USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 78
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1860.
January 29th .- Mr. El. Richardson, while on his way from Michigan Bluff to Wisconsin Hill, was overpowered by four highwaymen and robbed of $1,000.
May 4th .- During a fight with pistols between two men, named Britton and Dewitt, at Michigan Bluff, Dr. Willitts, a miner who happened to be in
341
THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
close proximity, was shot and instantly killed by a stray bullet.
May 25th .- The stage from Iowa Hill to Illinois- town was stopped within a mile and a half of the former place, before daylight, and the treasure-box of Wells, Fargo & Co. was robbed of $11,000 by a party of five or six highwaymen. After the stage had been stopped one of them held the horses while the others brought their pistols to bear upon the driver and passengers, and one mounted the boot and took out the treasure-box. At the time of the robbery there were six passengers in the stage, not one of whom was armed.
June 23d .- Under Sheriff Stewart and Deputy Kennedy, hearing that there was a camp of Iowa Hill robbers below Forest Hill, in a cañon, went there and surprised them. One attempted to escape and was shot dead by Kennedy; they arrested two others and lodged them in jail.
July 17th .- Simmons and Crozier, two of the Mountain Spring robbers, were captured and placed in the Auburn jail.
July 24th .-- Mr. Schnabel's store, at Doty's Flat, was robbed of $300 in gold coin.
August 15th .- Augustus Mellus was shot dead by Loyd, at Michigan Bluff, for improper intimacy with the latter's wife.
Sept. 21st. - Joseph N. Maes and Genaro Quintano were executed for murder -- Maes for killing Joseph Thomas, of Dutch Flat, on the 8th of March, 1859, and Quintano for the murder of Joseph Reynolds, at Michigan Bluff, on the 3d of July, 1850.
1861.
April 11th .- A man named James Hall was killed by one Owens, in the vicinity of Gold Hill. Owens was tried, but was discharged, as from all the circumstances he appeared to have acted in self- defense.
November 2d .- Lewis Fogle, a respectable German, was murdered at Dutch Flat, by parties unknown.
1862.
March 1st .- Wm. O'Brien was shot and killed by J. M. Gaunt, at the Bank Exchange in Auburn. Gaunt was sent to State Prison for the homicide, but was pardoned by the Governor.
May 24th .- John Stanton and David Orr, partners in the stage lines between Auburn, Forest Hill, Michigan Bluff, ete., had a serious affray at Forest Hill-the result of a misunderstanding in business affairs-in which both were badly wounded.
July 12th .- The wife of S. S. Greenwood, residing two miles south of Auburn, while laboring under depression of mind caused by illness, hung herself.
July 24th .- George Leavick was shot and killed by Joseph B. Todd, on a ranch between Rose Springs and the Galt House.
September 6th .- A difficulty occurred at Lincoln between Austin Henderson and Ross H. Meacham, in which the latter was killed.
November 30th .- Andrew Smith committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. It was thought he was laboring under a fit of insanity.
1863.
January 10th .- A party of robbers entered the store of Mr. Schnabel, at Doty's Flat, five miles west of Auburn, and after tying the proprietor and four other men present, robbed the place of $40.00 and a revolver.
February 2d .-- Charles Hopkins, an old resident of Secret Ravine, was killed near Ryan's store by a man named Smith.
May 12th .- A quarrel in relation to challenging a voter arose between Jacob Lindsey and John Larkin, in which Larkin was killed. Lindsey was examined by Justice Sexton, of Auburn, and discharged.
August 24th .- In a shooting affair between Wm. Ilorn and Wm. Gwynn, at Virginia, Horn accident- ally shot a Mr. Morehouse, who died from the effects of his wound.
September 6th .- A difficulty occurred at Knoxville between a man by the name of Moore and P. S. Tracy, in which Moore was shot dead by Tracy. The latter is said to have been justified in the act.
December 2d .- Henry Mochler, who shot George Maye at Forest Hill, was examined before Justice Jamison, at Yankee Jim's, and was held under bonds in the amount of $10,000 double surety.
1864
February 12th .- The community of Auburn was startled by the announcement that Samuel McDon- ald, the night-watchman, had been found dead, hav- ing been shot through the heart with a pistol-ball sometime during the night. The deceased was found lying in the rear of Steiner's brick store, and upon examination, it was found that an attempt had been made to break into the store by forcing away the brick wall next to one of the iron doors. He was shot through the upper part of the heart, the ball ranging from the left side in a direction slightly downward-showing that he must have been shot by some person standing in the street above, on the ascending ground. Mr. MeDonald had resided in Auburn for many years, and was regarded as a quiet and inoffensive man. He was a native of New Hampshire, and was thirty-four years of age. The citizens of Auburn offered a reward of $1,400 for the apprehension of the person or persons who com- mitted the deed.
