USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Noted Robbers and Robberies.
No history of Tuolumne county would be complete with- out a reference to such noted robbers and highwaymen as
208
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Joaquin Murietta, Tom Bell and other celebrities, who have in times past graced this region by their presence. Neither Joaquin nor Bell performed most of their desper- ate exploits within the limits of this county, but the former's existence was pretty closely identified with affairs in these mines, and as such it is proper that some space should be reserved herein for his adventures.
Almost the only authentic data which relate to the life of this desperado are only to be gathered by word of mouth from those living residents of the Southern Mines who knew Joaquin and watched his career. Of these, prob- ably Hon. Caleb Dorsey, of Sonora, is best qualified to supply facts relating thereto, as he was, through a re- markable chain of events, brought into close relations with the noted robber and his band. Time and romance have thrown such a glamour around the chief's exploits and adventures that almost no dependence can be placed upon the multitude of stories concerning them, which have gone the rounds of the press. Of all the mass of so-called recollections of the man who was at the time the terror of the mines, scarcely a thing has been said that does not par- take of the grossest exaggeration. To begin with, the story of the outrage upon his wife by Americans, and Joa- quin's consequent oath of undying hatred toward his ene- mies and all their race, is, most likely, untrue. ยท
Again, a great part of the affected chivalry and regard for their word, of Joaquin and his gang, is, as might be expected, a gross exaggeration, worthy of the minds of those who concoct ten-cent novels and New York Weekly stories. No doubt that Joaquin did evince on one or more occasions a decent respect for the laws of humanity and a regard for truth that was becoming, to say the least; but why, if a vulgar thief and jail-bird tells the truth once, as a relief to a long series of lies, and refrains from murder-
209
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
ing a boy or an old woman when his hands are stained with man's blood, why should these not remarkable circum- stances be made to shed a halo about his memory when his rascally and unprovoked deeds should consign him to everlasting infamy ? They deserve blame who regard Joa- quin Murietta, or any other thief and murderer, in any other light than as a vulgar, despicable criminal, who took life because his own bad passions impelled him. That it is and has been the fashion to hold up to public applause and reverence the worst characters, the most reckless and culpable law-breakers, there is no doubt. And that the influence of one man's guilty career, when glossed over, and its moral perverted by the arts of the writer, is bad, deplorably bad, there is the evidence of prisons and reformatories to prove, filled to overflowing with humanity whose instincts and moral sense have been perverted by trashy works of fiction, whose object is to make interesting and attractive that which in its naked deformity is repulsive.
The definite and positive information which can now be gathered of Joaquin Murietta represents him, to have been a resident of Martinez, near Saw Mill Flat, in the early part of 1852. Previous to this his history is not known in the least, unless it be so to his own countrymen, the Mexi- cans. At that time he had not commenced his career of open robbery, but was addicted to a more underhanded kind of thievery, that is to say, he was a monte dealer; and in company with a number of other scamps, engaged with him in the business of fleecing his fellow countrymen and such low trash of other nationalities whose tastes and ignorance led them into the sharpers' clutches. Graduat- ing from this trivial occupation to the more exciting and probably more lucrative one of footpad, or in more magnifi- cent language, highwayman, Joaquin and his band com-
210
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
mitted several outrages in that neighborhood, and being tacitly supported by the entire Mexican population, then very large, he easily evaded arrest. The sympathies of his countrymen were with him throughout his infamous career, as too offen they have been with thieves, robbers and brig- ands. For a time a state of affairs existed in Tuolumne County which has had no parallel in the United States since, unless it be the affair of the James boys, in the Miss- issippi Valley. The officers of the law were put in defiance, the authorities were powerless, and even a display of milit- ary force was insufficent to overawe the outlaws. More than once, even after a price was set upon his head, Joaquin entered the camps where people were in arms against him, and once was even said to have entered a saloon in Sonora, and leaping upon a table, to have proclaimed himself as the famous bandit; and then coolly springing down, to have passed out from the midst of his enemies, and escaped on horseback, unscathed. But whether this story, widely told and almost universally credited as it is, is true or not, is one of those things that, as Dundreary says, " No fellow can find out." Nor is it alone in being so. The history of Tuolumne County in its entirety, has had to be sifted from among stories which bear the stamp of exaggeration, or of entire untruth; or else like the above, are doubtful.
