USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 77
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When Sam saw his arrest was inevitable, and real- izing what would follow, he told them, in good English, that he would kill himself before they should take him, and, before they could reach him, he took out his pistol and shot himself in the abdomen. He was taken down to Rich Bar, where he lived two days, refusing to answer questions or converse on the matter for which he had been arrested.
On his death he was packed in snow and brought by way of Reno to Auburn, under the direction of District Attorney Bullock. Coroner Swett at once summoned a jury and proceeded to hold an inquest over the body. Numerous witnesses were examined from both Auburn and Penryn, who. with scarcely an exception, testified that they recognized the body before them as that of Ah Sam. The jury brought in a verdict in accordance with the forego ing statement. After the inquest the Chinamen
were offered the body, but they refused positively to have anything to do with it.
Accordingly, the Coroner had him buried the next day, near the Chinese burying-ground. And thus fittingly terminated the career of one of the most brutal murderers that ever disgraced Placer County with his presence. The rewards that had been offered for his capture aggregated $850-8600 by the State and $250 by the Chinese Six Companies. This amount, we presume, was divided among those who were instrumental in thus hastily terminating bis career.
MURDER BY INDIANS.
John Norton was murdered int he fall of 1877 on the public highway leading from Auburn to Forest Hill, in broad daylight, by two of the most desper- ate Indians in that part of the State, Indian Charlie and Indian Bill. It seems that when the Indians saw Norton coming alone and on foot down the road, they made up their minds to rob him. On meeting him they demanded his money. Norton told them he had none, and started to run. At this Indian Charlie shot him, the ball striking his shoulder, but the shot, failing to have the desired effect, the other Indian fired and Norton fell to the ground. The Indians, coming up, drew knives to complete the job their bullets had commenced. In their endeavor to cut his throat, Norton evidently grabbed the knives by the blade to ward them off, for, when found. his hands were shockingly cut. While engaged in their butchery another man came in sight, and the Indi- ans, becoming alarmed, escaped in the brush. By excessive diligence in following them up, Sheriff McCormick finally capture.l Charlie some ten miles above Auburn, near the North Fork of the Ameri- can River.
About two months after the capture of Charlie, he obtained information which satisfied him that his man, "Indian Bill," was at one of two camps in El Dorado County, either Volcanoville or Bottle Ilill. It was upon the last day of his official term, before arrangements could be matured for making the search, when Deputies McCormick, Jr., and Laughlin were sent out in pursuit of the fugitive. They arrived at Georgetown, and accompanied by C. Cushman and Thos. Lewis, of the latter place, started for Bottle Hill, which place they reached about midnight. They surrounded the camp and gave the alarm. but the Indians refused to come out. The door of the cabin was then broken down, when McCormick and Cushman entered and discovered their man in a small side apartment, eyeing them through a low, narrow doorway. McCormick told him to come out, they wanted him; he immediately began to shoot. He could have been instantly killed at this moment by MeCormick, who had him covered with a Henry Rifle, but his point was to take the man alive. After some shooting on both sides, and his still refusing to come out, they threatened to burn him out, and at once began to pile fuel against the
RESIDENCE OF A.H.GATES. LINCOLN, PLACER CO.,CAL.
RESIDENCE OF WM AMBROSE. AUBURN, PLACER CO. CIL.
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THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
side of the wigwam. Seeing this he finally gave himself up, though not without a desperate straggle to retain his arms, consisting of pistol, rifle, and hatchet.
This completed the capture of every known fugi- tive from justice in the County at that time, and Sheriff McCormick, on retiring from office, left every aceused rascal within his jurisdiction, including five murderers, safely in the lock-up, giving to his suc- cessor an even start and clear sailing.
WRECKING A RAILROAD TRAIN.
