USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 27
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 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
river all there Ift them Irving curl the d I lawyer who had knock, I him out of tive thousand dollars, and swore I would get on with the lagos before he was done with the in
In the unautime another party of thirty men armed like the others, al strangers, arrived from the aper country. This last party. in company with Irving's party, left las Angeles almost the last of May, and took the road toward Sonora The parts that last arrived load the appearance of being honest proprietors, as they claimed to be, and were also found for Arizona
Irving's plans were divulged directly after he bft the town. He prepared to go with his men to Mexico, capture one of the silver trains om its way from Chihuahua tu Mazatlan, and with the phunder theroof make his way across the country to Texas. He also proposal, on his way to Maxie, to go to San Ber- uardino Hauch, vize the young Logos, an tholl them to ransom in the sum of ten thousand dollars, and at the same time to drive of the huge saddle horses. Upon this expedition only sixteen of his men agreed to accompany him, the remainder joining the last arrived party. Irving's intention was reported in los Angeles, and a messenger was immediately dispatched frian town with word to the young Lagos, warning them to at once repair to los Angeles, and for those in charge of the ranch to look out for their horses. Irving proceeded as far as the Laguna Ranch, ou the Sonora road, and there camped.
May 30th, he, with eleven others, started across the pains for San Bernardino, expecting to reach the ranch at night-full, and from there proceed to Warner's ranch by way of San Jacinto. Ilis party left their rifles in charge of the five men who remains1, and there were instructed to proceed to Warner's ranch and there wait for their comrades. Irving was unacquainted with the country, and only sneereded in reaching Jurupa, some eight miles from the rauch that day. Next morning, before the party started. Roubideux of Jurapa sont a messenger to warn the Lagos. When Irving's party reached the house where they expected to find the young Lagos, they discovered that the family and servants had thed, that Ronbideux's son and the enquero were driving the horse towards the rodry ground, while some thirty roqueros were employed in brand- ing cattle.
A company of rangers under Lieutenant & A. Bean hal been raised sometime before by Act of the Legislature, for the defense of the frontier against Indian deprelations. They male their head-quarter- on Lugo's ranch at San Bernar-
dino, but as it happened, had that duy gone over to the Mojave on a seout José del Carmen Lugo was in charge of the ranch. He sent one enquero, post-haste to inform Benu of Irving's arrival, and dispatched another tu dunn Antonio, chief of the C'ahuilla Indians, billing him raise all the Indians in the valley. and follow Irving's party until the rangers could overtake them. From the first house, Irving proceeded to old San Bernardino, where he and his comrades broke open the house, took a silver mounted saddle and helped themselves liberally from n keg of agradiente. When they saw the Indians coming (some forty strong| they mounted their horses and proceeded toward San Invinto, huit were soon overtaken by their puisnors. The Indians were umber command of Urives, one of Largo's ragneron.
It seems that Irving had been a cavalryman in the Mexican war, and hud his men drilled like dragoons. As the Indians cance up, his company wheeled. formed in line, and charged them in regular envalry form, firing their revolvers as they came. The Indians replied with volleys of arrows-their only weapons. The parties continual this skirmishing nearly all day, Irving's company meeting fresh bands of Indians, which- ever road they took. No one was hurt on either side, however, until late in the afternoon, when the Indians charged the Irving party and came to close quarters; then a brother of the chief was mortally wounded by Irving. Finally the Irving party took a wood road leading back to the Laguna Ranch, but terminating in a narrow ravine tilled with anderbrust, mal quite impassable for horses, This ravine is situated on the west side of the Timateo valley.
The Indians-now numbering about one hundred sheltered by the brash, shot down Irving and his torn with their arrows, killing eleven of them. The remaining one concealed himself under a bush, andl after night-fall took the road back toward Laguna. At the first mentioned house on the San Bernardino Ranch, the Sheriff of Los Angeles with a large posse land arrived in pursuit of the Irving party. The fugitive mounted a mule he found hitched outside the house, belonging to the presse, and with this overtook the remainder of the Irving party at San Felipe. His name was Evans. The Coroner (A. P. Hodges, proceeded to San Bernardino to investigate the ather, being accompanied by the County Attorney (the late Benjamin Hayes, who took down the testimony given before the jury. The verdict of the jury, was, that Edward Irving and ten others, white men, names muknown, were killed by the ('aquilla Iulians, an'l that the killing was justitiable.
At the time of the massacre, a member of the Sepulveda family (joint owner with Lago, of San Bernardino Ranch) was present, and riding bis horse through the bushes, saw the twelfth man, Evans, in biding, but pretended not to see him, and so allowed him to escape.
