USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 15
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As the new manufacturing era begins to dawn for the Pacific Coast, and especially for the San Francisco Bay region, Contra Costa County will develop faster than ever industrially, To this region will come the greatest plants to be found in the West. That this is no idle prophecy
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is shown by the immense factories already located in Contra Costa County.
Among the peculiar and distinctive advantages that Contra Costa County possesses for manufacturing and commercial enterprises, is the deep water-frontage along its shore line, where the largest ocean- going ships can be accommodated at all times. Paralleling the shore are two great transcontinental railroads, the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe, with a maximum of sixty-three trains daily. Thus Contra Costa County is assured of the best transportation facilities by both land and water. Surrounded on three sides by water, which insures a temperate climate, this section also enjoys cheap river transportation. The eastern shores bathe in the fresh waters of the San Joaquin, while on the north and west are the salt waters of San Francisco Bay. For two dollars a ton fruit is carried from Martinez to San Francisco, a distance of thirty-five miles, the rivers steamers giving practically an express service. Fruit picked at five o'clock in the evening is delivered in San Francisco early the following morning.
The eastern section of the county is rapidly responding to two vast improvement projects-irrigation and reclamation. The irrigation ac- tivities have been described at length in another portion of this work. A large part of the reclaimed land of the delta of the San Joaquin is in Contra Costa County. These delta lands repeat in California the story of productivity of the deltas of the Nile, the Euphrates, and the Mississippi. Reclamation is effected by levees built by clam-shell dredg- ers, immense machines operated by steam-engines and equipped with electric plants and powerful search-lights, enabling the work to go forward night and day. The levees average a height of fourteen feet and a width of a hundred and twenty-five feet at the base. The crops are irrigated by water carried over the levee by siphons. When the irrigation is completed the surplus water is thrown back into the stream by immense pumps worked by electric power. In the process of levee construction navigable channels are cut around every island. The crops are marketed by river boats and barges at low transportation cost. On these lands are grown two-thirds of the potatoes, beans, onions, celery, and asparagus produced in the State. As grass-lands, for hay and forage, they have no equal. At many points dairying is an established industry of long standing, and the reputation of the delta
Robert Long
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butter is wide-spread. It is safe to say that reclamation activities of the future will far exceed those of the past, bringing under cultivation large tracts of hitherto unproductive lands.
In the interior section of the county are a dozen or more fertile and picturesque valleys, in which are grown the choicest orchard fruits and the finest variety of grapes. The famous San Ramon Valley and the Alhambra, Pacheco, Ygnacio, and Clayton valleys in reality com- prise one large valley, continuous for about thirty miles, and varying in width from one-half to fifteen miles. It is supposed that a broad arm of the bay once penetrated this section, as the lands are sedimentary and very rich, with a fine depth of soil. Here are found the large orchards of pears, prunes, peaches, almonds, apricots, and walnuts. The valley region also includes the smaller and separate Stone, San Pablo, Pinole, Rodeo, Franklin, and Briones valleys. These valleys are also quite rich and are all well watered by running streams. A portion of the great San Joaquin Valley is in eastern Contra Costa County, where its average width is about twenty miles. Sloping gently from Mount Diablo to the San Joaquin River, it adds sixty thousand acres to the alluvial soil of that region. Some of the best farming lands of the county are found there. Some of the choicest and coziest home spots in the entire county are in the valley region.
Exceptional school advantages are to be found in Contra Costa County. The county now maintains seven union high schools, as fol- lows: The Liberty Union High School, at Brentwood; the Riverview High School, at Antioch ; the Mount Diablo High School, at Concord ; the San Ramon Valley High School, at Danville; the Alhambra High School, at Martinez; the John Swett High School, at Crockett; and the Richmond High School, at Richmond. Provision is made for the cost of educating children who do not live in any high-school district. It is now possible for a child in any part of the county to obtain a high-school education without cost or unusual hardship.
Keeping pace with all other sections of the country, the active ex- ponents of the good-roads movement are working with enthusiasm to bring the roads of the county to the highest state of perfection. Their success is attested by numerous scenic boulevards in the various sections of the county. While much remains to be done, the movement received a great impetus from the location of the State highway
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through the county. The activity of the various towns in street improve- ments has also contributed largely toward the making of better roads. Each year sees more and more automobile travel, which has been so great a factor in bringing good roads throughout the land.