A desperate attempt was made to rob the East- hound mail and express train on the Central Pacific Railroad, near Cape Ilorn Mills, on the night of September 1, 1881, but fortunately the would-be robbers obtained no booty. To stop the train the robbers had torn up one of the rails, and coming on the place under full headway, the engine jumped the track. As it was the forward locomotive, the mail, express, baggage, and one fruit ear were ditched, but without doing any material damage. Alarmed at the shock, the clerk of the mail car appeared at the door, when he received a command to throw up his hands. This was the first intimation as to the cause of the stoppage. A similar demand was, at about the same time, made on the express messenger; but instead of complying with their request, he dodged back at once and extinguished the lights. Strange to say no further demands were made, but a few minutes later the robbers were heard halloing to each other as if collecting their forces for a retreat. A runner was sent back to Colfax, who telegraphed to Sacramento, and the wrecking-train, having on board a number of detec- tives, was dispatched to the scene of the would-be robbery at once. On an inspection of the grounds after the departure of the robbers, there were found nine masks, fifteen or twenty giant-powder cartridges, a quantity of fuse, axes, sledges, etc., and such other minor articles as were necessary for a systematic and wholesale robbery. It was afterwards learned by Sheriff Boggs and his deputies, that three men were living in a cabin on the North Fork of the American River, who claimed to be miners, but who had neither mining tools to work with nor a claim to work. This suspicious circumstance furnished a clue, which being worked up, led to the capture of every one engaged in the attempt.
The persons arrested were: John Mason, E. Stein- egal, Reuben A. Rogers, and A. II. Frazier, September 11th, and George H. Shinn, October 27th. The trial of the train-wreckers constituted one of the causes celebre of Placer County.
SINGULAR REVELATION OF MURDER.
On the 16th of September, 1881, the citizens of Placer County were shocked with the revelation of what had every appearance of being a foul and deliberate murder, which had been committed five
years previous. The circumstances are related as follows:
In 1859. Ambrose S. Niles came to California across the plains from Wisconsin. There came with him. from the same State and same neighbor- hood, a friend by the name of James Singleton. After arriving in this State, Niles settled on some land about four miles west of Lincoln, Placer County, while Singleton went to work in the same neighbor- hood for wages. Niles soon acquired some promi- nence in business, and was generally regarded as an upright and reliable man. Singleton, being industriou+ and steady, made money and saved it. Niles bee ime quite heavily indebted to Singleton, though in just wbat amount can never be known After several years of farming, during which time Singleton had become well known in and about Lincoln, and quite a favorite among those with whom he worked, he struck ont for other fields of labor. He went to Nevada, but in a year returned to Lincoln. He then went to Sacramento, and between Orkland and Sacramento he workeil at the livery business up to the time of his death.
About Thanksgiving time in 1876, he came from Oakland, where he was then employed. to Lincoln, for the purpose of visiting his friends, and if possible, to get his money from Niles. After visiting briefly in town, he, promising to see his friends there again, got on a wagon which was going that way, and rode ont to Niles' place. Either the next day or the diy after, he and Niles went to Sheridan with a team, and from that day no one ever saw him again alive. Of course those he had promised to visit inquired of Niles what had become of him, and Niles' answer was, that while at Sheridan he jumped on the train and went to Marysville. The thought of foul play at the time seemed to have entered the heads of some of the neighbors, but Niles' excellent standing discouraged any general expression on the subject.
It was known that Niles' hired man, Ropp. had filled up an old well at Niles' request the day after the latter and Singleton had went to Sheridan. On being questioned, Niles told a conflicting and unten- able story, and all the circumstances put together tended to confirm the suspicions, and after Niles sold out and went away certain parties would say, occasionally, they would give so and so to see the bottom of that old well. About two months previ- ous to the discovery of the body, one Thomas Brown, who from the first had been a convert to the idea that Niles had something to do with the disappear- ance of Singleton, went to Sacramento, and there learned, on top of all else, that Niles had negotiated a note due to Singleton from some other party. On his return he again agitated the subject, and insisted that the old well should be dug out. Others sided with him and it was resolved to do something. The Coroner was applied to, but he had no authority to impose an expense on the county for digging out old wells. Finally, upon the suggestion of the Dis-
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
trict Attorney, W. B. Lardner, a subscription was taken among the citizens sufficient to pay the expenses of digging ont the well. Accordingly work was begun. They continued digging until they came upon boards laid quite regularly like a rude floor. Most of the party said: "Here is the bottom, and no body has been found." But one of them, thinking the regularity of the floor a snspi- cious circumstance, persuaded his comrades to eon- tinue the search. Upon proceeding lower down they found, two and one-half feet of earth beneath the boards, sticks and trash thrown in promis- cuously. These being removed, another floor of boards was found. Upon raising one of these, the legs of a human body were diseovered. Their search had been rewarded by the discovery of the body of James Singleton. They at once stopped the process of exhuming the body and notified the Cor- oner and District Attorney. A guard was then placed over the well, which remained on duty all night. The Coroner, the next morning, took charge of the body. The news of the finding of the body spread like wildfire throughout the country, and the most intense excitement prevailed. The body was taken into the town of Lincoln, and the streets were thronged with excited people. The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition. The skull had been literally mashed. The clothing was well preserved and readily identified. An inquest was held over the remains, the jury being composed of E. Jarvis, John Rea, John Heanny, H. C. Johnson, T. H. Jeter, E. Herryford, and N. Coates. The fol- lowing was their verdict :-
In the matter of the inquisition upon the body of James Singleton, deceased, we, the undersigned, jurors summoned to appear before J. D. Redfern, Coroner of the county of Placer, at Lincoln, on the 17th day of September. 1881, to inquire into the cause of death, and having been sworn according to law, and made such inquisition, after inspecting the body and hearing the testimony addueed, upon our oaths, each and all do say, That we find the deceased was named James Singleton, a native of Ireland, aged abont fifty years; that he came to his death about the middle of November, 1876, by the blow of a deadly weapon on his head inflicted by the hand of one A. S. Niles, according to our best information and belief, and which was done about four miles west of Lincoln, on the premises at that time owned by said A. S. Niles, in this county; all of which we certify to by this inquisition in writing, by ns signed this 17th day of September, A. D. 1881.
