USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 28
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MINIAK1. 1.ACHTENAIS.
September 29, 1861 (in the evening), two Frenchmen named respectively Michael Lachenais and Henry Deleval, sat watch- ing by the corpse of a mutual friend, recently deceased A dispute arose between the two watchers, through Lachenais abusing the French Benevolent Society (of which Deleval was
a member for their ungert of the dead man High world to blows, and at last Lachenais drew a pistol and slet Del val in the alzlomen, mtlicting a mortal wooand The i nrkrer the and escaped rapture, until 1970, when he was taken In a party of l'igilantes and honing
We clip the following account of this ruthan from the law Angeles Esperar of August 13, IST
A WAHL DESFERIDO, AND HOW IE MET HI- FITE IN EPISODE IN THỊ: HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES.
Aproger of the recent rather normy reference to the hanging of Lachenan, which took place at the hands of a mab in this city Incem- ber 15. 1850, we have gleaned sme singular details, cold re-deuts tell na that the man war nhe of the most violent aud Jaugerou- ontlaws who ever took refuge in southern California, and there were a zonnl many of them at different perrivels, np. to bis era. He wod nuly bop the reputation of having "killed his man," but they say hr had killed ha ur tive nr six times over. A totalde instance is cited when he found occa- sjon to dispense with an Indian, for whom he had no part cu ar use. Ile shot the poor wretch down and then loaded the body inte hrs wagon, drove to town, proceeded publicly to the ernietery, and there, with his own hands, dug a grave and buried his victorgg After such a stare-devil act us this, shemue without eliciting any protest from the law. it is in wonder that people generally gave him the whale side of a street io himself wheurver they could do so conveniently. The act which finally overstepped the forbearance of the people. however, was the cold-1 looded murder of a man named Bell. Bell was a hitte, inof- frasive man, who, it is said, would hardly stand up for his own right+. lle lived in the neighborhood of Lachenais' premises below the city, and there had been some slight difference between them with refer. ouce to irrigating from the zanja. Que day Lachensi« rode ruto the tiebl where Bilt was nt work, and, without giving the man a worl of warning, drew a revolver and shut him dead. The murderer theu rode into the city and boastingly informed the people as to what he had done, and toll them where they would tind Bell's body. He then sur- rendered himself to the oliver, and was placed in the calalmare. Meanwhile, public indignation had begun to asarrt itself, und culnona. ted in the determination that Lachenais was a dangerons man in the community, and had better be out of it. Some of the thorough- going people of El Monte and other out-lying towns came in and gave a substantial second to the movement. A public meeting was hell in Stearns llall, at which all of the details of the execution were arranged. From theuve the crowd marched to the jail, t. ok the miserable mau out, and prowereded with him up spring and Temple to the Tomlinson corral at New High street, where he wa- strangled to ceath with a mope. The evidence brought out before the Land Office was to the effect that numbers of public officer- and law abid. ing citizens remonstrated with the crowd beture the execution, but they were implacable, and unthing short uf summary vengeance world appease them. Mr. George Howard, supported by a Catholic priest, pleadeit for fifteen minutes in which the wretch might pray and receive absolutinn, but this was denied. Then they asked for ten minutes, and finally for five, hut the request was without avail. and the mob, mistru-ting its resolution, if put to the test of delay. swung the red-handed murderer into eternity.
SYRIACA ARZA.
Muy, ISGI, an Irish perboller named Frank Riley, arrived in Los Angeles from San Francisco, and put np at the home of a Mexican named Syriaca Arza, situated on the east side of Los Angeles river. After a time the peddler disappeared, and the wife of Arza began to display jewelry and trinkets, which hitherto she was not known to power A search of the pren- ise's disclosed the pediller's pack hid away. The woman then confessed that he had been murdered, and directed the officer.