In taking leave of Contra Costa County the writer craves the indul- gence of the reader if he has at times appeared to resort to a large extent in superlatives. Nothing short of superlatives will serve in de- scribing many of the fields in which this section excels. Emerging from a romantic background, beginning in the days of the old Spanish Dons, her commercial rise has largely been achieved in the past dozen years. Who shall say what the next decade shall bring ?
CHAPTER XVI
EARLY CRIMINAL HISTORY
THE PEOPLE VS. WEMPETT AND WAMPETT .- On September 28, 1850, two Indians named Wempett and Wampett were found guilty of man- slaughter by a jury, and sentenced to pay a fine of one dollar and two weeks' imprisonment, but who their victim was, or what were the cir- cumstances of the case, the records do not divulge.
MURDER OF APARICIO MORALES .- On May 29, 1852, José Antonio, an Indian, stabbed Aparicio Morales at or near the residence of Doctor Tennent in Pinole, from the effects of which Morales died. Antonio was duly tried before C. P. Hester, district judge, found guilty July 9, 1852, and sentenced to be hanged. He was executed August 20, 1852. He was hanged from the limb of a sycamore tree in the suburbs of the village of Martinez. A barrel was placed in an old cart, and the condemned man required to stand on that ticklish foundation while the rope was adjust- ed. The cart was finally driven away, and the poor fellow tumbled off the barrel and into eternity.
KILLING OF IGNACIO FLORES, ALIAS FIGARO .- The victim in this case was killed at a place known as the "Chicken Ranch," on October 30, 1853. He came to his death by severe wounds from knife and pistol at the hands of Miguel Nabaro, his wife Antonia and Rafael Soto being apprehended as accessories to the act. On trial the accessory Antonia was discharged, but there is no record of what became of the others.
MURDER OF JAMES M. GORDON .- The particulars of this deed were communicated to a Stockton newspaper by Doctor Marsh at the time of its occurrence. About seven o'clock in the evening of October 2, 1854, three men came to the house of J. M. Gordon, near Doctor Marsh's, and desired him to give them directions about the road, saying that they had lost their way. As soon as Gordon went to his door, he was shot by one
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of the party ; another of them fired at him also, but missed him. One of the balls struck Gordon, inflicting a mortal wound. Gordon fled in the darkness, and with difficulty reached Doctor Marsh's house, about two miles distant. The object of the ruffians was undoubtedly robbery, as the house was found to be ransacked. The men were traced and ulti- mately arrested in San Francisco. They were Henry H. Monroe, An- drew Hollenstein, and Thomas Addison. Monroe was duly tried for murder, convicted, and hanged November 24, 1854. While awaiting his execution Addison attempted his rescue, for which he was indicted by the Grand Jury, and imprisoned, but on January 20, 1855, made his es- cape from jail and has never been captured. The other accomplice, Hol- lenstein, was handed over to the custody of the sheriff of Solano Coun- ty in the same month.
KILLING OF TERRENCE H. McDONALD .- It appears that on June II, 1856, Rafael, an Indian, and Isabel, an Indian squaw, stabbed Terrence H. McDonald on the right side of the neck, from which he died in- stantly, the deed being committted in his own dwelling. September 5, 1856, they were convicted of manslaughter, the man sentenced to ten years and the woman to eighteen months imprisonment in the State prison. There was also an accomplice, who was discharged.