It is pleasant to return from delving in the maze of wild stories and improbable narrations, to the lucid, plain and logical account of Mr. Dorsey, concerning the cause and results of the somewhat noted " Battle of Saw Mill Flat;" and that the reader may share in the pleasure, the gentle- man's own words are reproduced as far as possible. Mr. D. was engaged in the summer of 1853 in lumbering on the Flat, being a partner in the firm of Dorsey, Jacobs and Smith, owners of a saw-mill, one of the two then in exist- ence there, the other one being the property of Messrs.
211
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Turner, Bennett and Stacy. Ira McCrae, a prominent man, kept a store on the Flat, and was a buyer of gold-dust, as a part of his mercantile affairs. For several days Messrs. Dorsey, McCrae and others had been meditating the cap- ture of Joaquin, who still maintained his headquarters at Martinez, near by. Finally word was brought that the in- dividual was at a fandango which was running. Without loss of time the before mentioned gentlemen proceeded to the house, and entering, ordered the music to cease. No resistance was made to their commands, but upon question- ing the dancers, every one denied that the man was present, or that he had been there. " He was," they said, " most probably many miles away." Mr. Dorsey fell into conver- sation with an ordinary looking Mexican, upon the subject of Joaquin's whereabouts, and was informed with the most charming innocence that it was very foolish to attempt to arrest the brigand, as he would never be taken alive. To this the reply was made that it did not matter how he was taken, alive or dead, for the Americans were bound to have him in some shape or other; after which the seekers took their departure. No doubt the expedition were intensely surprised and a good deal discomfited when, on their return to the Flat, they were informed that the very man who held Mr. D. in conversation was Joaquin himself! Shortly after, an attempt was made to destroy the lives of many persons, by poisoning the waters of the spring which fur- nished a supply of water to a portion of the residents of Saw Mill, but this failed, owing to the extreme diffusion of the drug that was used. This incident, well attested as it is, will show clearly how much of magnanimity and gener- osity there was in the robbers. To poison unsuspecting men is not like the heroic soul that some have professed to believe Joaquin to be.
Immediately after this episode, it became known that Messrs. Dorsey, McRae and Turner had become marked by
212
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
the outlaws, and that their death had been resolved upon. Such information could not fail to act upon the minds of any men; and one of the trio, Mr. Turner, did actually seek safety in another and less dangerous locality. The others, not daunted, remained at their customary occupations, but doubtless went " heeled " for any sudden emergency.
The next sensation came from the report that McRae's store was to be robbed on that very night. A messenger rode to Columbia in haste, and the military company of that place was collected, and it immediately set out for the scene of the expected hostilities. Revolvers and rifles had been cleaned and loaded, their hats decorated with patriotic feathers, and the little brass cannon, used for doing service on great days in firing salutes, was brought along. Firing the little two-inch cannon about once in every hundred yards, the command finally arrived at their destination, Col. Tom Cazneau in comman 1. It was soon seen that this imposing force would be of no use, for no attack was made, nor was any seriously meditated. The military, however, gave a good example of their destructive powers by charging upon the eatables and the drinkables, com- pletely cleaning out the small supply of both that was then held at the Flat, and rendering it ever since a doubtful question whether it wouldn't have been better to be robbed by Joaquin's men than to be protected by Cazneau's.