where to find the benly, which had been buried in the garden The sonst her brother of the dead All three were arrested. and on trial Arza was found guilty I finally confessed the crime and was evented m las Ange January 24
Ranch, left home for las Angeles in two loro wagon Twa - later las horas returned home alone without wagon on Barnes These were discovered afterward m ainsine near the Azusa Bauch. Stil later the bols of Mr Kains was found almut two miles from the wagon pierced with bells, and bear ing the mark of a rita about the neck Several arrests were mal. Just the ather remained shrouded in mystery
December 9, 1963, the Sheriff of Los Angeles county left the city in charge of Manuel Correadel a Mexican sentenced to ten years in San Quentin It was generally Julieved that this man was the murderer of Bains As the Sheriff went on board Banning's tag but at Wilmington to proceed to the steamer Senator with his jais not quite a number of other persons also took passage On their way down the harbor some of the e (Vigilantes) took passion of the printer, at hong him to the rigging giving him the benefit of the soul if
LYST KING OF BURTON DANWOOD AND OFFICERS
In the fall of 1513 law lessters had again Income rampant and defiant in Los Angeles, the rruminal classes having som ingly forgotten the many severe lessons they had received One of the chief rullians was a man named Boston Dannwould, formerly on the city police force. I had recently returned from the Colorado, and exhibited considerable many, which it was whisperel he had obtained by the murder of a miner un the desert He was loud in his threats against the lives of various citizens, and was finally loaded in jail, together with for other known criminals, Wood, Chase Sharia and Olives, for the brutal beating of'u Mr. R A Heter at the Be la Puion Ilotel.
November 2Ist, a crowd of determined mon marched to the jail, and moon refusal of the Sheriff' to open the doors, deliler atoly battered them down Taking out the five men, they hung them to the brams of the corridor in front of the obl Court House on Spring street Having done this, the crowd quietly dispersed
I'LLARLES WILKINS
Almut December 1, 1863, Mr. John Sanford was murdered near Fort Tejon under the following circumstances. Driving in his buggy, he overtook two men, one of whom, named ('harks Wilkins, had been employed in the neighborhood as u sheep-herder. Mr Sanford stoppel, entered into conversation
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNI1
with the men, and finally Inces Wilkie taking Fim into the baggy with bin
After driving a few nok Sanfor I la mccain to get out of the buggy, leaving Wilkins therein, and his Saufurl pistol lying in the vehicle A bo employer toril he Facks S'ilkiny picked up tlas weapon, and taking deliberate am, shot him dowd He than rift I the pockets of las victiog pro- eming twenty dollars, and taking one of the hors s plerikel ta Santa Barbara, where he was arir todl
Ho confused the crime with the utmost nonchalance, and Huid hes killed Sanford who was a stranger to him just to we if I had any money By his own showing he must have been u very tiend in human goire, for he said he counnitted his first murder at seventeen, and did not kuuw with certanty just how tonny since He claimed to la a native of England, and a member of the Mormon church, and that he had taken part in the Acontain Moplow masser. When asked if he felt no comfunctions of canciones, he said " No, that he thought no more of playing a man thus a dog." The officer who arrested him and brought him to Los Angeles, suil kis confesshuis of Prime would till u large vohimne
He was duly tried for the murder uf Sanford, and convicted While being returned to jail by the Sheriff on December 17th, he was seized by members of the Vigilance Canmitter and Inng
VORIED OP EDWARD SIWMAN
The winter of ISA3 4 wus marked by several ntrocions minr- ders and many robberies, und woon the inhabitants of Lar Angeles county beenme convinced that an organized band of cut threats were operating in their midst. It was signed that this organization was from fifteen to thirty strong, and Kamen Carriles, a well-known desperado, was suspected of being the lender
Early in January, Ett, two young men Edward Newman Fischler started from Las Angeles for San Bernar- dino, and when within ob mt tive miles of their destination were fired nem by three men in Blush, Newman being severely wounded in the neck. Their hore becoming fright- ened, overturned the buggy and threw them out. The assas- sins then proceeded to stab Ar Newman as he lay buried under the cushions, and had wounded him fatally before his congem- ion came up. The latter being aruned with a double-barrelled shut -gun, the rutlians thơ.
Fischler assisted his companion into the buggy, and they penserkad, followed by the murderers, one on each side in the brush, and one behind, and only when other travelers came in sight did they leave. They were all Mexicans and quite Young men. Mr. Newman died of his wounds before reaching San Bernardino, his body was brought to Los Angeles and
interval by the 1111 Follow- of which swiety he was a monter
C'est no Al paz being suspecte l of taking part in this war- der atliers proceeded to the Santa Ana river where he resided and orpriv ! bio in leal After being arrested, he managed to rush back into his he dron and snatching a revolver and low knife from under the pilaw, attacked the officers with fury In the struggle that ensued he was shot and killed Ramon Parrillo was afterward found murdered trar ('nca- menga Ranch Santiago Sanchez (suppersent to be the third tau was hung in lad Angeles Anne 3. Int. for the munker of Mannel Gonzales in Negro alley on February 4th of that VPar
HORSE THIEVES
The stealing of hores and mules hns been so connuon an occurrence, that it hardly seems worth while to record such trivial crimes, in the presence of others so nmch graver
In April, 1865, & band of men, variously estimated from eleven tu forty, swooped down upon the northern portion of the monty, and ran off some two hundred head of horses in the direction of Salt Lake. The thieves were supposed to be ex- t'enfederate sabliers. A reward of half the horses was offered for their recovery, but without nvail.