October 28th .- Austin Henderson killed James Drew, at Lincoln, by stabbing him in the lower ribs with a dirk-knife.
December 22d .- Mr. Stevens, a cattle-dealer from Yolo County, was robbed by a highwayman between Auburn and Yankee Jim's, and relieved of $550 in coin.
1865.
February 12th .- George L. Merrill was shot dead
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
by A. G. Creed at Rocklin Station, on the Central Pacific Railroad.
March 6th .- A Mexican, known as Antoine, was stabbed at Michigan Bluff, and died in less than half an hour. He had been in company, drinking with several other Mexicans. Ned Lopez was arrested on suspicion of committing the act.
1866.
November 5th .- Frank Steinmann, a drunken railroad hand, killed Philip Heisner, a restaurant- keeper at Cisco.
November 17th .- Drew was shot and killed by Blair, who acted in self-defense.
1867.
January 9th .- Wm. McDaniel was foully murdered in his store at Auburn. He was a respected citizen, and his untimely end caused great excitement in the community.
April 23d .- Deputy Constable Rogers, of Cisco, with a posse, went in search of James Sexton, to arrest him for some offense he had committed during the day. On the way Sexton saw Rogers and his posse, who ordered him to stop and give himself up; this he refused to do. Rogers then fired, and Sexton closed with him, cutting him in a fearful manner with a large Chinese dagger. While Sexton was stabbing Rogers, some of the posse fired upon the former, wounding him in several places. Sexton died the next day, and the remains were taken to Auburn for burial, by his brother, sheriff Sexton.
October 8th .- An affray occurred at Colfax between Thomas Way and a man named Noble. There seems to have been little cause for the difficulty, both parties being intoxicated by strychnine whisky. They first engaged in a fist fight, in which Way had the advan- tage. They soon made up, but in the course of an hour the difficulty was renewed, and Noble threw a stone at Way, striking him on the head and knock- ing him down. Both parties were then arrested and taken to the Justice's office, where the prisoners amused themselves by throwing ink bottles, etc., at each other. Soon after this Way went out to wash, and after washing laid down on the ground uncon- scious. He was then carried to the Pioneer House, where he had been boarding, and died in a short time.
1868.
May 7th .- Ferdinand Helby was instantly killed by a man known as "Dutch Charley," at Newcastle.
June 23d .- Ah Fon, a Chinaman, was discmbow- eled by Robert S. Alderson, at Auburn.
September 19th .- Solomon Grover was killed at Rattlesnake by " French Charley." They had been in town together during the day, and were appar- ently the best of friends. They left town about eight o'clock in the evening, and the next morning Grover was found under a tree, terribly wounded and beaten about the head. He died two days afterward. French Charley was arrested.
October 3d .- C. Hoffman, better known as " Sebas- topol," was accidentally shot dead at Dutch Flat, by a boy who was playing with a loaded pistol. He was a German, aged about thirty-seven.
In a drunken quarrel at Todd's Valley, M. Malone killed James Trainor with a knife.
July 13th .- A ranch owner named Freeman was shot by a sheep-herder named Smith, near Lincoln. Smith was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to State Prison for ten years.
1869.
March 21st .- Martin Dickinson Bayes, Deputy Tax.Collector in the First Revenue District, was assassinated at Newcastle, under the following circumstances: Bayes had left Rocklin for Auburn, and had stopped at Newcastle, and had gone to a house to see his wife and child, who were there visiting friends. After being there about twenty minutes, and when about to start for the cars, having bidden good-bye to his wife, who was standing in the door, and while in the act of rising up from kissing bis child, he was shot. He lived about twenty-two hours after being shot. The shot was fired from a barn or hay-yard on the opposite side of the street, and was believed to have been the deliberate act of a murderer. There was much excitement in the community over the murder, which extended to Lincoln, Auburn and Rocklin.
April 11th .- David Holiday was shot and instantly killed at Beal's Bar, by L. Seffer, who went imme- diately to Auburn and gave himself up. There had been a disagreement between the parties about land matters. Seffer was examined before Judge Poland, of Auburn, and discharged.
May 21st .- Charles Dental, found guilty of murder in the second degree, for the killing of a man on Rattlesnake Bar, was sentenced by Judge McFarland to imprisonment for life.
August 16th .- A man, supposed to be named E. A. Sule, committed suicide at the Junction House, Auburn, by taking laudanum. He had been a laborer on the railroad, but was removed with many others to make room for Chinamen; and being out of employment, with no means of sustaining himself, he spent his last quarter for laudanum to kill himself.
