USA > California > Napa County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 17
USA > California > Lake County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 17
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Murder of S. H. Sellers .- Sometime during the year 1850 George C. Yount and Isaac Howell had a lawsuit which grew out of some trouble con- cerning their stock. This man Sellers was a Justice of the Peace and ren- dered a decision in favor of the Howell side of the case. A man by the name of Hugh McCaully, who was a relative of Yount's, met Sellers some time after the trial, in a store, and began to upbraid him for the way he had decided in the case mentioned above. Sellers was sitting on a barrel and was answering McCaully in a very sarcastic manner. Finally the latter be- came enraged, and whipped out a large knife with which he cut Sellers through the back, killing him almost instantly. McCaully was arrested, tried, and found guilty of murder in the first degree, and was sentenced to be hanged. His friends then set about to obtain a pardon for him, which they prevailed upon Governor McDougal to grant. Some Napa people
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chanced to be at the State Capital (Benicia) that day and learned what had been done. Captain T. G. Baxter chanced to be at Benicia with his little steamer, and these parties chartered him to bring them to Napa with all possible speed .. He crowded his little engine to her utmost and reached the destination ahead of the party who was bringing the pardon, who came overland. The news was spread and the people determined to make short and quick work of the matter, but decided to wait if possible till nightfall to do it. The ferry was disabled so that when the officer came from the Governor bringing the pardon he could not be ferried over. Nobody would give him any assistance, and left him to get over the stream as best he could. He proceeded by way of the Trancas, but when he arrived in town everything was as still as death. He proceeded to hunt up the man for whom he had the pardon, and found him hanging by the neck, dead and almost cold. The building in which he was hanged stood on the south-east corner of Main and Second streets, and was shipped around the Horn, all ready to put together when it arrived here.
Murder of - Prieto .- This occurred in July, 1859, in that part of Napa City known as Spanishtown. There was a general row going on among the Spaniards and Prieto was stabbed several times, any one of seven of them being severe enough to have proved fatal. One Geralda Feliz was held for the commission of the deed by the Grand Jury, but there is nothing further on record concerning the case.
Murder of George Ettenbrough .- This occurred in Berryessa Valley, July 28, 1860, and the deed, which was said to have been a very cold-blooded one, was perpetrated by Thomas Lofton. The difficulty grew out of a dispute about a tract of land, and Lofton had a navy revolver with which he shot his victim. He had, besides this revolver, a rifle, and the citizens and officers were unable to arrest him, hence he made good his escape.
Killing of James Cummings .- Berryessa Valley was also the scene of this homicide, and, while the trouble grew out of land inatters, as had the last one, the circumstances were much different. John See, the man who did the shooting, had a claim on a piece of land in the valley. He also had charge of a band of sheep, which belonged to another party. It became necessary for him to take the band of sheep to the lower end of the valley and to remain absent from his claim for some length of time. He left his place in charge of a younger brother and a man named Wood. The man, Cum- mings, who got killed, had the name of being a bad man, and as soon as See was gone sct about making preparations to "jump" his claim. The first thing he did was to bribe Wood with forty dollars to leave the place.
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He then went to the house and, with threats and a show of firearms, frightened the younger See off the place also. He then proceeded to take possession by throwing See's things out of doors and installing himself as master of the domain. A few days later the older See came to the place in a wagon with a party of hunters, and, seeing his things cast out of doors, proceeded to the house to see how matters looked. Just then Cummings put in an appearance with a cocked revolver and ordered See to quit the premises. See went to the wagon and procured a gun, with which he shot and almost instantly killed Cummings. This occurred on the 24th day of November, 1860. See was arrested, or gave himself up to the officers, and was acquitted by the Justice of the Peace.
Murder of Thomas Wilson .- Wilson lived in a small cabin by himself in Wild Horse Valley, some five or six miles east of Napa City. On the 10th day of October, 1861, he was found in his house with a black silk cravat (handkerchief) tied around his neck, and it was evident that he had been strangled to death. No clue was ever found to the perpetrator of the deed.
