Dave Shannon Doesn’t Care For Tattling

Even as we learn more about crimes a hundred and more years ago, something that seems to stay true, is murder is an awful way to communicate your displeasure in someone’s actions.

This story takes place on August 25, 1915 at the Oakland, Alameda County, California transit mole.

Here is a postcard rendering of the entrance to the mole. Click here to learn more about the Oakland mole.

Born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in 1902, the 33 year old David Sloan “Dave” Shannon was working as a cook in a Southern Pacific dining car.

The 38 year old New York native, George C. Spaulding, was working as a steward on the same train as Dave Shannon. There is pretty scant information available on George C. Spaulding. However, it’s very clear that George was severely stabbed with a butcher knife and finally succumbed to his wounds on September 3, 1915 in San Francisco, California.

Held For Stabbing, The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California), August 27, 1915

Apparently, Dave and George had argued over the accusation that George reported Dave to the company supervisor for taking liquor into the dining car in which he was working, violating the a company rule. Dave lost his job because of it. Dave did not take this act of tattling very well, confronted George and preceded to stab and slash him in the chest, face, and head with a butcher knife. George was critically injured and promptly taken to the Southern Pacific Hospital, across the bay, in San Francisco.

Dave was taken into custody on an assault with a deadly weapon charge. When George passed away from his injuries on September 3, 1915, Dave’s charges were upgraded to murder.

Contemporary newspapers state that the incident was a “knife duel”, however it is not likely that George was armed with a weapon. It actually appears that George was attacked without warning.

George C. Spaulding’s grave is located at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo County, California. He was buried September 6, 1915.

George Spaulding Grave Photograph- Courtesy of Sue at findagrave

Dave went to trial in Alameda County Superior Court on December 20, 1915. The trial was not covered in contemporary newspapers (At least the newspapers available available now), but on December 24, 1915, Superior Court Judge Ogden sentenced Dave to life imprisonment for murder in the 2nd degree.

Shannon Case Before Jury, The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California), December 20, 1915

He was received at San Quentin prison on December 27, 1915. Here is his mugshot.

36 year old Dave filled out his World War I draft registration on September 12, 1918 and stated that he was working as a baker at San Quentin. He listed his brother, Samuel Shannon of Manitoba, Canada, as his “nearest relative.” Here is his signature on that document.

The 1920 United States Federal Census states that Dave was working as a waiter in the prison mess hall.

Dave was imprisoned at San Quentin prison until January 7, 1925, when he was released on parole. After that, he disappears from the historical record. There are a few clues to what happened to him , but they are very circumstantial, as there are a lot of guys named “Dave Shannon” at this time period.

So, where is the moral here? It doesn’t appear to be one. Tattling on a co-worker may not be a good idea, but killing the tattler is way too far.

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June 1, 2023

CMS Research and Genealogy

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CMS Research & Genealogy