Thus far Mr. Dorsey had been recognized by the outlaws as a principal enemy, and so regarding him, it would have been almost certain death had he been surprised by them with the odds against him; but now occurred a series of incidents that transformed their enmity into toleration; and Mr. D.'s account of these runs as follows:
While prospecting for gold on the North Fork of the Stanislaus in company with several friends, it became necessary for Mr. D. to return suddenly to Sonora. Start
-
213
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
ing sufficiently early in the day, he would have got through to town on the same evening, had it not been that while crossing the hill above the South Fork, he became uncer- tain of his way, and fearing to descend the hill lest the ground become impassable, he dismounted and made pre- parations to camp at a spring near by. After getting com- fortably fixed for the night, a gang of six Mexicans rode up and also made preparations to pass the night. After cooking supper, they called Mr. Dorsey to share their re- past, which, being concluded, songs were sung before the party retired to rest. In the singing, as their suspicious visitor noticed, a certain one-eyed man took the lead. This observation, it will be seen, has an important bearing on what followed. Retiring to his own ground, Mr. Dorsey slept the sleep of the tired, even in the midst of danger; for it was well known to him that he was regarded as an especial enemy by the Mexicans; but he had reason to hope that these people did not know him, even if they were of the outlaws, as he surmised. His intuitions were correct; for, when morning dawned, the Mexicans arose, prepared breakfast, and again invited their neighbor to partake with them, and this invitation, as the other, was accepted, as the guest did not think it prudent to decline. After doing justice to the viands, all were about to ride off, when the leader of the band, calling Mr. Dorsey aside, demanded sternly of him, under pain of death, that he give his word of honor not to divulge the fact that he had met them. Under the circumstances, it is no wonder that the gentle- man did as requested. Subsequently he learned that his entertainers were indeed a portion of Joaquin's band, and their mission on that trip had been to steal horses.
This novel experience was followed by an equally novel one, but one in which the element of danger was lacking. A Mexican charged with stealing horses was incarcerated
214
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
in jail in Sonora. Demanding counsel, Mr. Dorsey was sent for by the attendants. Upon entering the jail, the prisoner proved to be no other than the one-eyed musician of the previous paragraph. He, perhaps even more sur- prised than Mr. Dorsey, explained the estimation in which the latter was held by his compatriots, and solemnly an- nounced that if they had known him on the night of the meeting at South Fork, they would have shot him to strings. Now, however, the case was reversed; and Mr. Dorsey, while agreeing to defend the criminal and use his utmost exertions to free him, received in turn a promise that he should not in future receive harm from the outlaws. This, the prisoner said he would prevail on Joaquin to sanction. The result was, that, while Mr. Dorsey lived unmolested by the bandits, the prisoner-through the rep- resentations made to the Grand Jury in regard to the situa- tion of Messrs. Dorsey and McRae with reference to the gang, and their promise not to carry out their threats of vengeance-escaped indictment.
Later on, an affray occurred at Sawmill Flat, which re- sulted in the wounding of Claudio, Joaquin's lieutenant. It seems that a Mexican had been detected in stealing & pistol, and while Constable John Leary of Columbia was attempting to make his arrest, several Mexicans rushed to their companion's assistance. Joaquin himself took a hand in the fight, and, although shot at repeatedly, made his escape. Not so fortunate was Claudio. This person, who was a mere youth of eighteen or so, was very badly wounded. Lying upon the top of a hill up which his pursuers had to advance, he emptied his two six-shooters at them before they could reach the spot. Advancing with cocked pistol, the Constable was about to blow the youth's brains out, when Mr. Dorsey interfered, saving his life. Badly wounded, Claudio was borne to the hospital, there to re-
215
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
main until his naturally strong constitution enabled him to recover from his dreadful injuries. While convalescent, he, in an interview with his preserver, corroborated what the one-eyed man had told concerning the oaths of ven- geance taken by the band, but said that as the former cul- prit had got free, if they would undertake to secure his safety, he would see that those promises were carried out; at the same time promising Mr. Dorsey that the whole band should leave the county and go to Mexico, never to return.
When asked on what security these promises were to be fulfilled, he answered proudly: "Sir, you have the word of honor of a highwayman!'' which was pretty lofty language, considering the speaker.
On sending for Joaquin to come in and sanction the treaty, that individual refused to honor Sonora by his pres- ence, but assented to the arrangements which Claudio had made. And the Grand Jury proving facile, the young criminal escaped.
Once again it was Mr. Dorsey's fortune to come in con- tact with the gang. This was while on his way to a session of Court in Mariposa County, when he fell in with and took dinner with Claudio and other members, at Moccasin Creek, where he found them encamped by the roadside. Claudio then represented that they were on their way to Mexico, and he took occasion to renew his promise of the present of a splendid horse and trappings to his guest in return for the favors done him. Leaving the camping place, Mr. D. proceeded up a steep hill, and on the way met a horseman magnificently mounted, whom he soon recognized as the redoubtable Joaquin himself. Both drew their pistols, and a conflict seemed imminent, when the Mexican, hold- ing up his hand, cried out: "We keep our word; you are safe, sir!" And, re-assured, the traveler passed on, having met the scourge of the mines for the last time. It was not
216
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
long after that the notorious brigand fell by the hand of Captain Harry Love; and his head, which was exhibited in Sonora, was inspected by Mr. Dorsey, who knew him so well in life, and who, to silence the doubt which has been expressed as to the certainty of Joaquin's death, says now, unqualifiedly, that it was the head of the man whom he knew as Joaquin. So that matter rests.