Murder of Joseph Warren Osborne .- He was killed by Charles Brit- tian April 18, 1863, on his own premises, now known as the Woodward estate, near Oak Knoll station, under the following circumstances : Brittian had worked for Osborne on his farm as a laborer, and for said services he received a check on a bank in San Francisco for the sum of two hundred and sixty-five dollars. . On presenting his check payment was refused on it. He then went to see Osborne, who promised to settle the matter within a few days. Brittian then returned to San Francisco, and after a few days procured a revolver at a store, and started for Osborne's place. On his way up to Napa on the steamer he stated that he was going to have his money or that he would kill Osborne. Arriving at Oak Knoll he proceeded to the house of his victim and inquired for him, and was told that he could be found in the orchard. Thither he went on his ghastly errand, and began a conversation with him. No one was present to hear the language used by either party, but parties at a distance soon saw by the motions being made that there was some trouble between them, and saw some aggressive motions made by Brittian. Osborne then picked up a rock, and at once Brittian shot him, and he died in a few moments. Brittian was arrested and lodged in jail, and indicted May 18, 1863, and the trial was called June 1st of that year, when the prisoner plead not guilty. The jury in the case was composed of the following gentlemen: Robert Greenlaw, Charles Drew, Charles Thompson, J. H. Gooch, L. H. Murray, C. Musgrave, D.
10
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Manuel, R. T. Lane, G. N. Cornwell, H. M. Allen, A. S. Knapp, and William Greenleaf. A verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was rendered by the jury. A motion for a new trial was made and overruled, and on the 12th day of June, 1863, the Judge passed the sentence of death by hanging upon him. On the 7th day of August, 1863, he expiated his crime upon the gallows, being the first man ever hanged in Napa County under the sentence of the law. When the day of execution came he marched boldly upon the gallows, refusing all counsel or consolation from friend or priest, and faced his death with a fortitude worthy a nobler cause.
Murder of Patrick O'Brien .- This foul murder has some elements of horrid hellishness about it which are not to be exceeded in the annals of crime. An old and peaceable man was living with his daughter, a young girl of some seventeen summers, on a small farm in Wild Horse Valley. A young man, not yet thirty years of age, came into the neighborhood, and seeing the circumstance, at once begins to plan his fiendish plot. He conceived the idea that if he would kill the father he could step in and befriend the girl in her affliction, marry her, and thus secure the property. Accordingly, on the 20th day of January, 1864, he set about to consummate his hellish design. On that morning the father, little dreaming that his days were numbered, went to work as usual in his field. The murderer, J. Gilbert Jenkins by name, went to the house of a neighbor, Mrs. Sanders, and borrowed a rifle, stating that he wished to kill a deer. In two or three hours he returned the rifle. This was on Wednesday. Time passed and the father did not return, and the daughter became alarmed. The neigh- bors were aroused and a thorough search was instituted, but without avail. Queries began to be rife as to the cause of his disappearance. Suddenly Mrs. Sanders remembered the incident of loaning the gun to Jenkins on the morning of the disappearance of O'Brien. This fact she communicated to the people, and on the strength of it Jenkins was arrested. But he understood the loops of the law too well to remain long in custody, and was released on habeas corpus, there being nothing to prove his guilt or connection with the affair except the incidental borrowing of the rifle.
And so matters continued until the Tuesday following the disappearance of the murdered man, when the search for him was rewarded in finding his grave, which was located about three hundred yards from his house. It was about two feet deep, and was covered with leaves, so that it eluded dis- covery until that time. Jenkins was again arrested. It appeared that when shot, O'Brien was in a stooping position, and the ball entered near the back bone, between the fifth and sixth ribs, ranged upward, passing through the left lung and windpipe, and lodged in the butt of the jaw. The Coro- ner's jury returned the following verdict: " The deceased was about forty-
le Startson
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six years old, and came to his death by a gunshot wound; and that said killing was the act of J. Gilbert Jenkins."