JONI DOMINGO.
(In the evening of Sunday, April 23d, Robert Parker, n carpenter, residing ut the corner of Main and San Pedro streets, was called to the door and shut down by parties ut the tin: unknown. One month later, José Domingo, a Mexican, was found guilty of this murder-second degree - and was sen- teneed in the District Court to ten years' imprisonment.
KING CARLISLE.
July 5, 1865, occurred one of the most desperate and sanguinary atfrays ever witnessed in Los Angeles.
In the night of July 4th, at a ball in the Bella Union Hotel, under-Sheritt A. J. King had some difficulty with one Robert Carlisle, who eut him severely with a knife. About noon on the following day, as the stages were leaving for the steamers, and the hotel and express office were both crowded with people, Frank King and Houston King, brothers of the under- Sheriff, entered the bar-room of the Bella Union, and attacked Carlisle with pistols, who defended himself in like manner. Shot succeeded shot with great rapblity, and early in the engagement Heustan King fell disabled by a ball from Carlisle's pistol. His brother continued the fight alone.
The people tled panic-stricken. A stray ball killed a stage horse at the door A hy-stander was shot down accidentally. and some eight or ten had their clothes pierced by the baden hail At last the combatant- reached the sidewalk Here
Frank King seized his antagonist and began beating him over the head with his revolver, injuring the weapon in such a manner as to make it useless. So far King was uninjured, lost Carlisle was fairly riddled with falls. With a last effort. the latter bruke away, staggered into the doorway, leaned painfully against the casing, raised his pistol in both hands, and tired his last shot. Frank King fell, shot through the heart. t'urlishe died three hours after. Henston King linally recov- ered, was tried for the murder of Carfish and was acquitted.
MURDER OF WILLIAMS AND KIMBALL ..
In July, 18tis, George Williams and Cyrus Kimball, of San Diego, were on their way to Los Angeles with their families, and had camped for the night by the Santa Ana river.
Abont sunrise in the morning, while the women and children were at sume little distance from the camp, seven American cut-thronts , the leader lving one Jack !'Brien) rode up and deliberately shot the two men dead. When the women came up to see what was meant by the hiring, they found their his- bands both dead, aml were ordered by their murderers, under pain of death, to hand over all money belonging to the party. This they did, and the seoundrels left, having secured about three thonsial dollars. They were never captured.
DYR-WARREN
October 31, 1870, a quarrel between Policeman Dye utal Marshal Warren led to a shooting uffray between the two upon the public street, in which the latter was killed, and soy- eral spectators more or less wounded. Dye was tried and acquitted.
THE CHINESE MASSACRE. *
October, 1871, will long be memorable in Los Angeles for the enartment of n scene, which For barbaric ntrocity might put savages to the Idush ; and which must ever remain a hideons blot on the fair esenteheon of this "City of Angels." Disgusting as are the details at. best, they are here briefly con- densed from the very voluminous reports published inme- shately after their occurrence.
Twa rival Chinese companies quarreled about the possession of a woman. Both parties purchased fire-arms, and prepared for conflict. On the morning of Monday, thu: 23d, they met in Negro alley, several shots were fired, but no one injured. The police arrested four of the combatants, and these were held to bail. On the following day, after a preliminary hear. ing before the Justice, the fight was re-commenced, and many shots were fired. Officers and citizens repaired to the scene. Int the combatants resisted arrest, wounding officer Bilderrain
* In the following account if any shiatt think we have averstated this mat- ter, let them turn to the newspaper files of the dates mentioned and judge for themselves.
. A
STAR CHEESE DAIRY.
T
15.00
NOUSMED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
RESIDENCE AND CHEESE DAIRY OF JOHN JAY BULLIS, COMPTON, LOS ANGELES CO., CAL.
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and two citizens, one (Robert Thompson, fatally. The China- men engaged in the melee then took refuge in the hauses of their countrymen.
The news spread rapidly. Almost immediately an excited and angry mob surrounded the Chinese quarters, elamoring for the blood of the intrates. One of these emerging, was at one" seized, hurried up Temple to New High street, and hung to the door-way of a corral. The rope broke and he began for merey, but amid jeers and imprecations was hanled up again and left to die.
