Mendocino County

History

History of Mendocino County California - Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880

HOMICIDES OF MENDOCINO COUNTY.

        "AND the Lord said unto Cain, Where is thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper ? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand, when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield to thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth." Thus is graphically given us on the page of divine history the record of the first murder that ever the sun shone upon or the eye of God looked upon; and the woeful curse pronounced upon the author of that foulest of all crimes by the Supreme Judge of the universe: And how tenaciously has that curse followed the generations of life-takers down from Cain to the present day. "A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth !" How natural when a man has taken that from a fellow-man which no power of his can restore, no amends make any adequate reparation, has taken his life and shed his blood, to became a fugitive The first impulse is to flee. A power he knows not of until the horrid deed is done impels him on, and ere he is aware he has become a fugitive. And he becomes a vagabond, too No matter if the lax operations of the courts allow him to return to society, the deed has been committed, the blood is on his hands just the same, and all who know him can see it. He can see it, too, far more plainly than others, for it is burned into his consciousness by the flaming tongue of conscience. A chasm is riven between him and human society, and wherever he goes if it is known that he has blood upon his hands, the finger of humanity is pointed at him, and he hears the voice of outraged and, oftentimes, cheated justice exclaiming in loudest tones: "He is a murderer." The vengeance of the Author of mankind justly follows him up who presumes to take the life of a human being — a being created in the image of the Divine Creator. After the waters of the flood had subsided, and the generations of men were again starting out to run the course of destiny, God spake to Noah and his sons, saying: "And surely your blood of your lives will I require. . . . .at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man." And when the people of his choice were on the road to enter upon the rich inheritance which had been given to their fathers hundreds of years before, he caused them to halt, and amid the thunderings of Sinai he declared to them in language explicit, simple and grand, "Thou shalt not kill." And when the great master, Jesus, came he embraced all law, all gospel, and all ethical codes into one grand, glorious sentence which stands emblazoned upon the sacred page in letters of living light, and which shall shed forth rays of brightest effulgence all down the ages of the great eternity of God, when time shall have ceased, and only immortality exists. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

        On the leaves of a leather-bound memorandum book, found in the heart of an Arizona desert, the following self-reproaches and self-accusations were written in pencil. Near by it lay the half decomposed remains of a human being—a murderer—whose curse had truly been more than he could bear. How he suffered let his own simple story relate as placed on record by the same hand that had sent a human soul unprepared into the presence of its Maker.

        "Blood on my hands ! A blur of crimson before my eyes ! The skies are brazen above me. The sun is sick with gore. The winds from the desert shriek at me—shriek and howl; and this one word only do they wail in my ears--this dreadful word, ' Murder!' I stop my ears with my hands; I cry aloud to drown their wailing voices. I cannot drown it. I cannot keep it out. It pierces me—pierces me through and through.

        "What is it? I am bewildered. Why am I flying as one who seeks the ends of the earth? Yesterday earth had no horror for me. The winds were only winds—not demon voices. Ah, now I recollect. God pity me! Pity? I forgot! He only can curse me. Annihilate me, O God! Blot me out from the universe. That would be pity.

        "It all comes back to me now. It is seared in my brain. The long search for the mine; the days in the desert, in the mountains; and then, behind that hill that overlooks the 'Valley of Death' the vein of white, shining silver—wealth for a king. Then it swept over me—my years of poverty and toil, the cold sneer of the rich as they saw my penury—and here was wealth. I would have it all—all. Not even my partner should share the treasure. I was mad. He stooped to pick up the precious metal, and I struck him—him, the friend of my toils, and one who had never failed me—him, who had shared his food with me, who had slept upon the desert, in the mountains, under the same blanket; who had nursed me in sickness—I struck him to the earth. God, I was mad ! Then I was alone with my wealth; with my wealth—ah! and the dead. I had not thought of the cold still face that would lie there after the blow; of the sightless eyes staring to heaven. Then the madness left me. I threw myself beside him; prayed him to awake; felt for the heart beat. Dead—dead! O my God! Dead !—the friend of my toils. And I was a murderer—a murderer ! "

Here some leaves were missing, and the next entries legibly represent him as a veritable vagabond :—

"Chill with guilt and fear,

White froth curse and scorn,

Out to the wilderness drear

He stumbles through brier and thorn,

With a smitten face to haunt him,

Beckoning toward the west,

Touching him here and there

With a bruise of a ghastly stain;

Stinging his numb despair

To the jagged quicks of pain."