February 6, 1864, Jenkins was arraigned for the commission of the deed. The following named gentlemen composed the jury : Wells Kilburn, M. N. Haile, P. Hunt, H. T. Barker, B. F. E. Kellogg, Wm. Edgington, Ed- ward Evey, E. A. Mount, A. J. Stark, F. Westorn, B. H. Gordon and J. D. White. When the matter was submitted to them they retired, and in just fifteen minutes brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree. The Judge passed sentence upon him, setting March 18th following as the day of execution. The prisoner took the matter very coolly indeed, proving how hardened a wretch he was by saying, "I wish it was to-morrow; I don't want to wait so d -- d long." The day of execution came, and found him cool and collected; and he ascended the gallows with a firm tread, meeting his fate with a nonchalance that any Indian might well envy. At seven minutes past three o'clock P. M. the trap was sprung, and his soul, which, according to his own confession, was steeped in the blood of eight victims, was launched into the presence of the Great Judge of the Uni- verse. " And he went to his own place." His confession states that, beside imbruing his hands in the blood of eight men, he had committed innumer- able robberies in almost half of the States of the Union. He was a native of North Carolina, and was only twenty-nine years of age at the time of his execution.
Killing of Turner G. Letton .- This occurred in Napa City, Monday evening, January 23, 1865, at the American House, under the following cir- cumstances, as brought out in the testimony: Letton had, until within a few weeks previous to the homicide, been in the employ of T. Frank Raney as barkeeper, but Raney had discharged him. He afterwards heard that Raney had stated that the ground for his discharge was dishonesty. On this day he became intoxicated, and was going about town using threaten- ing language against Raney, and went to the American House twice during the day, becoming very much excited, and using violent language to Raney on both occasions. The latter succeeded in pacifying him without serious trouble both times, and he went away. In the evening he came into the bar-room of the hotel again, accompanied by three other men : Robert Boley, Elias Hamlin and A. A. Edgar. Boley was also a discharged barkeeper, and the man who had told Letton that Raney charged him with dishonesty. The other men were only casual acquaintances. Both Letton and Boley were intoxicated. They first called for something to drink, but did not take it. They then began to talk to Raney, and to walk violently up and down the room, becoming more and more excited. At last Boley took off his coat and threw it down, and Letton advanced to the passage
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leading out from behind the bar, thus hemming Raney up in the space be- tween the counter and the shelving of the bar. Raney then drew a re- volver, and ordered Letton three several times to leave the house, and upon his failure to obey him Raney fired, or attempted to. The cap exploded, but the revolver did not shoot. Letton then seized a tumbler from the counter and threw it violently at Raney, but missed him. Raney then fired three shots at Letton, and finally struck him over the head with the weapon. The first ball entered Letton's breast, the second struck him in the jaw, while the third passed through his cheek into his mouth, knocking out a tooth. Letton did not speak after the first shot, but in a few seconds fell dead behind the bar. It appeared in evidence that the deceased when sober was a peaceable man, but when under the influence of liquor inclined to be violent. He came to California from Lexington, Missouri, in 1860, and was about twenty-six years of age. Raney was arrested and examined before Justice Hunnewell, J. E. Pond and W. W. Pendegast appearing for the People, and Henry Edgington for the defense. March 9, 1865, a bill was found against Raney for manslaughter by the Grand Jury. In June of that year he was tried, and the jury found for the defendant.
Killing of a Chinaman .- May 13, 1865, James Keeley killed a China- man, name unknown, under the following circumstances: He owed the Chinaman a wash-bill, which he had failed to liquidate. The Chinaman became enraged finally, and, in company with some of his countrymen, undertook to collect the bill by force, or, at least, to frighten Keeley into the payment of the amount due. Keeley grasped an axe handle, and, using it for a bludgeon, struck and killed the first one that came within reach of him. He was arrested and discharged.
The Jonathan Davis Murder and Suicide .- On Saturday evening, August 5, 1865, a most tragic affair occurred near the western limits of Napa County, and almost duc west from Napa City. A man by the name of Jonathan Davis lived with his wife on a farm in this locality. Both of them were addicted to the vice of drunkenness, and when under the influ- ence of liquor they were very quarrelsome. On the night in question Davis returned home from Napa City at a very late hour, and began at once to quarrel with his wife, who, it is stated, had also been drinking. The noise awakened a servant girl and two men who were sleeping in the house, but nothing was thought to occur of a serious nature, as it seemed to be the old story over again of a rabid war of words. The noise increased, however, and it became evident that a struggle between them was in progress. At length the woman screamed for help, which so frightened the servant girl
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that she escaped from her room through an open window. Davis then went to the barn and awakened a young man, and told him to go to the neigh- bors and tell them that he had killed his wife, and would himself be dead within five minutes. On his way from the barn he discharged a revolver twice, one ball passing through his hand, and another entering his head. It was found that he had thrown the woman upon the floor, and stamped upon her breast with his heavy boot, crushing in her whole chest, breaking seven of her ribs, the fragments of which entered her heart and lungs, and caused instant death. He lingered along for a few days and finally died. He left a note, stating that he had killed his wife, but asked his neighbors and friends to lay it to the charge of liquor. They were both natives of Wales, and had been married for some years.
