopped and after a consultation, Warren was told that he could go if he would guarantee that the check would not be stopped of reported.
Warren told them he would not report the incident and that the check could be cashed anywhere. "If you prefer, give me back the check and I’ll send you $150 in currency to any address you choose wish."
He asked that the rings be returned upon receipt of the money. The bandit agreed to this ordering Warren to send the money to "Stanley Rogers, general delivery, Santa Rosa", obtaining a promise from him that he would not report the incident nor take a number of the numbers of the currency. Warren was permitted to return to his home, the bandits driving on toward Boonville down the McDonald-to-the-Sea Highway.
The following day Warren mailed the $150 in bills, one of which was a $50 note to the address in Santa Rosa. Yesterday, he received a letter from "Stanley Rogers", mailed from San Francisco acknowledging receipt of the money. The diamond rings, however, have not been returned.
Mendocino county officers did not hear of the incident until Friday. Sherrif E.L.Williams told the Dispatch today he was in Mendocino city on business when he received a call form his deputy at Point Arena. At 10:00 o’clock Friday night when Williams arrived in Point Arena he was told of the holdup and learned of the details from Warren.
Warren was still loathe to talk about the incident, fearing the bandits might return. He professed not to know where the first word of the incident was released to the officers. An attempt was made by Sonoma county officers late last week to check the letter throughout the Santa Rosa post office. Since general delivery letters are not recorded, no trace could be made. Mendocino county officers are working on the theory that the bandits were amateurs since the youngest of the three, described by Warren and his wife as appearing to be about 21 years of age, was extremely nervous while they were in the wharf office.
Sherrif Williams, working on the case, is of the opinion that at least one of the trio was familiar with Warren’s habits and knew the route over which they traveled. Giving strength to this is Warren’s report that the man in his car recognized landmarks in the area and thoroughly knew that coast road.
The three were courteous all during the hold up, Warren reported, none of the bandits were rude to Mrs.Warren and none of the three was rough with him during any of the proceedings, he said. The trio if caught will face life imprisonment under the Slater kidnapping law in addition to charges of theft and burglary, officers said. The kidnapping at the point of a fun would place the trio under provisions of the new California law.
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From the Ukiah Dispatch Democrat, Friday, January 22, 1937, sent to Susan D Slade Grossl on Sept 3rd, 1997 via email by Kathy Clarke Smith.
EXTORTIONIST TRIO QUIZZED BY WARREN'S KIDNAP VICTIMS INSPECT PRISONERS AT COUNTY JAIL IN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY EITHER AS MEMBER OF 1933 GANG
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Warren of Point Arena were in Ukiah last Sunday morning to see if either of the prisoners held in the county jail on charges of extortion tallied with their recollection of the three men who took them captive from their Point Arena home three years ago.
From a photograph of Victor Regoni the Warrens told attaches of Sheriff Williams office that his features resemble the shortest of the three men who kidnapped them.
At the county jail Sunday morning each of the trio was brought out for questioning by Mr. Warren. All three denied ever being at Point Arena, two of them, Rossi and Roberti, claimed to know nothing of the town, not even of it's existence.
It will be remembered that the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warren was entered by three men on New Years Eve, three years ago and that Mr. Warren was compelled to accompany one of the three men to his place of business, the Point Arena Wharf Company and turn over to the kidnapper what money that the safe contained. Mrs. Warren meanwhile was being held prisoner in her home.
After visiting the company office the gang gathered the Warren's jewelry and forced them to take their car and go with them, setting them free on the highway after their promise to send $150 to Santa Rosa addressed to Stanley Rogers, General Delivery.
Fear of reprisals induced Mr. and Mrs. Warren to comply with the demands and no word of the kidnapping reached the office of Sheriff Williams until too late to lay hands on the one who called for the money in Santa Rosa.
Since that time, members of the sheriffs office have been constantly on the lookout for a clue as to the identity of the kidnappers. With the capture of the extortionist hope sprang to life. The story told by Victor Sciani of the manner and method of the three men he claimed scared him into sending two $100 mail orders to a San Francisco address appeared to dovetail with the actions of the kidnapping crew.
Hopes were blasted again Sunday when Regoni in person failed to be the man his photograph had accused him of being.