Lieutenant Claudio met a befitting fate upon the gallows, being hanged for horse-stealing, down in Los Angeles County. And if the grimness of the joke may be pardoned, Mr. Dorsey still expresses himself in doubt whether or not the horse which Claudio was trying to steal was not the " splendid animal with gorgeous trappings " that dashing young robber promised him while immured in jail in Sonora.
Murder of Bond by McCauley.
The year 1856 was not comparable with the preceding year for the number and interest of its homicides, for but one occurred which was in any way noticeable among the great numbers of crimes of that nature which have trans- pired in this county. This case was the murder of Bond by McCauley, under circumstances of great atrocity, which are recorded as follows:
Bond, the victim, resided at the Flat, where he followed the occupation of miner, and was a highly respected young man of unblemished character. His murderer, Edward McCauley, was a large, strong fellow, a rough of pro- nounced type, whose occupation, if he had any beyond quarreling and fighting, is not set down. Andrew J. Carr and Tom McCauley, his aiders and abettors in the murder. the latter his brother, were of precisely similar type. In the course of a trial for larceny, held in the Justice's
217
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Court at the Flat, Bond had been an important witness against the McCauleys, thereby incurring their bitterest enmity. The evidence given before the Coroner's jury, following the sad occurrence, was, in brief, to this effect: Bond was sitting with friends in a saloon in the village, when Ed. McCauley entered, and addressing Bond, said, " You swore rather hard against the boys last night." Bond answered-" I spoke the truth." McCauley rejoined that Bond was a liar, upon which the latter, seeing several persons around whom he judged to be ill-disposed to him, started to leave the room, but was met at the door by Carr, who pushed him backward into the room, and a scuffle eu- sued. Bond, excessively aggravated, drew his revolver and shot Carr, directly after which Ed. McCauley approached Bond from behind and stabbed him with a bowie-knife in the left side. Being released from his enemies, Bond started homewards, and reaching his cabin, died within ten minutes. Carr dying at nearly the same minute, his friends the assailants of Bond followed the latter to his cabin, shouting that they would " cut his heart out and lap his blood !"
Rather slower than was usual in those days in raising a mob to lynch the murderers, Sonora was communicated with, and Sheriff Jim Stuart, with deputies Sedgwick and Cogswell, were quickly on the ground, preparing to resist the swarm of excited men who had now gathered around the house wherein the two prisoners were confined, they having submitted quietly to arrest by the proper officers as soon as the murmurs of the lynchers began to be heard. Sheriff Stuart made his preparations, and entering the building, placed himself on one side of Ed. McCauley, with Sedgwick on the other, and with the remainder of his force escorting the brother, the door at a given signal was thrown open and the officers rushed out. Severe resistance was
218
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
made, but the suddenness of the onset deprived it of effect, and the officers gained their horses, taking their prisoners, still manacled, in safety to the County Jail. Just when leaving the Flat a shot was fired at the Sheriff, which came near terminating his existence; but no notice could be taken of it, and the party rapidly proceeded.
The trial of these worthies excited the greatest interest. It ended in sentencing Tom McCauley to State's prison for ten years, while the more guilty Ed. was consigned to the gallows, meeting that merited fate on December 11, 1857, in company with Lyons and Poer, the murderers of Blakes- ley, in that year, but which it is judged proper to now de- scribe.
The Blakesley Murder.
This occured at Lyons' Ranch, near Curtis' Creek, and about four miles from Sonora. The ranch was occupied by three brothers named Blakesley, who had purchased it from the former owner, a brother of Jim Lyons, of fighting memory, and who figured in the celebrated Lyons-Hazel- tine-Duffield fight in the streets of Sonora, in 1854.