Killing of John Clark .- This homicide occurred in Capelle Valley, about twelve miles east of Napa City, October 23, 1865. The particulars of it are as follows : Oscar and John Clark, two brothers, owned a place in Capelle Valley, and had rented it to Fred. Coombs. On the day of the killing the two Clarks went to the premises occupied by Coombs, when an altercation occurred, culminating in the killing of John Clark by Coombs. The latter came to Napa City and gave himself up, and a Coroner's inquest was held the next day. At that Mrs. Coombs testified that her husband was sitting in the house occupied by them on a chair, when the Clark brothers came in and attacked him, asserting that they would dispossess him of the property by forcible ejectment, and that her husband fired the shots in self-defense. Oscar Clark was thereupon arrested, and, waiving examination, was held in the sum of $2000. No further action was taken in the matter.
Killing of Patrick Goodwin .- Goodwin had some harness in the American livery stable in Napa City, of which C. H. H. Manuel was the proprietor. On the 7th of September, 1866, Goodwin went to the stable to see about it, when an altercation arose between the men. Finally Manuel grasped a shovel and struck Goodwin over the head with it, inflicting an injury, from the effects of which he died the following Monday. Manuel was arrested and bailed for the trifling sum of $500, and of course left for parts unknown.
Killing of Daniel English .- On the evening of March 14, 1868, a party of Americans, consisting of Daniel and Charles English, two brothers, Albert Haines, J. C. Jones, R. Coddington, B. B. Durbin and W. D. Treanor, went to the house of Dolores Coronado, in Spanishtown, (East Napa,) where a dance was in progress. In a short time some difficulty sprang up between the Americans and Spaniards, and Coronado attacked Dan English with a
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revolver. His brother Charles came to his rescue with a pistol in his hand, when a Spaniard by the name of Anastacia grabbed it from him and began firing at him. Both of the English boys were severely wounded, and Dan died soon after, but Charley recovered. The following is the verdict of the Coroner's jury : "We, the Coroner's jury, convened to examine into the case, on investigation do find that the name of the deceased was Daniel English, a native of the United States, and resident of Solano County, California, aged thirty-four years, and that he came to his death by a pistol-shot, which pistol was in the hands of Dolores Coronado, and was fired on the evening of the 14th of March, in the county of Napa, State of California, at the house of Dolores Coronado." This made the fifth brother who had died a violent death. It does not seem that the Spaniard was held, for in a few days afterwards he came to a hotel in Merced County, kept by Dr. Griffiths, with whom he quarreled, and who shot and killed him.
Killing of Katie Ennis (Indian) .- Alonzo Davis, a boy only about thirteen years of age, shot and killed an Indian girl by the name of Katie Ennis, at the house of M. D. Markley, in Putah Cañon, August 20, 1871, under the following circumstances, as brought out in the testimony: The Indian girl was living at Markley's as his housekeeper. Markley was away from home a great deal of the time during the day, and was often away for days at a time. It would seem that the girl got the idea into her head that the boy wished to destroy Markley's property during his absence, and she threatened to shoot him should he pass by the premises again. There were two roads leading by the place ; one just in front of the door, and one up the hill a short distance. One day he passed along the lower road in com- pany with another boy, and he states, being corroborated by his companion, that she fired at them with a rifle, after they had got past the house some distance. The next day he got a small pistol, and having an errand that way, took occasion to go along the lower road, as usual. When the girl saw him she said : " I will shoot you, you s- of a b -! " and started into the house. Just as she crossed the threshold, the boy fired, and the bullet en- tered the girl's brain. The body was found some time afterwards in a mutilated condition, rats and coons doing the work. The boy was arrested, and Justice R. C. Gillaspie of Yount Township, committed him to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury, on the 26th of August. That body found a true bill against him, September 6th, and he was tried October 5th. The jury in the case comprised the following named gentlemen: David Edwards, James Dunhig, S. Winters, Asa Chapman, David Yount, W. H. Beagles, W. A. Haskins, J. G. Francis, E. K. Wood, Wm. Locker, J. B. Chiles and T. G. Rodgers. Their verdict was : "We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty."