December 7th .- A. B. Glascock shot and killed Thomas Teaff at Dutch Flat. The parties had been engaged in playing cards; an altercation arose about some point in the game, when Teaff went and armed himself with a navy revolver, as is supposed, with the intention of killing Glascock. Subse- quently the quarrel was settled, and they resumed their game of cards. After playing a short time, another discussion arose, when Teaff drew his pistol and attempted to kill Glascock. A struggle ensued, in which Glascock secured the pistol. Teaff then gathered up a couple of bottles, and was advancing towards Glascock in a threatening attitude, when the latter shot Teaff, who survived but a short time.
343
THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
After the shooting, Glascock surrendered himself to the authorities. Both were old residents of Dutch Flat.
1870.
July 7th .- As Thomas Brown was returning home from Auburn to his farm about two miles out of town, and when near home, he was shot twice by some one concealed behind a stone wall. Some of the shot entered the hip and thigh, causing a painful wound. No clue to the perpetrators.
July 19th .- A fatal affray occurred at Auburn, in which James Costello was suddenly killed by John Leach. They had a disagreement about a partner- ship in a mining claim.
July 28th .- A Frenchman named Thiebeau com- mitted suicide by blowing his brains out, at a cabin on Spanish Ravine, one-half mile from Auburn.
December 19th .- A fiendish, heathenish murder and robbery was committed at Stewart's Flat, below Newcastle. Booker Chambers, one of the oldest miners on the Flat. and a quiet and cstimable gen- tleman, was the victim. A Chinaman had called at Chambers' cabin once or twice, trying to buy a min- ing claim, and it seems that he had gone there again, and that Chambers had ceased mixing bread (as the dough was still on his fingers when found), and taken his pick and pan and gone to show him how rich the claim would prospect. Chambers' position when found would show that he was on his right knee, bending over, and had struck one or two blows under the bank of the claim, when he was struck a heavy blow on the back of the head with a sharp hatchet, cutting through the coat-collar and par- tially severing the spinal bone; a second blow struck on the side of the neck, severing the jugular vein. He then fell or was pulled over backwards, and again struck on the right forehead, burying the bit of the hatchet in the brain, and a fourth just above the right ear, and a fifth below the right eye and ear. Chambers was known to have about $200 in gold coin on his person, and about the same or a greater amount of gold-dust, and a gold hunting- case watch. The watch-guard was cut and the watch taken, and his pockets were turned inside out, and empty. Chambers was the fourth or fifth victim of these brutal, heathenish man-butchers within a few years in the county, and the weapons and mode of slaughter and stealthy aets were almost identical in each case.
1871.
January 8th .- The lifeless body of A. G. Miller, better known as "Spring Valley Milller," was found on a bar at the foot of a hole of water in the North Fork of the American River, below Rattle- snake Bar. He is supposed to have committed sui- cide.
August 11th. - Michael O'Hara, a farmer on Pleas- ant Grove Creek, was shot and seriously wounded by a neighbor named Thomas Carroll. They had a misunderstanding about some stock.
November 28th .- The stage from Placerville for Auburn was stopped between Georgetown and Green- wood, and robbed of $10,047.50 in dust and coin, the contents of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s treasure-box. The robber-only one man-had a fence across the road, a six-shooter slung in view, and pointed a Mis- sissippi yager at the driver's (Wm. H. Hills) head, and said: " Hand out Wells, Fargo & Co.'s box, or I'll blow your head off." Hills obeyed, and the rob- ber, who was masked, made tracks with the box. There was a white man and a Chinaman in the stage, but were not molested.
1872.
March 30th .- A. S. Rose was shot in his own house at Lincoln, between 11 and 12 o'clock, p. M. The general opinion is that the shots were not intended to kill the man, but as a scare to drive the family out of the town on account of the behavior of Mrs. Rose, his wife. Several men were arrested, also the woman, but all were discharged. The men who did the shooting wore masks.
April 5th .- Frank Steinmann, who was sentenced to State Prison for twenty-five years, for murder in this county in 1867, was pardoned out by Governor Booth.
May 22d .- Paul Grable, an old man sixty years of age, was found murdered at Shady Run. He was shot twice and stabbed, and was supposed to have considerable money.
September 7th .- - Ballenger was shot and killed by - Wright, at Dutch Flat, it was said in self-defense.
November 30th .- B. F. Gilson was stopped by two masked men, about one mile east of Lincoln, and robbed of $540.
1873.