In the meantime Sheriff Boggs and Constable Hotehkiss, of Lincoln, were ont after the supposed murderer, Niles. It was reported that Niles, who was out selling patent beds and seat cushions, had that day passed through Wheatland. Hearing of this, a Deputy Sheriff of Yuba County, Thos. Beven, started in pursuit, and made the arrest about five miles from Wheatland, on the road to the foot-hills. Niles asked on what charge he was arrested, and when told tor murder, it is said he turned very pale
and broke completely down. After his arrest he was turned over to the officers of Placer County and lodged in the Auburn jail. He then admitted that the body found was that of Singleton, and con- fessed that he threw it in the well. He denied, however, that he slew him, but said as they were driving home they got into a dispute on religious matters, which was followed by an altereation, in which Singleton struck him, and while he was defending himself the horses took fright and ran away, throwing both of them out, stunning Niles, and that the wheels passed over Singleton's head, smashing bis skull. Niles said that after his recov- ery from the shoek he examined Singleton and found him dead, and, fearing that he would not be believed in stating the above, he concluded to throw him into the old well near by and fill it up, and thus avoid any trouble and save the county the expense of an inquest.
A TRAGIC END.
After being in jail about a week he concluded to end his misery by committing snicide. It seems that he borrowed a knife from Mason, one of the accused train-wreckers, for the ostensible purpose of cutting tobacco. This he took pains to whet to a keen edge, and with it out his throat. It was about midnight, and one of the prisoners, who was awake reading, heard a noise like the falling of water. Hearing Niles groan at the same time, he asked if he was sick. To which the reply was made: " Yes, but not much." His weak, husky voiee aroused the Anspicions of his neighboring prisoner, who at once gave the alarm and called the Sheriff. Medical assistance was summoned, but he could not be saved. He lived but a few minutes. The act was evidently contemplated, his principle motive, as appeared from a letter to his wife, being to end his miserable exist- ence, save lawyers' fees, and save what property he had for his wife and family. While in his letter he denied his guilt, the fact that he destroyed himself was generally regarded as evidence that he was guilty of the crime of which he was accused, and that he felt a certainty of conviction and an inflic- tion of the severest penalty. Much sympathy was expressed for his family, and for his brothers, both of whom were men of excellent standing. But for Niles himself the general opinion was that his tragie and awful end was a just conclusion to what must have been a miserable life.
HOMICIDES AND ROBBERIES.
Several of the most noted criminals and homicides have been noticed in the preceding pages. Of those not there named there is recorded the killing of a man named Mayberry by A. R. Tompkins at Span- ish Flat on the 24th of January, 1853, in a quarrel over the sale of a mine.
1853.
March 1st .- J. J. Schmidt was found murdered in
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THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
Big Ravine, near Auburn, the supposed cause being robbery.
July 30th .- An Indian was hanged on Bear River, northeast of Auburn, by order of & lynch court, for killing a Chinaman. Previous to his execution he confessed to the murder of five Chinamen and one American.
November 7th .- A man named Jennings was killed by - Morrison, at Whisky Bar. Morrison was examined and discharged.
1854.
June 26th .- James Ryan was killed in an affray at Iowa Hill by Patrick Vance.
1855.