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The Fred. Coombs Murder and Suicide .- One of the most appalling affairs that ever happened in Napa County, occurred in Napa City, Feb- ruary 20, 1871, under the following circumstances: During the previous term of the District Court, proceedings in divorce had been begun between Fred. Coombs and his wife, who had been living previously on Howell Mountain. The matter was referred to the Court Commissioner, Mr. F. E. Johnson, who had been taking testimony on the day of the fatal affair, in the office of Messrs. Pendegast & Stoney. Between five and six o'clock in the afternoon, he adjourned the session, and all parties were preparing to leave the room. Coombs asked his wife to accompany him. She replied that the time for a reconciliation was past. Coombs thereupon drew a revolver and fired twice at her, the first ball passing through her arm, while the other penetrated the center of the breast-bone. He then turned his pistol on himself and fired, the ball taking effect in the right temple and lodging under the scalp, killing him instantly. Mrs. Coombs was taken to the office of Dr. M. B. Pond, but she was beyond the reach of medical aid, and died within twenty minutes. Coombs left a letter stating what disposition to make of their children and property. It was thought that he was laboring under a fit of temporary insanity.
Killing of Peter Guadalupe (Indian) .- He was shot and killed by Jesse Walters in Pope Valley, May 21, 1871. Walters was arrested and brought before Justice L. N. Duvall for preliminary examination, when the following testimony was adduced :- James Ingels, sworn : " Have heard threats ; the Indian told me about three or four months ago that Jesse Walters had to leave the country or he would kill him; also told me about four weeks ago that he intended to kill him, and showed me the pistol that he was going to do it with ; Pete, the Indian, said that he would kill him on sight." William Clark Ralston, sworn : " I was present and saw a part of the shooting; there were three shots fired; at the time the first shot was fired the Indian was running from Jesse; at the second he was still run- ning; at the third the Indian was on his knees, when he fell and shortly after expired ; * about two weeks ago the same Indian came down to the store and wanted to fight Jesse, who did not want to have anything to do with him; the Indian was then armed with two pistols and Jesse had none." A true bill was found against Walters by the Grand Jury, June 21, 1871, and the case came up for trial October 4th of that year. The follow- ing named gentlemen were on the trial jury : J. A. Johnson, D. O. Hunt, Wm. Owsley, N. E. Stewart, A. Stafford, D. C. Squibb, E. True, J. N. Bennett, S. W. Jacks, Alex. Korns, S. Winter and J. McCoombs. They returned a verdict of not guilty.
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Killing of John B. See .- On Wednesday, May 1, 1872, at 4 P. M., at Monticello, Berryessa Valley, John B. See was killed under the following circumstances : The See brothers, three in number, were standing in the street at Monticello, when Le Grande Thompson passed by. Some hard words passed between them, growing out of an old feud, when they agreed to fight it out there and then. Thompson and John B. See clinched, and after scuffling for awhile Thompson drew a dirk knife and cut See twice with it. Just then Granville Thompson, a brother of the one in the fight, rushed up and drew a pistol and shot, the ball taking effect in See's breast. See only lived a short time.
Killing of John Thomas .- He was killed by Edward Day, at the Meyers Hotel in Napa City, November 15, 1873, under the following cir- cumstances : The two men were engaged in a game of cards in the bar- room of the hotel, when Day took seven cards when he dealt, instead of six. Thomas accused him of cheating and they began to wrangle over it and Day called Thomas some very hard names. They finally quieted down and went and drank together. Day then went across the street to Clifford's livery stable and began afresh to abuse Thomas and to use vile epithets. Thomas then went across the street and asked him to desist, when Day attacked him with a knife. Thomas retreated, but when about midway across the street Day overtook him and cut him across the abdomen, from the effects of which Thomas soon after died. The Grand Jury found a true bill against Day December 1, 1873. The trial was deferred until June, 1875, when the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree, and he was sentenced to the State Prison for life.
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