Like tigers maddened by the taste of blood, the mob returned, und an indiscriminate massacre began. Mounting upon the roofs they broke hokey through, and shot down the wretched erentares within, regardless of age, sex of innocence. " Buin tlam ont ! " was the ery now, and fire balls, flung with fearful precision, added dread to dread. But here, not motivey of humanity, but fear of a general conflagration, interposed, and the flames were extinguished. Next water, from a how, to drown them out way tried, but owing to lack of unity, this attempt also proved fruitless. But the human animal when hunting his kindred prey has an ingenuity fairly devilish in it's scope. One by one the victims waar seized, ane by murdered ; and for three kong here's the " Angel t'ity" seemed possessed by the powers of hell. Yells, cursos, sereans, prayers, md pistol shots rent the nir continuously It was a carnival of food; murder was rangment. Yet morder is sometimes merciful; lait. here mercy was making. As each " heathen" was dragged forth, he was stabbed, shot. braten, kicked, and tortured by those of his " Christian" enptors who could get at him, incited by the furious eries of the other less fortunate Christinus (male and female) who could not. Then, a rope ubout his neck, he was dragged through dust and mire to the place of execution, and, more dend than alive alrendy, was strung np by eager hands to anything which cunhl possitdy In made to serve the purpose of an impromptu gallows. Trees, wnings, lamp-posts, even farmers' wagons were this utilized. until eighteen ghastly corpses one that of a mere child - dangled nbout the streets, even in death not free from insult at the hands of their inhuman excentioners; yet all, with scarcely an exception, as it afterwards transpired, guiltloss of any known offense, the real culprits having escaped.
Nor was the handmaid and inciter of red-handed murder. ararice, absent from this orgy of human passion. Every house in the Chinese quarter was sacked. " Boys, help your- selves," was the maxim well obeyed. Every victim was first robbed. American "hoodhun" and Mexican " greaser." Irish "tramp" and French " communist." al joined to murder and despoil the commun foe, He who dare not shoot, conll shout ; he who fenred to stab, coukl stenl ; there was work for all; and " the Chinese must go !"
To make if prille atrocity yet og lin . then iers rea m to la.lieve that s me of thee pler offire of the city aide land al 'to these miservants in their work of rapin and inorder Certain it " that ly wien . and pretend lin rand afterward they en lavere I te shell te emily Was it any wonder that the Mother Ist t'a ference ot at once about rais- wunder that a young heathen in reviewing the currences moralizad . When Mellan not yettes mal, he d med. I killer good Chiamata alles same food Chainman . he hasp 11 -1 jun/ "
Seventy nine witnesses were examine Is the former. jury, and one hundred and eleven by a special tiran jury, called for the purpose Indictments were found against atte hundred and fifty persons, said to have been actively engaged in the massere They were of all nationalities As a rule, the attempt to bring the guilty parties to justice failed utterly, and while a few less than a down were sen- teneed to from four to six years in the penitentiary, the majority went seut-free.
MURDER OF BILDERBECK BROTHERS,
In January, 1871, two brothers by the name of Bilderluck. who were mining in a cation near Tujunga l'as disappeared under circumstances leading to a suspicion of four play. A search revealed the bu lies of both jammed into a narrow hohe in Buckskin canon. They had been shot, and beaten to death with an axe.
A man named Gardner was tried at San Bernardino on change of vennel for this crime, and acquitted. Another unned David Stephenson, alias Buckskin, suspected of cam- plicity in the murder, was shut in Lower Cahfornia by a Sheritl's posse.
TURNER -GORIA
Early in June, 1974, a Mexican named Gordo entered the store of Mr. William Turner on the La Patente Ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Tarner both happened to be in at the time, and the la ly was fortunately armel with a small revolver.
Taking him by surprise, the Mexican assaulted Mr. Turner and endeavored to ent his throat, when Mrs. Turner drew her little pistol and tired several shots at the rathan with such good vtvet that he fled: but not until he hal wounded both severely. He was pursued by citizens; was captured and hung.
TIBU'ROJO VASQI EZ.