May 12th .- The Indians in the neighborhood of Gold Hill were performing the funeral rites upon a deceased member of their tribe, when a quarrel ensued between a squaw and one of the males, which resulted in a brutal murder. The man took the woman's child and deliberately cut its head off throwing the 'body on the fire which was consuming the body of the dead squaw. The woman in revenge took the child of her opponent and threw it on the fire, but it was rescued from the flames by some of the spectators. The Indian was arrested, but subsequently discharged on a nolle prosequi.
March 19th .- M. J. Van was stabbed and killed by John Roberts, at Iowa IIill. They were propri- etors of the Crescent City Hotel. The trouble grew out of a settlement. Roberts was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged, but the sentence was commuted by the Governor to imprisonment for life.
March 20th .- I. P. Beatty was killed at Rector's Bar by E. Lockwood, who was convicted of man- slaughter for the crime, and sentenced to two years in State Prison, and fined $1.00.
April 10th .- Wm. Durham was shot and killed, at Auburn, by Hank Marsh. Durham was supposed to be insane, and attacked Marsh.
April 11th .- - Smith was shot and killed by Woodward, in a negro dance-house in Dutch Ravine. Both men were gamblers, and the trouble grew out of the favors shown Smith by one of the negro women.
June 2d .- - Townsend was shot and mor- tally wounded by W. L. Carpenter.
September 22d .- A Chinaman was killed by an Illinoistown Indian, called Tubbs, on the trail lead- ing from Christian Valley to the North Fork of the American River. The citizens of Christian Valley secured Tubbs and hung him to the limb of a tree.
September 30th .-- A. B. Hall was fatally stabbed by Wm. Redmund, alias " Pike," in a quarrel caused by whisky.
1856.
February 10th .- Samuel Hillman was shot by John Galagher, at Iowa Hill, in the Alta Saloon.
March 5th .- Aaron Bracy, a eolored man, killed a
Chinaman who was in the act of robbing his house.
June 3d .- Phineas A. Longley, toll-keeper at the Whisky Bar Bridge, over the American River, was brutally murdered by a party of Indians.
September 13th .- John O'Connor was shot by Patrick Mahoney, at the Rock Spring House; eause, jealousy.
September 28th .- Ned. Conway, a robber, was shot and killed by the Sheriff and his posse. He was a member of the notorious Tom Bell gang.
November 22d .--- - Potts found guilty of mur- der in the second degree, and sentenced to State Prison for life.
1857.
January 2d .- Thomas Stevens was shot and killed by Benjamin Petrie, at the saloon of E. W. Bennett, on Roach Hill.
February 5th .- William Gilley, a man living on Bear River, about twelve miles from Auburn, com- mitted suicide by cutting his throat.
March 21st .- Jos. Lester, an Englishman, living at Secret Diggings, shot his wife, killing her instantly, and then committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. He was intoxicated at the time.
March 21st .- Mr. A. A. Mason was brutally assaulted, at Michigan Bluff, by Foot, Roberts, and Bass. He died the week following.
June 11th .- The Grand Jury found eight indict- ments for murder: Against Marion T. Whithurst, alias Foots, Wm. Roberts and Charles Bass, for the murder of A. A. Mason; and against five Chinese for the murder of one of their countrymen. There were in jail at that time ten prisoners indicted for murder in the first degree, and one for assault to do bodily injury.
June 13th .- Antonio Soso was shot and killed by Sabriano Robles, at Dutch Ravine. They were both Mexicans.
June 13th .- Philip Gary was stabbed to death by two Chilenos, Francisco Acosta and Jemasio, at Dutch Ravine.
December 12th .- A. B. Johnson, owner of a valua- ble claim on Doty's Ravine, several miles from Gold Hill, shot a woman by the name of " Frenchy," or Florisdine, and in attempting to escape was thrown from his horse and killed.
December 20th .- Andrew Hollenberg, a Swede, was shot and killed by Martin Rodriguez; caused by Hollenberg refusing him admittance to his house.
December 26th .-- The cabin of Mr. Fordyce was robbed at Rose Springs, by two men, who succeeded in getting $300 in coin, and papers to the value of four or five thousand dollars.
1858.
February 6th .- Sigsby, alias " Buekskin Joe," was shot by Irish George, at Todd's Valley, during a mclee at a dance-house.
February 29th .- William Snow was stabbed three
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
times in the abdomen by. Peter Mowry, at Forest . Hill. The difficulty occarrel about some money.