MURDER OF DOCTOR JOHN MARSH .- Perhaps no more horrible crime than the murder of this pioneer can be found in the pages of any his- tory, and certainly no better example of justice following the guilty than that which tracked one of the murderers to punishment eleven years after the commission of his foul deed. Doctor Marsh had been for many years-long before the American occupation of California- the owner of the Los Meganos Rancho, of which he became possessed, as we have elsewhere stated, by purchase, in the year 1837. Here he dwelt, surrounded by his people, flocks, and herds, for full two decades. On or about the 24th of September, 1856, business called him from his farm to Martinez, some thirty miles distant. In the gray dawn of the following morning his horse and buggy were found in the town of Martinez, but without an occupant. Then followed the search, which led to the discovery of his body in a roadside ditch, immediately upon which the pursuit of the murderers was undertaken. On the day fol-
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lowing José Antonio Olivas was captured ; after making confession as to certain money found in his possession, taken from the body of the murdered victim, and implicating Felipe Moreno as principal in the deed, he was tried and convicted, but, escaping from jail, he eluded jus- tice for more than ten years. In September, 1866, he was recaptured in Santa Barbara County, and brought to Contra Costa to await his trial. About the same time Felipe Moreno was taken in Sacramento, where he was going under the alias of Don Castro. When arrested he made des- perate efforts to escape, but being mastered was quickly handcuffed and incarcerated. The third party implicated in the terrible murder, Juan Garcia, has up to the present time eluded justice. The trial of Felipe Moreno for the murder of Doctor Marsh was commenced on Saturday, September 23, 1867, and on the following Thursday the jury brought a verdict of murder in the second degree against the prisoner. The prin- cipal and only positive witness for the prosecution on this trial was José Antonio Olivas, one of the three persons indicted for the murder. Sep- arate trials for the prisoners had been procured by District Attorney Mills, with the purpose of using the testimony of Olivas for the State and corroborating it, as to material points, by that of unimpeachable and disinterested witnesses. The defense relied mainly upon being able to prove an alibi ; but notwithstanding the very able efforts of the coun- sel for the prisoner, M. S. Chase, of Martinez, the testimony failed to convince the jury, as the verdict shows, although it was not as severe as might have been expected, possibly because of the youth of the prisoner, and the doubt remaining as to whether he may have been the principal actor in the perpetration of the murder, or merely an accessory. The story of the Doctor's death, as told by Olivas, is as follows: On the morning of September 24, 1856, the date of the murder, José Antonio Olivas and Felipe Moreno, aged twenty-five and nineteen years respect- ively, in company with some females, came into the village of Martinez, where, having attended church, they proceeded to Pinole, returning from there between four and five o'clock that same evening. They al- most immediately continued their journey to Pacheco alone, and when reaching the hill about a mile from Martinez paused a while to await the arrival of one Garcia, who was expected to meet them. Olivas then went ' on ahead for about two hundred yards, when he was overtaken by his comrades, and the three urged their horses into a gallop. While so pro-
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ceeding they met a man named Swanson. Not long after this circum- stance Doctor Marsh was observed to be coming in his buggy. Here- upon he was accosted by Olivas, who asked him for certain money due him for services as a vaquero, to which the Doctor replied that he would be paid on his return from San Francisco, but that he had no money with him then. The deceased now rode away, while the party remained behind and concocted a scheme to kill him, but finally arranged that he should only be robbed. They then followed in pursuit, and on overtaking their victim, Olivas, by Moreno's orders, seized the Doctor's horse by the head, while Moreno jumped into the buggy and Garcia stood guard alongside. The deceased at once faced his enemy and said, "Do you want to kill me?" to which he received the reply, "No," from Olivas, and "Yes" from Moreno, and, notwithstanding the dissuasions of his companions, this youthful fiend slashed the unfortunate man in the face with a knife. He was then dragged out of the vehicle and fell to the ground, being before, however, wounded in the hand; Olivas having then dismounted, as he says, for the purpose of assisting the Doctor, who came toward and struck at him, a scuffle ensued, Olivas crying to Moreno to free him. Thereupon Moreno observed, "Why should I let go this old cabron?" and forthwith stabbed his prostrate victim in the side. Upon receiving this wound the Doctor cried aloud, when Moreno was prepared to repeat the operation, but was pushed away by Olivas, who parried a cut made at him. The Doctor now attempted to rise, but was only able to stagger a short distance and fell into a ditch dead. His pockets were then rifled by Garcia and Moreno, who afterward cut his throat, the deed being witnessed by Olivas from his saddle. This ter- rible crime being perpetrated, the triumvirate repaired to the top of a convenient hill and there divided the booty, whence they repaired to some houses for the night and afterward fled, and for ten years and up- ward escaped the iron hand of the law. Moreno was sentenced to im- prisonment for life in the State prison on November 29, 1867.