The Blakesleys, or Blakelys, were sitting at supper in com- pany with one Verplank, between the hours of six and seven P. M. Saturday, February 14, 1857, when they were fired upon from the outside of the window, and one of the brothers, John Blakely, was shot in the back. All instantly jumped to their feet, the light was blown out, and they fled for safety through the back door of the house into the wood beyond. John Blakely fell at the door; his brother Wil- liam, lingering a moment to seize a rifle standing in the corner, saw a man, who entering the open front door, fired at him. This man he afterwards proclaimed to have been
219
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
E. F. Hunter, the Sonora attorney who figured in the shooting affair previously described. But this proved to have been a mistake, as Mr. Hunter with some difficulty showed. William Blakely was shot in the arm at that dis- charge, a very severe wound being inflicted, which neces- sitated amputation. The three survivors escaping, brought the news to Sonora.
Immediately on receiving the intelligence, Sheriff Stu- art repaired to the scene, finding that the house had been burned in the interim, and after some investigation, pro- ceeded in company with Deputy Sheriff Sedgwick to Lyons' residence and arrested Lyons, Poer, and a young man named Wallace, whom they lodged in jail.
Public suspicion was mainly aroused against these men, and after several days spent in jail Wallace was induced to confess the guilt of himself and of his accomplices. His story was that the crime was planned by Jim Lyons weeks before, and that he was made an accomplice through his fear of that man. Poer, he said, went into it willingly, out of mere recklessness. They left Lyons' residence on Friday night while it was storming, and traveled to the Blakeley's place and hid themselves in a cave, in which they remained all day Saturday. When night approached they left their place of concealment and approached the house. Lyons had planned that all three of the brothers should be killed, so as to leave no one to tell the tale. Mr. Verplank's life was not plotted against, as his presence was unknown. Lyons and Poer were to fire into the house from the front through the door and window, while Wallace was to station himself in the rear of the building and shoot down whoever attempted to escape. Lyons, carrying out his part of the plan, fired, killing John Blakeley, as narrated. Then Poer opened the door and entered, firing on William Blakeley, but Wallace who stood at the back door, fired his rifle in the air, when the attacked men came out.
220
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Immediately when this confession reached the ears of the officers, they became convinced that to the Lyons brothers belonged the credit of having committed several other assas- sinations whose perpetrators had not been discovered. No less than four men had met their death in mysterious ways, in the vicinity of their abode. These were Slater, a neighbor of Jim Lyons, and who was killed on the latter's land; Stanley, Lyon's partner, killed while working at a carpen- ter's bench; a poor Frenchman living in Sonora, who was killed while hunting birds on the same ground; and lastly, an ice teamster who was shot while on his wagon. The verdict of the Coroner's Jury was that the deceased's name was John Blakeley; twenty-nine years of age; born in New York, and that he was murdered by Lyons and Poer.
In the following July they were brought to trial in the District Court, Judge Creaner presiding, and the evidence being such as to conclusively fix the guilt upon them, the verdict of murder in the first degree was entered against them.
On the eleventh of December, 1857, the final sentence of the law was executed upon Lyons, Poer and McCauley. Leaving the jail about noon, under escort of the Mounted Corps, of Columbia, the " Greys," of Sonora, and the Saw Mill Flat Infantry, they were conveyed to the place of death followed by an immense concourse of people numbering perhaps five thousand. The execution passed off in the ordinary way in which such scenes were usually conducted, and there seems nothing deserving extended mention in connection with it, except that McCauley shouted just before being turned off, " I am going to die game, by God!"
This triple execution was the second hanging which took place during 1857. In June previous, a man named Wil-
221
HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
liam V. Davis was executed at Sonora for the murder of a Chinaman, near Tuttletown. Obtaining a respite a few days before the time set for execution, the prisoner nar- rowly escaped lynching at the hands of the fearfully excited mob, whose feelings were heightened by the news that McCauley had also obtained a delay in his case. At this time the County Jail was crowded with prisoners accused of high crimes, of whom some half dozen were suspected, or convicted murderers. Crowds of angry citizens thronged to the jail, demanding that these men should be immediate- ly brought forth for the punishment due to their crimes, but thanks to the firmness of Sheriff Stewart, and the able support of his assistants, an outbreak was prevented which would have shed disgrace upon the county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.