The Indians divided the; spoil of the lead men between them,
1
+
.SC
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE DALTON, WASHINGTON ST, LOS ANGELES, CAL.
WWIISNED OF THOMPSON + WIST
SI
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
but nine out of the twelve horses and saddle were proved away from them by the owners, from whom Irving and his party had stolen them. In September of that year, the recaped man, Evans, returned to Los Angeles, and called on the clitor of the Weekly Har. He gave an account of the whole affair. which was at the time published. He said they went to the San Bernardino Ranch intending to drive off Lugo's horses, and were pursued as above slated That soon after entering the ravine where his companions were kill. I, he slipped off' his horse and crept away among the bushes. He watched Sepul- veda as the latter rode toward his hiding-place, and had his revolver ready cocked to shoot him down on the least sign that he had discovered him. Sepulveda rode ou, and thus both lives were spared.
According to Mujor Horace Bell of Los Angeles, there were five Amerienus und a Cherokee Indian slain by Lugo's party in the Cajou Pass. Whatever The unmber may have been (and all arconuts differ in regard thereto), one thing is certain the slayers oseuped scot. free.
Shortly after This au utlempt was made to assassinate the Conuly Attorney, Benjamin Hayes; but whether the survivors of Irving's party had any hand in this, does not appear The following accomul is rlipped from the " Historical Sketch" Lufore poted (page 12):
November 12, 1855, lute of u bright moonlight evening, standing alone at the door of his office, Muin street, (where is the " Oriental,") Benja- min Hayes was shot at by oue within three feet on hurschluck. " The ball," says the Stur, "passed through the rim of his hat and Judged in the wall on the opposite side of the room, perinting in its progress the door, which is fully an inch in thickness. The ansing then instantly galloped off. A party of three, including the Sheriff, Jantes R. Barton, trucked them about ten miles to a house; here they were received by live or xix men on horseback, who charged njom them, tired several shots, and drove them from the ground. The Sheriff deemed it prudent to return to the city." He did so, obtained a purse, went back to the place of encounter, und inden search that provedl ineffectnal. It has always been believed that this assault was intended for another individual.
Probably lo intimidale further attempts on the lives of its officers, the Court of Sessions entered the following order on its minutes of November 22, 1851 :
" Orth red, that the Sheriff cause tifty good lances to be made for the use of volunteer company."
FELIPE AT.VITRE.
On Detaler 26, 1834, an Indian half-breed mumed Felipe Alvitre was arrested, charged with the murder of James Elling- ton, an American, at El Monte. On his examination he confessed this crime, and also the murder of a Chileno at the Coyoles; then, with an affrontery worthy of a Chinaman, coolly inquired what was the price of these two lives, and he would pay the amount into Court. He could give no reason for sInying Ellington save that " he thought he might as well kill him as not ;" and The Chileno he shot on account of a saucy auswer the fellow gave him.
He was found guilty con Joined todall and was e vocatel January 12, 1955 Name mdirati di of an attempt at rovno were visible, last the pressure of a strong guard with the i rille, intimidated the rallje hoon Fates att rwar l. Davil Brown before referred to was ilrapp | from Its ell, and lynched by the mule
I'nesin a merchant of los Angeles, and della rate ly Bred into the house The ball struck Mrs Casin in de let Breast inflicting a mortal wound The rallian then role over to the Bella Union Hotel and swapped his protol at some pron there assembled One of these thereupon mounted a love and pur. sand him to the outskirts of the city, where be necested in shooting the murderer down Mrs Can died won after- ward
ANTANASCIO MORENO.
We clip the following account from B (' Truman's pamphlet on the hamhit Vasquez .-
S DARK AND BIOĐỘY SPOT
Shortly after the capture and death of Joaquin Murieta, Lni- Bulvin. one of his hentenants, cante to lan Angeles county, bringing with him a renmant of Murieta's gang. Here they were joined by Atanascio Moreno, a bankrupt merchant, who in the reorganization of the party was elected Captain, Feunti being a member of the same. Society In Los Angeles was in n ount disorganized condition. It had been found necessary to equip a company of rangers, who, upon occasions, touk the law into their own hands, and were always ready to moment in the arrest of malefactors or put down disturbances. In 1254 a party at lewd women, who hud but lately arrived trom san Francisen, signabzed the opening of an elegantly fitted up bagnio by u grand ball, to which cor- tuin men were invited. While the revelry was at its bright. Moreno, with his gang, numbering eighteen men, swamped down upon the reene of the festivities, surrounded the house and drimanded unconditional surrender. Certain of the party were detailed, who cutered the ball. room and relieved every man and woman in it of all the valnabirs they lind nbont them. Leaving the ball-room, they went to the house if a then resident of Los Angeles, recently decreased, and rubbed it in the most thorough and systematic nummer; after doing which they committed an ontrage too horrible for recital, A perfect reign of terror existed. Citizens were under arm: the ranger were se uring the country, last outrages seemed to multiply. But a short time after the events just narrated the same band made another raid upon las Angeles, robbed several houses and carried off a number of Mexican girls.