        "Wandering, still wandering. Earth has no rest for my feet; and I am so weary ! When I stop the earth spurns me, and the pitiless skies cry: On ! on! ' Starving ! Penniless! and there, back there, is wealth untold. Yet I dare not seek it, dare not tell of it ; for there, too, is that cold, still face with the sightless eyes gazing at the heavens, and the red blood crying, ever crying to God. I wander on, and I ever feel upon my brow a brand like Cain. It is a brand of blood—hot, burning blood. I walk among men and I feel that they must see it—it is there. I pull my hat over my brow—closely; O, so closely—down to my eyes, but they must see it. The brand of Cain! The brand of Cain ! O God, it is upon me! For days I have wandered in the mountains, thirsting, hungering, trembling at the stir of a leaf. Yet death comes not to me. The wild beasts avoid me. The savages pass me by, and harm me not. I suffer, faint—but do not die."

        How vividly has Thomas Hood been inspired to portray the feelings of a man whose hands have been imbued with a fellow-man's blood, and whose heart throb has been stilled by one fell blow. Aye, indeed:—

"And how the sprites of injured men

Shriek upward from the sod,

Ay, how the ghostly hand will point

To show the burial clod;

And tell how murderers walk the earth

Beneath the curse of Cain,

With crimson clouds before their eyes,

And flames about their brain;

For blood has left upon their souls

Its everlasting stain!

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

One that had never done me wrong—

A feeble man, and old;

I led him to a lonely field,

The moon shone clear and cold:

Now here, said I, this man shall die,

And I will have his gold.!

Two sudden blows with a ragged stick,

And one with a heavy stone,

One hurried. gash with a hasty knife,—

And then the deed was done!

There was nothing lying at my foot

But lifeless flesh and bone!

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

But lo, the universal air

Seemed lit with ghastly flame,—
Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes

Were looking down in blame; 

I took the dead man by his hand

And called upon his name.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

My head was like an ardent coal,

My heart as solid ice;

My wretched, wretched soul, I knew,

Was at the Devil's price;

A dozen times I groaned—the dead
Had never groaned but twice !

*          *          *          *          *          *          *         *

Then down I cast me on my face,

And first began to weep,

For I knew my secret then was one

That earth refused to keep ;

Or land or sea, though he should be

Ten thousand fathoms deep.

So wills the fierce avenging Sprite
Till blood atones for blood !

        In working up the homicides that have occurred in Mendocino county, for this work, it has been our purpose as far as possible to use only the testimony of witnesses, and with that object in view thorough search was made through all the papers on file in the Clerk's office. Some few cases are taken from the accounts published in the newspapers at the time, hence may be considered tolerably accurate, though not so much so as the facts brought out in testimony would be. We regret very much indeed that our history must be so incomplete as it is in regard to the homicides, but this is owing to several reasons, chief of which is that in the most of the cases but little of the testimony is filed with the papers. The citizens of this State pay stenographic reporters for services rendered in writing all the testimony of every murder trial in the State, and these reports should be filed with the County Clerk for a matter of future reference. Some men were never brought to trial at all, while others were admitted to bail and fled the country. We have omitted none for any other reason than that we were unable to obtain the testimony in regard to it. We have given no case undue prominence only as the facts warranted it, and were more fully obtainable. It is worthy of remark that out of the more than half hundred men who have committed murder in Mendocino county since 1859, only one man has been hung at the present writing (August, 1880). This may, in some degree, account for the fact that there have been so many murders in the county. Bonds are so easily obtainable, and the security from conviction so great that there is little to apprehend from murdering a man. In fact it is a matter of record that a man, at the spring term of the Superior Court for 1880, received a sentence to the State's prison for a term of one year longer duration for larceny than did another man at the same term for manslaughter. So long as that is the prevailing sentiment so long must it be expected that the columns of the local papers will be headed almost weekly with "Still Blood Flows," and similar announcements stating that another murder has been added to the already overburdened list which is to be recorded on the pages of the history of Mendocino county.