MURDER OF NICHOLAS BRENZEL .- A most atrocious murder was com- mitted near the San Domingo Rancho on May 21, 1859. A man named John Mohr was accused of killing Nicholas Brenzel by striking him with a scythe, and was duly arrested in Martinez. From the testimony of the wife of the deceased, it would appear that Brenzel and Mohr, who were
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both Germans, were engaged during the year in cultivating a ranch to- gether. Mohr owed Brenzel several hundred dollars borrowed money, and Brenzel asked him if he would not pay a portion of it, as he wished to purchase some grain-sacks. On Mohr's refusal to let his partner have any money, Brenzel replied that he would go to San Francisco, borrow the money there, and purchase the sacks on his own account. This con- versation took place in the house on the morning of the crime. A few minutes afterward the wife of Brenzel heard a cry of distress, and on going to the door saw Mohr with a scythe-blade in his hand, and near by was the prostrate and bleeding form of her husband. She asked Mohr why he had killed her husband. He replied, "I did it because I wanted to," and then threw down the scythe, seized a spade, and endeavored to strike the dying man again.
KILLING OF AN UNKNOWN MAN .- At an early hour on the morning of October 13, 1859, several citizens living in the vicinity of Lafayette missed their saddles, and it was at once conjectured that horse-thieves had visited the neighborhood, several horses having been stolen from that district a week previously. The alarm was given, and in a very short time a party of six or eight citizens started out and soon got on the trail of the supposed plunderers, those in pursuit being guided by fresh tracks of horses. The trail led across the hills in the direction of San Ramon Valley, crossing it about a mile on the west side of Alamo, and thence toward Mount Diablo. They proved to the Mexicans who had picketed their horses and encamped on the ground close by, having with them saddles belonging to David Carrick and Homer Shuey. They were sud- denly surprised by their pursuers and ordered to surrender, a command to which they paid no attention, but endeavored to make their escape. They were fired upon by the citizens, when one of their number fell mortally wounded, having been shot through the head. The other two took to the chaparral, but as soon as they became aware that the pursu- ing party was endeavoring to capture them at all hazards the rascals came out of the bush and gave themselves up. The wounded man was conveyed to the Walnut Creek House, where he died the same night. He was a Mexican, apparently about twenty-five years of age, and on his body was found a letter from the noted desperado, Tiburcio Vas- quez, dated from the State prison at San Quentin, and bearing the super-
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scription, "Sra. Dona Guadalupe Cantua-by the hand of S. T. Bsa," who the victim doubtless was.
KILLING OF EDWARD NORRIS .- This tragedy took place at Conkling's Hotel, on the road between Lafayette and Oakland, on the evening of December 11, 1859. The particulars, as gleaned from the Contra Costa Gazette, are as follows : A. H. Houston, of San Francisco, was the own- er of some five hundred acres of the Sobrante claim, on the San Pablo Creek. The property had been squatted on by settlers, with all of whom, save one, Mr. Houston had compromised, so as to obtain full posses- sion. This one, a man named Edward Norris, had fenced in some seven- ty acres of Houston's land and refused to give up possession. On De- cember 10th Houston went over to his ranch for the purpose of making some arrangement toward a peaceable settlement of the dispute. He visited the house of Mr. Norris on Sunday, the IIth, but not finding the latter at home, left a request that he would on his return call at his (Houston's) farm-house and have a talk with him before the hour necessary to start to take the last boat that was to leave Oakland. Hous- ton then returned to his house, and, after waiting as long as possible, he left word with his father-in-law, W. C. Pease, who was in charge of the property, to settle the matter peacefully, by paying Norris a rea- sonable sum to leave quietly. Norris, however, did not come to the house, and in the evening Pease went over to the hotel near by, kept by Conkling, for the purpose of getting supper. While eating, a crowd of men arrived at the hotel, among whom was Norris. They were in the bar-room while Pease was in the dining-room. The conversation of Norris and his friends was upon the matter in dispute between the for- mer and Houston. Pease, hearing his name mentioned in not very com- plimentary terms, stepped to the door of the apartment in which Norris and the others were conversing, and, drawing a pistol, demanded to know who had anything to say against "Old Pease," at the same time raising his pistol, cocking it, and threatening to shoot the first man who raised a finger. Norris, who was in the act of drinking as Pease en- tered, put down his glass on the table; some harsh words then passed between Pease and Norris; the latter, who was unarmed, reached for- ward to seize the pistol, when Pease instantly fired, and Norris fell
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EARLY CRIMINAL HISTORY
dead, having been shot through the heart. Pease was tried for man- slaughter and on January 26, 1861, was acquitted.