During one of their forages a Deputy City Marshal was assassinated by Senats. A price was set upon his head. Fifteen hundred dollars was offered for his delivery at the jail yard dead or alive. The jalur was awakened one night by a demand for admission. Opening las door he found Moreno with an ux-cart contain ing the dead bodies of Bulvių and Seuat . Magno claimed that he had been captured by Fulvia's gang, and that he managed at once to five binself and compass the death of the men whose bodies were in the cart. Bulvisa and Senati were identified by the woman who bad been so cruelly out- raged. as members of the party by whom the offeuse was committed. The reward offered fur the delivery of renati's body was paid to Moreno. For a few days he was the lion of the town, and lived royally upon his blood money. He happened one day to step into the jewelry store of Mr. Cha -. Ducommun, who then did business on Commercial street, below his present stand, and offered a watch for sale. Mr. Ducomuniun recognized it at once as the watch taken from
the busband of the woman above alinded to at the time ef the avas- . Dati o et her husband. Mr. Ilucomo un asked Moreno to wait outil Le stopped out for the w ney to complete the purchase. Instead of lang Urones, Mr. Ducommen male a straight track for the hal waters of the rangers, and if reed Captain Hope, who was then i w imasal. . (the tals alore stitel
Mr. W. iam Ochman and Mar Ire Bell were present, and at once arrested Veren. He was tried, convicted of robbery, and sent to the state l'e an for fourteen years It afterwards transferred that he halkı ed Buty a and senati in nin et trenchcon, manner. He and sihat, were left amine in camp, all the other members of the gang Lew bis brains ont, supprang he could get his body inte town and dean the reward lecture any of their companions returned. Balsis, however, had not. for mime reason, gotten out of saml of the shot which kifte! senati. He returned to camp and asked the meaning of it, when Morena told Jam that senati's pistol had gone auf der. dentally. Bulvia Inqmred where scunti was, and was told that he was sleeping, Datrusting Micene, he stempel to calle Senti's Hanket from his face, when Morena completed his murderous work by plunging a sword blade through his heart.
May 311, 15.6. Nicholas Graham was hong in Los Angeles for the murder of oph Brooks on January 1th previous large crowd attended, but the exception took place withont disturbance, the murderer confessing hovering from the sendo He was a native af holand and only twenty four years of age He land all his troulde at the door of Rum
THE BANDIT'S OF SAY JEWS
The winter of 1556 7 was a season of feverth anxiety and uncertainty to the law abiding citizens of the Angel valley Sa brazen and detiant was crime become, that at tim's they . folt themselves almost in a minority, and questioned sally of laws and order had indeed led the land, having their vacant plan (.) In tilled by anarchy and confusion Hat at last the cup of transgresion, filled to the drim, received one drop too much. the vergela word of outraged justier, long sagen led by a hair, fall with crashing forer, and wielded in the hands of a Jong-suffering, but now thoroughly aroused people, dealt out death and destra tion to the wrong-door
January 29. 1857, word reached Sheriff James R Barton at Los Angeles, that in the vicinity of San Juan Capistrano, an organized band of roldeers were lobilly ploudering, and com mitting every manner of high-handed outrage upon the settlers. Taking with him Constaldes I'm II Little and Charles It Baker, also citizens Charles F' Daly, Affied Hardy mul Frank H Alexander fall well annel, together with a Frenchman, to act as guido only the Sheriff started that night for San Juan
At S pulse la's ranch, next morning the party were warned that the robbers, sine fifty strong, well armed and mounted. lurked upou their proposed route, and would probably attack them They made light of this information, however, and juished on.