Events
| Birth | 18 Dec 1879 | Shelter Cove, Humboldt, California, United States |  | ||
| Census | Jun 1900 | ED 72, Long Valley Township, Mendocino, California, United States | |  | |
| Marriage | 6 Oct 1905 | Oakland, Alameda, California, United States - Minnie E. Haskell | |||
| Census (family) | 1910 | Arena, Mendocino, California, United States - Minnie E. Haskell | | ||
| Census (family) | 1920 | Arena Township 2 Precinct, Point Arena, Mendocino, California, United States - Minnie E. Haskell | | ||
| Census (family) | 1930 | Point Arena, Mendocino, California, United States - Minnie E. Haskell | | ||
| Census (family) | 1940 | Arena Judicial Township, Point Arena, Mendocino, California, United States - Minnie E. Haskell | | ||
| Death | 19 Apr 1964 | Point Arena, Mendocino, California, United States | | ||
| Burial | Evergreen Cemetery, Manchester, Mendocino, California, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Minnie E. Haskell (1879 - 1969) |
| Father | Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Warren (1835 - 1919) |
| Mother | Isadora Locke (1863 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Clifford Warren (1882 - ) |
| Sibling | Leland Stanford "Sandy, Stan" Warren (1887 - 1971) |
Notes
Birth
Tombstone reads Dec. 18, 1879Census
190, 190 Lovejoy, Loriston H, Head WM, May 1863, 37 yrs, Married 7 yrs, ME ME ME, Farmer, own free farm.Lulu M. Wife WF, Sept 1873, 26 yrs, M-7, blank, CA ME NY,
Bessie M. Daughter WF, Sept 1893, 6 yrs, single CA ME CA
Chas E. Son, WM, Feb 1895, 5, single CA ME CA
Lucile M. Daughter, WF, May 1896, single CA ME CA
Abial, Father, WM, Aug 1824, 75 yrs, Married 42 yrs, ME ME ME farm laborer
Harriet W, Mother, WF, Feb 1837, 63 yrs, M-42, 4 child born 3 living. ME ME ME
191, 191 Lovejoy, George E, Head, WM, Sept 1870, 29, Married 5 yrs, ME ME ME, Farmer, own free farm
Annie E, Wife, WF, Oct 1875, 24, M-5, 2 child born & living, CA ME NY
Hattie M, Daughter, WF, Nov 1895, 4, single, CA ME CA
Robert T, Son, WM, Oct 1899, single, CA ME CA
Warren, Fred H, B-in-law, WM, Dec 1881, 18 single, CA ME IL, trapper
" Leland S, B-in-law, WM, Aug 1887, 12, single, CA ME IL, farm laborer
Census (family)
SELF Fred H Warren M 30y California Maine New York, marriedWIFE Minnie E Warren F 30y California Maine Ohio married
FATH Benjamin F Warren M 74y Maine Maine Maine, widowed
BRO Leland S Warren M 22y California Maine New York, single
Census (family)
SELF Fred H Warren M 40y CaliforniaWIFE Minnie E Warren F 40y California
Census (family)
Head Fred H Warren M 50 California Maine Maine, Clerk FreightWife Minnie E Warren F 50 California Maine Missouri
Census (family)
Head Fred H Warren M 60 California, Care TakerWife Minnie E Warren F 60 California
Death
Fred H. WarrenPoint Arena - Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday for Fred H. Warren, 84, who died at his ranch here yesterday.
Mr. Warren, born at Black Point, Sonoma County, lived in Point Arena 61 years. He was a cattle rancher.
He was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and of the Odd Fellows.
Surviving are his wife, Minnie E. Warren, Point Arena, and his brother, Stanley L. Warren, San Francisco.
Services will be at the Point Arena Chapel with the Rev. George McLane, pastor of the Point Arena Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Manchester.
The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California). 20 Apr 1964, Mon, Page 10
Endnotes
1. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1900 > CALIFORNIA > MENDOCINO > LONG VALLEY TWP Series: T623 Roll: 93 Page: 105.
2. A Seeker, "Evergreen Cemetery, Manchester, Mendocino Co. California," database, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed ), Warren.