        People vs. George Dutton.—On the 15th day of November, 1858, in Long valley, Mendocino county, George Dutton shot William Poe through the abdomen under the following circumstances, as testified to by J. Lambert, an eyewitness: "William Poe went to work on a place in Long valley on the 15th of November, 1858; George and Edward Dutton came to where he was at work. George asked Poe what he was doing there; he said he was going to fence in a piece of ground. Dutton claimed the ground—said it was on his land.  Poe had been at work on the place about three weeks. Poe said to George Dutton, that if that was not his (Poe's) place, he (Dutton) had moved the lines. Dutton said he did not care a d—n if he (Dutton) had moved the lines, and jammed his fist into Mr. Poe's face, and told him he was a mind to mash him; then Poe stepped back about two steps. George Dutton drew a revolver and fired at him; then Poe struck him with a hoe ; the blow knocked him down; Dutton raised and fired again. Edward Dutton now came running up where they were fighting with a knife in his left hand, and struck Poe with his fist under the ear. Five shots were fired, one of which took effect.  Poe lived till the 20th of November, when he died. Both George and Edward were arrested, and the above facts were established and the jury found that "Edward Dutton was an accessory to the murder, and that he did aid, abet, incite, counsel and command the said George Dutton to do the murder." A true bill was found against both of the men by the grand jury, with bail fixed at $5,000.00. On the 23d of November, 1859, Edward Dutton was admitted to bail in the sum of $2,500.00, by virtue of a habeas corpus. The records are silent in regard to any further action in the matter.

        People vs. John B. Hargrave.—On the 13th of December, 1861, John B. Hargrave shot and killed William Atkinson (alias Three-fingered Jack), at Nevarra, Big River township; under the following circumstances, as testified to by Louis Breckenridge, who was present at the time: "Last Friday (December 13, 1861), I think the sun was perhaps an hour high, I was standing on Hargrave's bar-room porch. He came to the door with a spy-glass in his hand and looked up the road towards the Albion. I looked that way and saw three men coming; I asked him who they were, and he said one was Destinel, one was Jim Greenwood, and one was Three-fingered Jack.' He went back into the store, and in a moment he came out, and I saw that he had a pistol in his hand behind him. When they had got within fifty yards of the gate I then heard the click of a pistol lock, and by the sound thought it was cocked; I then started to go out of the gate and met Atkinson at the gate. All three of the men then went towards the house, and when near the porch Hargrave stepped forth from the side of the door. He said to Atkinson—' You are the d—n s— o-- a b— that's been talking around (that) you will make me mind you and keep my place.' Atkinson said—' I never have said it.' You did, you d— s— o— a b— it was brought to me direct to-day.' Atkinson denied it again; I think he stepped partly behind Greenwood so as to keep Greenwood between him and Hargrave. Atkinson, I think, then fired a pistol; I heard the report and saw the smoke, but I was not where I could see the pistol. Almost immediately I heard another report of a pistol, but I thought it was fired by Hargrave; they then got together and began scuffling, both having hold of the pistol. Heard another shot, and heard Atkinson say—' O dear, Jim, O dear, Jim!' Heard two more shots—five in all—and in a few moments Atkinson was dead on the ground. There were two wounds on him, one in the breast, nearly in the center; the ball had passed through, ranging to the right and lodged near the skin in the back to the right of the backbone; the other ball-hole was just below and a little back of the point of the shoulder, on the right shoulder, ranging downwards through the stomach."