They hal proceeded some twelve miles further, when a kin- gle horseman emerged from the foot-bills, and spurred rapidly
82
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
across the level plain of the San Joaquin Ranch, as though wishing to scope them The two contable gave chame but we're alment is tantly surrounded and let down by a band of Home twenty horsemen who rules upon them from the convert of the hills near by
Sheritľ Barton and the three citizens charged upon the red- bar baud, firing as they came then fighting hand to hand with their pistols cluded The engagement was short but decisive The calls were con great, and moon Barton fell, sloot through the heart. The remaining three that for their lives, closely jurnal by the victorious bandits Daly was overtaken and killed. Hardy und Alexander esrapel nud returned to los Angeles Still later, news arrived that the rolder had the evening before; pimplesred San Juan, and murdered a merchant there
The excitement was intense The murdered Sherif hal lumen very popular, and the demand for revenge on his slayers was universal. Too old to the general indignation, when the bodies were recovered they fore wounds and marks of ill treat . mont, evidently received after death Tory were buried with Masonic homos, the docense Sheriff having leen a prominent
At a pulir meeting held for the purpose of devising plans to rid the community, not only of the who had taken part in these umurders, but also of the whole criminal class within the city and canty, several companies wereorganized, the footmen to do service in and Blant the city, and the hars mon to wollt the country. Companies were also formed at San Bernardino and El Monte, while the military authorities at Fort Tejon and San Diego dispatched soldiers to aid the citizens in their good work of exterminating erime. Every house in Los Angeles wna sparelund, and some tifty persons arrested.
PUESTIT OF THE HANDITS.
Within two hours after the arrival of Hardy and Alexander in Los Angeles, a party of forty horsemen had left this city for San Juan. Other companies under James Thompson, Dr. Gentry und Andres Pico, left Inter, the latter taking with him a mnober of Indians to net ns seonts.
Surrounded upon all sides, the rubber band took to the nhmost wholly inaccessible fastuesses of the mountains. With the energy of despair they forced their jaded hors- along nar- row belges, and down strep precipices, then hid themselves from sight in eaves, and under the dene chaparral, buit all in vain. Some were shot down and killed, while three were taken nlive. These proved to be Juan Flores, captain of the robber land, ex-convict and murderer of Baker, Tapin dias Lopez.) and Espinosa. Through the carelessnes of their guards, all three ngain escaped that night.
Some days later a Mexican unarmed, and mounted on a poor and jaded horse, having a little dried beef strapped upon
the salle tahin him, was surprised and arrested in the Simi Pas, by two solli r- of the Tejon detaclanent there stationedl. He gave his name as Juan Gonzaks Sanchez, and claimel to reside at San Fernando Mation He was identified as lan Flores, the bandit chief, and was daly lodged in jail at lass Angoles Shortly after this arrest Lopez and Espinos al- came through the pass They ein del the guards, but were fol- lowel by some of Thompan's men to San Buenaventura. Hore Expira was captured and hang, in company with an- other Mexican of bad character Lopez again escapel. It was taken later and place l in the Los Angeles jnil
INFECTIONS AT SAN GABRIEL ..
Almut the time Sheriff Barton and his three companions were murdered at San Joaquin Ranch, a land of Mexican des- perles engaged in a conflict with certain parties resident at San Gabriel. Citizens from El Monte neseusble 1, and the fol. lowing four persons were executar:
Miguel Soto. Juan Valenzuela Pedro laquez. Diego Navarro. EXECUTIONS IN LOS ANGELES.
Of the fifty two persons arrested in Los Angeles ou suspicion of being connected with criminal acts, cleven suffered death at the hands of the people. The names of these were-
1 Juan l'atalo oline Sanripa, alius Silvasi.
2 Francisco alias Ginterro Ardillero .
3. Jose Santos.
4. Diegu Navarro.
5 Pedro Lapez.
G. Juan Valenzuela.
7 Jesus Espinosa.
s. Encarnation Berryessa.
9 Name unknowu.
10. =
11. .
In addition to these the following known members of the rubber band also suffered death:
EXECUTION OF JUAN FLORES.
February 14. 1557, in presence of nearly the whole popula- tion, the bandit chief was hung near the top of Fort Hill, having been condemned by a popular vote. He was only twenty-two years of age, and of a pleasing countenance and appearance. In an a lilress from the scatfoll, he acknowledged the justice of his sentence. He met death bravely, but owing to unskillful arrangements suffered inuch unnecessary pain.
EXECUTION OF LENARDO LOPEZ. February 16, 1558, under sentence of court, Lenardo Lopez,
dias Luciana Topin , was executed for the murder at San Juan L'apistrano, of the tierman merchant Pilugardt, Jannary 20, 1537. He was but twenty-two years of age, though oll in crime.