This nuted handit was born in Monterey county, of Mexican parents, in the year 1537. When only fifteen years of age, he opened a dance-house and saloon at Monterey, and son after- ward becoming embroiled with certain Americans who frequented his place, was obliged to tly the town He after-
wirlui | that at this to the Americans were wholly in the wrong Latn_ anla'n pla women, and that in taking thr parth Ir ugle er oul . span line (
Here at larres and mean Ita Mente momenty. taking " th hm some cate plads at kins I re allover again attemptel h - arrest la after a tight Le once more respal to his at the show in Mat ros and asked her blessing. toll. ing ler that he was going to sull' r an I take chaner" or. in other words take to the nul Te material to ne lietion has ing kan duly given he starte Fout on his how les cours
res county nest le enomed and File In sig. Son after this he found brusoff at the head of a fan of Man dospe- radius, who acknowledged him as lecher, and obesel his commands He con mued los care of crime until 1557, when he was arrested in los Angeles county for he's staling, was convicted and took up his abile at Sim Quentin Wearying of the place, he os up I hat was abaty re captured, and wervel until 1513
Soon after his discharge he joined Proce you and Solo, both noted bandits, and added these wortha . in their many enter- prins throughout California until Site was alain in a light with Shrill Harry More, of Alameda county Vasquez mal sely attribut of Itsown many escap + bahnenmag. mirror. as he said he was over ready to light, though he always
Along with some members of his band he now organized a raid on Tres l'auras, in which they murdered the men, and the op n number of others He afterwards mainta not that he was not present at the killing and that his men berrin dia- buyed orders; fost he a limited that Is threatened another of the captives with immo late death, unless the man's wife at once brought him a specified stan of money, which the dud.
He now started with his land for Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles county, and while on the road on ar led in selecting the wife of Alon L'iva his lieutenant, The latter caught the par in flagrante delito, and swearing revenge, proceeded at once to Los Ang is where he surren bre I himself, and there. after furnished the officers with munch valuable information regarhng the methods parned by Vasquez
Soon after this, a isted only by his new lientenant ( haves, he rubber the stage at thegates Il des Station on the Owens River road, capturing in al sixteen muen fran whom they took two hundred dollars in money. b-il . watches, jewelry and pistols.
Ili next act of importance was at Sin Gabriel, where, on April 16. 1574. he and his ban I vis'e: I the house of Alexan ler Repetto, disguised as -heep-herders, an I tying R.petto to a tree, compelled bim, under pain of instant death, to sign a check on
86
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
.
Temple & Workman's bank, Los Angeles, for eight hundredl dollars. A nephew of Repetto's was then dispatched to Los Angeles to get this cashed and was warned that at the first symptom of treachery his unele would be killed. I'mon arrival at the bank, the boy's manner excited suspicion and the bank ollicers detained him until he toll why the money was needed so urgently. Sheriff Rowland at once organized a posse and started for the mission, but the boy, by hard riding across country, reached there ahead of them, paid the ransom and released his muele. The robbers fled, and when not more than a thonsind yards in advance of the officers, robbed.lohn Osborne andl Charles Miles of Los Angeles, whom they met in a wagon ; S then away again and made goof their esenpe. This was the last. exploit of Vasquez.
For a long time Sheriff William R. Rowland, of Los Angeles, had been quietly laying plans for his arrest. Again and again the game had esenprd him, but " it is a long lane that has no turning." Early in May, 1874, he learned that Vasquez was making his headquarters at the house of " Greek George." alwout ten miles due west of Los Angeles, toward Santa Monica, and not far from the Cahuenga Pass.
The house was situated at the foot of a mountain, and was Inilt of adobe, in the form of the letter L, the foot of the letter bring toward the mountain range, and the shank extending south. Behind the house ran a comparatively disused road, leading from San Vicente through La Brea Rancho to Los Angeles, In front of the house a small bunch of willows sur- rounded a spring, and beyond these a vast rolling plain stretched westward and south ward to the ocean.
A window in the north end of the building afforded a look- ont over the plain toward Los Angeles for many miles. Other windows in like manner commanded the remaining points of the compass. The middle section of the shank was used as a dining room, and a small ro on in the southern extremity as a kitchen.
It was well known that Vasquez had confederates in Los Angeles, who kept him constantly posted as to all plans laid for his capture. This being the case, the utmost secrecy was necessary. The morning of Thursday, May 15th, was deter- mined on for making the attack, and during the following day horses for the Sheriff's party were taken one by one to a ren- dezvous on Spring street, near Seventh. To disarm suspicion, it was determined that Sheriff Rowland should remain in Los Angeles, and the attacking force (eight in all) was placed in charge of the Under Sheriff, Mr Albert Johnson. The remain- ing members were: Major 1I. M. Mitchell (attorney-at-law of Los Angeles), J. S Bryant City Coustable). E Harris (police- man . W E Rogers of the Palace saloon), B. F. Hartley (Chief of Police , D K Smith a citizen), and Mr. Beers (of San Fran- cisco, special correspondent of the San Francisco Chronicle)
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