        Hargrave gave himself up to the Justice of the Peace, William Heeser, who held him to answer before the Grand Jury, which body found a true bill of murder against him. He was admitted to bail, which he forfeited by going away and not appearing at the trial. He came back, however, in 1870, and stood his trial, and was acquitted for lack of evidence.

        This difficulty grew out of land troubles, as, in fact, have many of the murders of Mendocino county. On the 8th of January, 1861, the records of the court show that Hargrave began a suit of ejectment against William Atkinson and John Rector, who had taken forcible possession of a certain tract of land. This suit was decided by the County Court in favor of the defendants, and Hargrave had to pay the costs of the Court, which amounted to the sum of $1,800.15. On the 14th of December, the next day after the shooting, Moses Sanborn made an affidavit in which he sets forth that Atkinson laid claim to a certain parcel of land, and that Atkinson had said that Hargrave also claimed it, and that he (Atkinson) intended to hold it, and if Hargrave meddled with him he would get a pistol, and gave him (Sanborn) to understand that he would kill Hargrave.

        People' vs.. fames Thornton.—Indicted for murder by the Grand Jury of Mendocino county in September, 1870. Nothing further appears among the: papers on file.

        People vs. Fidello Wallace.—A true bill was found against him for murder by the Grand Jury at the September session in 1870, but nothing further appears.

        People vs. T. J. Fought.—The indictment against the defendant was dismissed at the September term of the Court.

        People vs. Charles Bradually.—The jury in this case rendered a verdict of "not guilty," April 12, 1871. No further facts concerning this case appear on the records.

        People vs. Eli D. Hooper.—The dead body of Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Aldrich, wife of Charles Aldrich, living in Russian River cañon, a few miles north of Cloverdale, was found near the residence of her husband May 7, 1860. Her husband had left home early in the morning of that day for Cloverdale, and did not return till night. Upon going into the house and finding his wife absent, he instituted a vigilant search for her, and finally discovered the body about one hundred and fifty yards from the house with such marks of violence upon it as plainly to indicate the cause of her death. The face and head were bruised and disfigured, while a piece of cotton duck cloth was tightly wrapped around the neck, leaving no doubt that she was straggled. Her child, an infant, six months old, was found unhurt lying near the body, though stripped of its clothing.

        For the commission of this crime, Eli D. Hooper was arrested and lodged in jail. At the June term of 1860, the Grand Jury found a true bill against him as follows: "The said Eli D. Hooper did on or about the 6th of May, 1860, murder Nancy Elizabeth Aldrich by putting a strip of strong thick cotton cloth, which was about twenty-eight inches long and three inches wide, around her neck, dragging, choking and strangling her to death." What further action was taken in the matter is unknown.

        People vs. George W. Strong.—June 13, 1865, Francis Holmes, a rancher residing a short distance north of Cloverdale, in Mendocino county; was missed from home, and his sudden disappearance aroused suspicion that he had met with foul play, and a search was instituted which lasted until July 4th, when John Hawks, assisted by some Indians found the body of Holmes, slightly covered with earth and brush, lying near where he had been at work building a brush-fence, and, as it was generally understood that Strong, who had been working on the ranch by the month all the spring, was engaged with Holmes in this work the day that he disappeared, it was generally surmised that Strong knew all about the murder. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict that he "came to his death by a shot in the head which shot was aimed by Strong." Strong had fled the country on some petty excuse of going to meet Holmes in San Francisco on business, who, he reported, was on his way to Canada, but he was arrested in Petaluma by J. H. Knowles, City Marshal, on a warrant issued June 21st, and brought to Ukiah, where he waived an examination and was sent to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury.