KILLING OF SADELLO CATIYO .- During a drunken brawl at the house of José Silva, in Rodeo Valley, on the night of May 10, 1860, a Chileno named Sadello Catiyo, was killed by his countryman, Assesso Gayarado.
MURDER OF GUADALUPE TAPIA .- Guadalupe Tapia, a Mexican, was mortally wounded with a knife on July 4, 1860, by Ramon Ruiz. They were seen together near Alamo, each having a horse, though dismount- ed, and just previous to the attack deceased was observed to be reclin- ing on the ground holding his animal by his bridle. Ruiz now suddenly rushed upon him with a knife, inflicting a terrible wound in the abdo- men, from the effects of which he died in a few hours. The murderer was arrested, but at his trial, which took place January 16, 1861, he was discharged, the jury disagreeing, there being eleven in favor of conviction of murder in the first degree and one for manslaughter.
KILLING OF N. NATHAN .- The Gazette of February 15, 1862, says : "The body of N. Nathan was found near Pinole a few days since, much decayed." The verdict of the inquest was that he had been robbed and murdered. His license as a peddler bore date about the middle of De- cember, 1861. He was aged about twenty-one years and had no relatives in California.
KILLING OF PATRICK FINNEGAN .- On the evening of November 30, 1862, Patrick Finnegan was shot at Clayton, under the following cir- cumstances : It would appear that a troupe of minstrels gave a perform- ance at the Clayton House in the evening to a rather noisy audience. At its conclusion one of the company was somewhat roughly handled by certain parties present, and R. L. Bradley handed him a pistol, telling him to protect himself. He did not use it, but returned it soon after. One account of the affair was that in passing the pistol back it was ac- cidentally discharged; while another eye-witness stated positively that on receiving it Bradley willfully shot Finnegan. The ball struck de- ceased on the left side of his nose, passing into the head and killing him instantly. Bradley mounted a horse and made his escape.
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HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
KILLING OF JAMES MAGEE .- On December 1, 1862, James Magee was shot and killed by James Tice. There had been a difficulty between the parties, and in the afternoon in question Tice, who had been drink- ing, went to the ranch of the deceased, and some hard words passed be- tween them. Tice at length wished to shake hands, to which Magee.ob- jected, telling him he was drunk, and ordering him off the premises. Magee had a shot-gun in his hand at the time, which he had gone into the house for. He turned as if to leave the spot, when Tice presented his pistol and shot him in the left side. He exclaimed, "Oh, I'm a dead man sure !" and almost immediately expired. Tice mounted his horse, rode to Martinez, and put himself in the custody of the sheriff. Deceased owned a valuable ranch in the Moraga Valley, and had accumulated a handsome property. Tice was duly tried before Hon. S. F. Reynolds, district judge, May 30, 1863, when a jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
MURDER OF LOUIS D'ALENCON .- On the night of Thursday, or the morning of Friday, March 12-13, 1863, Louis d'Alencon, the keeper of the Valley House near Martinez, was murdered by some person or per- sons unknown. The last that was seen of the deceased alive was on Thursday night by the hired man, an old friend and fellow countryman who lodged with him, when, having shut up the house, they partook of a drink together before retiring for the night, the man then going to bed leaving D'Alencon in the bar-room, where he was in the frequent hab- it of sitting up all night engaged in writing, he being a regular correspon- dent of the French newspapers in San Francisco. The companion soon fell asleep and was not disturbed by any unusual noise, but thought that had there been such he would have noticed it, as he was used to D'Alen- con's habit of being up and moving about all night. At a very early hour on Friday morning, Pancho Flores, passing the Valley House on the way to a rodeo, noted the door ajar, and saw the body of D'Alen- con lying on the floor between it and the bar. Pancho tried to enter, but was unable to open the door wide enough on account of the position in which the inanimate form lay. He therefore went around to the back of the house, awoke the hired man, and asked him what drunken man was asleep in the bar. The two then went to ascertain, and were horrified to
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find D'Alencon stretched on his back on the floor, dead, and weltering in his blood.
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