May 24th .- Chas. S. Strobel, an old and esteemed citizen of Michigan Bluff, was brutally murdered and robbed in his own house. The murderers worked their way into his room, and with a hatchet chopped the victim's head in a terrible manner, besides stabbing him in the breast. They then rolled his safe away from the house and broke it open. The amount obtained therefrom could not be ascertained, but was at least $600 or $800. A reward of $1,000 was offered for the arrest of the murderers. Two Chinamen were, one year after- wards, convicted of the murder and executed.
July 27th .- The stage from Colfax to Grass Valley was robbed by four masked men. Seven thousand seventy-eight dollars was the amount taken from Wells, Fargo & Co., who offered a reward of $2,500 for the recovery of the money and conviction of the robbers.
September 12th .- The Auburn and Forest Hill Stage was stopped by three masked men. There were two passengers, from whom the "agents " got $300 and $80, respectively. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s box was about empty, containing only about $60.
344
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
November .- - Norman was ridden on a rail by the citizens of Sheridan for running away with a shoemaker's wife.
1874.
February .- Edward Schoeler, known as " Butch," was found murdered in front of his cabin at Indian Ravine, near Lincoln. Robbery the cause.
March 16th .- Daniel Ellis was shot and killed by J. Douglass, at Rocklin. An old grudge the cause. Ellis threatened to whip Donglass, and was shot in self-defense.
March 16th .- John Hays and John Clark, found guilty of robbing the Forest Hill stage, were sen- tenced by Judge J. Ives Fitch to a term of ten years each in State Prison.
November 1st .- James Stewart was shot and killed by - Scott, at Tahoe City. Stewart was a well-known desperado, and was killed by Scott in self-defense.
1875.
May 12th .- Bernard O'Riley was shot and killed by Thomas Campbell, at Wisconsin Hill. The parties had been drinking together, and O'Riley called Campbell some hard names. The latter went away and returned with a loaded musket, and demanded a retraction of the words. Upon getting a refusal he shot him dead, the charge entering O'Riley's breast. Campbell was tried, convicted, and sentenced to State Prison for life.
September 19th .- Chas. Anderson was shot by Gustave Fustell, at Ophir. The trouble grew ont of a dog, which Anderson asked Fustell to watch while he went somewhere. When Anderson came back both man and dog were gone, and he, following them, raised a row, with the above result. Both were old residents of Ophir. Anderson died four days after the shooting. Fustell was examined and discharged.
December 22d .- Four noted robbers, among whom were " Red Antone," Isador Padillo, and Trinidad Rodrigues, were captured at the Spanish settlement in Doty's Ravine, by Sheriff McCormick, assisted by Sheriff Daniels, of Butte; Sheriff Cunningham, of San Joaquin; Chief of Police Myers, of Stockton, and a large posse made up of deputies and citizens. These robbers were known to be participants in many of the stage robberies committed in different sections of the county. Creat caution was necessary for their capture. etc.
1876.
January 18th .- S. R. Kidder, a prominent mine owner of Iowa llill, was shot and almost instantly killed. He bad employed a man to watch his sluices, and becoming suspicious that his watchman was not doing his duty, he set out to watch for himself, and was mistaken for a robber and shot. He had given his watchman orders to shoot any one he found about the mine.
February 4th .- The Forest Hill stage was robbed
of $10, that being the total amount contained in Wells, Fargo & Co.'s box. This was within a mile of Auburn.
February 5th .- Forest Hill and Auburn stage again robbed. This time the robbers got $1,300 from Wells, Fargo & Co.'s box.
April .- Henry Miller was stabbed and killed near Lincoln, by Alexander Fox. Hot words the cansc. The men were wood-choppers. The Coro- ner's jury gave a verdict of unjustifiable homicide.
1877
October 23d .- August Behlty was shot and killed by his brother, Albert Behlty, at Iowa Hill.
November 4th .- N. V. Waggoner was shot and killed by Paschal Varnum, at Gold Bar, about six miles above Auburn. The shooting grew out of a business difficulty.
1878.
July 5th .- George Granger was shot and instantly killed by J. R. Tracy, at Dutch Flat. The shoot- ing was about a trifling money matter,
1879.
November 27th .- Theodore Wilson was instantly killed by Herman Gallagher, at Penryn. The trouble grew out of land matters.
1880.
January 4th .- The Georgetown and Auburn stage was stopped and robbed by two masked men. They got about $200.
May 15th .- The stage from Michigan Bluff to Forest Hill was robbed again on this date, when about one and one-half miles from Auburn. The robbers got $88, two silver and one gold watch from the passengers.
May 22d .- A serious difficulty occurred on the old MeDonald Ranch, about seven miles east of Sheri- dan, which resulted in the killing of Daniel Haley, a young man of about nineteen years of age, by W. K. Fenton. Fenton was examined and found to have acted in self-defense.