EXECUTION OF PASCHO BANIEL ..
In Innnary, ISSS. Pancho Daniel (murderer of Sheriff Bar- tom and alleged by Juan Flores to be the real leader of the robber band, was discovered concenled in a haystack at San some He was brought to las Angeles and tried in the Dis- triet t'ourt Two challenges to the array for bins, on part of the Sheriff and Coroner, respectively, were sustained. A third challenge to the array, for sume canse in the Elisor, was dlis- allowed A motion for change of venne to Santa Barbara county was granted ; then the people lost patience.
"The Sheriff, Deputy, und U'ity Marshal were sent off' on n " will-goose-chase" into the country, by means of fictitious reports. The city ennnon were procured for a pretended cele- luntion The jailer was stopped upon the street by a buddy of armed men, and his keys deinnuded. Pancho Daniel was taken from his cell, and in the early morning of November 30, 1858, the Inst of the San Juan bandits dangled from the cross- piece of the jail dour-n lifeless corpse.
THOMAS KING.
September 27, 1857, in the Montgomery saloon, at Los An- roles, Thomas King and Lafayette King, quarrelled over a game of enrels. As the Intter was leaving the house, Thomas King stabbed him to the heart, killing hits instantly. The murderer was arrested, tried and convicted of willl'al murder. lle was executed in company with Lenardo Lopez at Los An- geles, February 16, 1858.
JAMES P. JOHNSON.
Late in the evening of March 30, 1857, James P. Johnson, of El Monte, entered the saloon of Heury Wagner, at Los An- golos, apparently intent on raising a disturbance. He was finally persuaded to leave, but returning, deliberately shot Mr. Wagner dead. After a long and tedious trial he was con- victor, and suffered death at Los Angeles, October 3, 1857.
Immediately following this murder the authorities arrested every drunken person found on the streets without regard to rare, color, position in life, or previous condition of servitude, the result being a motley congregation in the city jail, includ- ing at one time a doctor, two professors, a Mormon elder, unumerous Indians, and loafers of every shade of complexion, from lily white to coal black.
MURDER OF SHERIFF WILLIAM C. GETMAN.
January 7, 1858, a Texan named Reed, apparently deranged in mind, eutered a pawnbroker's establishnnent in Los Angeles,
-
RESIDENCE OF M.P. GROVE, ADAMS STREET, LOS ANGELES, CAL (SUB-IRRIGATED.)
PUBLISHTO TY YNOMANN'S WITH
83
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and handing the proprietor a pistol, commandedl him under penalty of immediate death, to take his (Reed's, life. At this Jaoment Sheriff William C. Getman entered, and placing his hand on the madman's shoulder, requested to speak to hit. The latter turned quickly, and drawing a pistol, shot the olli- eer through the heart
By this time a crowd howl vollreted, and Reed from within the pawnbroker's shop fired repeatedly apon those outside Then began a regular bombardment of the place, and soon tlw: maniac I'll, fairly riddled with pistol hals. Two derrin- gora, two Cult's revolvers, mal a hywie knife were found im his hody. The only other casualty wny the wounding of ulli- er W. W. lenking, who received one of Rer's balls in his thigh.
For n time the city was wild with excitement, and one Me- Phelan, charged with being a companion of Reed, narrowly escaped lynching. Two days later the remains of the mur. dered Sheriff were buried. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of citizens, und all the principal buildings were draped in mourning.
ALVITRE.
April 28, 1861, u noted Mexican desperado named Alvitre, residing near KI Monte, murdered his wife, whom he Inud long Iwon in the habit of shusing shamefully. He then attempted to seempe, but a crowd collected principally Mexicans aml hung him up to the nearest tree.
FRANCISCO PUTA.
October 17, 1861, about 10 o'clock, A. M., a Mexican named Francisco Cota, entered the grocery store of Mr. Lawrence Lak, on Main street, near the Roundhouse, atl timling ouly Mrs. Lek and two young children in the lorilding, murdered the lady by cutting her throat. His object was doubtless roli- lary, lust. being frightened by the approach of other persons, he lled to his home on the plain west of the town, where he was soon afterwards found-his garments stepped in blood.
During the day hand-bills were posted about town calling for a meeting of citizens at the Lafayette Hotel. As the mur- tered was being condneted to jail from the Justice's office, where he had been taken for preliminary examination, he was seized by an excited crowd, why pheed a rope about his neck, dragged him down to a tannery on the corner of Aliso and Am- meda streets, and hung him up to the high gateway
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.