June 11th .- Martin Rodriguez, who was convicted of the murder of Andrew llollenberg the Swede, at Blue Canon, was hung.
June 25th .- The body of Andrew J. Hoselbaum, toll-keeper at the Canon Creek Bridge, was found near " Murderer's Bar," on the American River, with his head crushed in and other marks of violence on his person.
July 5th .- The Alta Express office in Iowa Hill was robbed of $7,410.
July 18th .- John Naven was stabbed and killed by J. Smith at Auburn. A grudge had existed between them for a long time. Smith acted in self- defense.
July 25th .- Michael Cochran and P. Ward, broth- ers-in-law, got into a difficulty with each other, which resulted in the death of the latter-Cochran fled.
August 29th .- During a celebration at Forest Hill a desperado named Domingo bad a dispute with one of the party, and stabbed him in the breast, entting his heart completely in twain. Domingo fled and made good his escape.
October 30th .- The bodies of three Chinese labor- ers were found in Shirt-tail Canon, about six miles from Yankee Jim's, with knife wounds on their per- sons, and every indication of having been murdered. No clue to the perpetrators.
1859.
January 11th .- The stage between Forest Hill and Todd's Valley was stopped by eight men, and the express box, containing 100 ounces of gold, taken. Soveral shots were fired. The robbers escaped.
March 8th .- Mr. Wilson, the keeper of the board- ing-house at Dutch Flat, was murdered by a Swede named Joseph Napoleon Moirs.
June 16th .- A man by the name of Elwards was shot dead by John Numen when trying to get away with some timber that the latter claimed
July 2d .- John Reynolds, the keeper of a disrepu- table house at Michigan Bluff, was murdered by a Mexican for not being permitted to help himself at the bar.
July 14th .-- Archibald MeBride was stabbed and mortally wounded at Deadwood, by a man named John Daly.
August 6th .- Mr. Cole, the keeper of the toll house on the Yankee Jim's and Wisconsin Hill Turnpike, was found in the toll-house brutally murdered. There were twenty four knife wounds upon the body. No traces of the fiends who committed the deed could be found.
August 14th .- John M. Fordyce was stabbed by a Chinaman near Rose Spring, dying from the wound five days after. Mr. Fordyce was a ditch tender and gold-dust buyer. The Chinaman entered the office and offered a small quantity of dust for sale. This Fordyce weighed, and turning and opening the safe
to proeure the coin to pay for the dust, was stabbed in the back. Quickly shutting the safe, and crying out, the murderer was foiled in his attempt at rob- bery and fled. A reward of $750 was offered for his arrest by Governor Weller, and a large force of men turned out in pursuit, but he was never appre- hended.
September 10th .- Driscoll and Williams, each con- victed of stage robbery, were sentenced to ten years in the State Prison.
November 7th .- An attempt was made by four highwaymen to rob the Forest Hill stage of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s treasure-box, and two of them were killed.
It seems the design of the robbers became known to Danicl C. Gay, a detective of Sacramento, who, in connection with officer O'Neil of thatcity, proceeded to Forest Ilill, and after acquainting Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agent with the particulars, they took pas. sage on the stage for the purpose of giving the rob- bers a warm reception. Upon arriving at Todd's Valley the treasure-box and passengers were left behind, and the stage started for Smith's Ranch, the only persons aboard being the officers and the driver. After ascending the hill, between Todd's Valley and Auburn, four men stepped out from behind the trees, one caught the horses by the head, one approached the driver to demand the treasure-box, and the remaining two stood one on each side of the coach, with revolvers levelled. It being too dark to take sure aim in the coach the officers stepped out and fired, cach at his man, bringing them to the ground together. O'Neil's man was instantly killed. He was an American. The man Officer Gay shot was a Spaniard, named Francisco Lunez, a well-known desperado, and almost a second Joaquin. The name of the American was White, lately out of the State Prison. The bodies of White and Lunez were taken to Todd's Valley and buried.
December 29th .- John Dickinson was shot and severely wounded by - Sikesy, a saloon-keeper in Todd's Valley.
December 31st .- A teamster named I. S. Baker, while driving quietly from Todd's Valley, was assaulted by two highwaymen-a Spaniard and an Irishman-who attempted to rob him. A scuffle ensuod in which knives were used. The Irishman was fatally stabbed, wherenpon the Spaniard placed him upon one of the horses and mounting behind him escaped. Baker fought desperately, and received several cuts, none of which were serious.
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