August 6th .- The stage from Auburn to Forest Hill was stopped near the Grizzly Bear House, about ten miles above Auburn, by two masked men. There were two passengers in the stage-one a Catholic priest named Cassidy, and a Mr. McAlice, of Oakland. They got 880 and a $250 gold watch from Mr. Cassidy and $100 in coin from Mr. McAlice. They were provided with chisels and hammers, and proceeded to undo Wells, Fargo & Co.'s box, from which they got $1,530.
September 30th .- J. P. Bullard, an old gentleman, was shot and killed by C. N. Adams, Deputy Sheriff, who was acting as guard on the Forest Hill stage. The affair was very unfortunate. Mr. Bullard, for a few evenings previous, had been meeting the stage at the lower watering trough on the North Fork Hill, and going with it a few miles as a guard. Adams did not know this. The evening in ques-
RESIDENCE OF A. F. BOARDMAN, AUBURN, PLACER CO. CAL.
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345
MILITARY.
tion Mr. Bullard and his son were together. Mr. Adams, supposing them to be robbers, shot and killed the old gentleman and fired at the NOIl. When the horses were stopped it was discovered that an innocent man had been shot. The C'oro- ner's jury found that Mr. Bullard came to his death through misapprehension, being mistaken for a robber by Mr. Adams.
November 1st .- The Georgetown and Anburn stage was stopped and robbed of $2,444.30 while coming up the North Fork grade, about a mile above Auburn.
December 7th .- The residence of J. T. Ashley, in Auburn, was robbed in broad daylight of valuables, etc., to the amount of $200.
1881.
May 25th .- The stage running between the town of Dutch Flat and Dutch Flat Station was stopped by two masked men, and Wells, Fargo & Co.'s box was robbed of about $25.
July 27tb .- George MeClintock, Joseph Sprout, James Scanlan, and George Green, who were con- victed of breaking into a railroad car at Rocklin and stealing goods to the amount of $250 in value, were sentenced to the State Prison, the first three for a term of fifteen years each, and Green for five years. These were boys all under fifteen years of age. The first three had been previously convicted of crime.
CHAPTER XLII. MILITARY.
First Military Organization-The Miners' Guard-State Militia -Placer Rifles-The War of the Rebellion-"I Wish i Was in Dixie's Land "-First Comp iny for the War-Camp Sigel-Defending Colonel Forman-Movements of the Vol- unteers-Murders by Secessionists-End of the War- Grand Army of the Republic.
IN the history of such a political division of the earth or of a nation as a county, the record of its wars, military organizations, military operations, its battle-fields, the engagements thereon, the causes and effects, and the roster of its soldiers, under ordi- mary circumstances, must be brief. Generally, his- tory is but the record of battles and revolutions, the strife of ambitious and selfish men to rule and profit by the distress of the people; but, happily, in this pleasant State by the peaceful sea few have been the battles to ensanguine the historie page. " Happy are the people," says Montesquiean, " whose annals are brief in the history books." That philosopher referred to such a period when only the great deeds of kings and generals upon the field, the grandeur of royalty, and the proud movements of mighty armies were deemed worthy of notice. Under such a view there would be but little to say of Placer County, or of California, but since the era of' Louis XV, through blood and battle and revolution, governments have arisen among men that are con-
trolled by the people, and their annals present many a pleasant and interesting page.
FIRST MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
The first military organization in Placer County was at Illinoistown, in December, 1849, of a com- pany called the " California Blades," for a campaign against the Indians, who had committed many dar- ing robberies, and were suspected of some murders. This company was not recruited under the form of law, and its roster will not be found in the archives of the State; nor was it armed and equipped in the manner of armies of a great government. Even the names of its officers are lost to history by their title and rank, and, what is a singular exception, their bills for salary, arms, ammunition, forage, transpor- tation, and damages, swell no list of " war claims " for annual presentment, and subject of demagogie appeals on the floors of Congress. Nevertheless, the California Blades was a stalwart company, armed with long rifles, vagers, and shot guns, dragoon and pepper-box pistols, buteher and Bowie-knives; and with powder-horn and bullet-pouches, blankets, and "hard-tack " and bacon - made several marches against the Indians, killed and laid waste, and, after the manner of larger armies, struck such terror to the foe that lasting peace followed their victory. No outrages were committed against the savages not justified by the occasion, and as soon as the Iadians ceased their depredations hostilities ended. and from that day they were kindly treated. In the chapter entitled " Reminiscenees of Illinois. town," are given the causes which led to the retalia- tory movement.
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