        The following extract from the Herald of Ukiah, of November 24, 1865, sets forth the facts very concisely as brought out at the trial, hence we append it: "In the records of criminal jurisprudence, we doubt if there can be found a case, in all its details, more singular than that which has been just concluded in our courts. On Monday, the 13th day of June, a quiet, industrious, and middle-aged man, named Francis Holmes, was murdered upon his ranch near Cloverdale, but in this county. Appearances showed that he was shot through the head from behind, and that afterwards his head was mashed with some blunt and heavy weapon. The dead body was then carried a considerable distance to a gulch, and there covered up with stones and brush.

        "Upon the ranch of Holmes was employed one person, and only one, named George W. Strong, a young man aged twenty-four years, of honest look and smiling face. He had been hired by Holmes to shear a flock of sheep, and this labor performed he remained on the ranch in a subordinate capacity, and finally negotiated for the purchase of the same. About this time Holmes disappeared, and all inquiry failed to get any tidings of his whereabouts. A surmise that he had been murdered obtaining, active steps were taken by the residents of the neighborhood, and the man Strong was arrested at Petaluma, while on his way, as he said, to seek for the missing Holmes. He averred that he purchased Holmes' ranch, and exhibited a bill of sale of the same, and made other statements not deemed plausible, in view especially of facts and remarks inconsistent with each other. He was conveyed to the county prison at Ukiah; the usual preliminaries were had, an inquest, a preliminary examination, and an indictment by the Grand Jury. During all this interval the prisoner deported himself with smiling indifference, occupying much of his time in singing and writing wretched rhymes. To everybody he averred that he was innocent, and expressed his firm faith in his acquittal even by the Grand Jury.

        "Holmes, of whose murder there can be no doubt, was possessed of many sheep, horses and cattle, and no small amount of money. Strong, who was known to have no money previously, became flush 'after Holmes' death. Holmes, so far as was known, had no enemies, nor could any one in the region round about, Strong alone excepted, have had a motive in producing his death.

        "The case was called on Monday, November 13th, before his honor J. B. Southard, Judge of the Seventh Judicial District. The whole of Tuesday was occupied in forming a jury, which was finally made up of D. Clayton, R. Anderson, J. E. Carlson, Abner Coates; Wm. Cole, Benjamin Mast, L. W. Branstetter, R. M. Marsh, E. M. Mallory, Thos. Potter, Wm. Irwin and E. Ward. District Attorney T. B. Bond and Judge R McGarvey conducted the prosecution, and Wm. Neeley Johnson and L. D. Latimer appeared for the defense. The trial elicited great interest, and the court-room was densely packed all the time, many ladies appearing on the last day: The testimony throughout was entirely circumstantial. Twenty witnesses were examined for the prosecution, consuming Wednesday and Thursday and till Friday noon, when the prosecution rested.

        "At two o'clock P. M. the case was opened by T. B. Bond, District Attorney, in a clear, able, and concise address to the jury. The speeches of Messrs. Johnson and Latimer for the defense were lengthy and able. The evidence, as adduced and fully corroborated by each witness examined, formed one of the most complete chains of circumstantial evidence on record, and the manner in which the case was conducted throughout evinced thorough knowledge and careful preparation on the part of the prosecution. The examination of the witnesses, conducted by Judge McGarvey, was of marked ability. All was done by the Attorneys for the defense that ability in the legal profession could accomplish in behalf of the prisoner at the bar.

        "Strong, the prisoner, up to the time of the finding of the true bill against him, showed an exuberance of spirits remarkable, amounting at times to positive frivolity. He appeared to be the most indifferent and happiest man in town. He sang almost continuously, and wrote and read much. Since the Grand Jury sat he has acted less carelessly, and complained, for a time, of ill health; in court, however, he looked robust. His hair on head and face has grown long, and seems to become him. He was in constant conversation with his lawyers, prompting them to points, and otherwise betokening an interest and information that spoke well for his intellectual capacity, but he was all the time cool and self-possessed to a remarkable degree. But one witness was called for the defense proper, and, so far as we could judge, he rendered no material aid to the accused."

        The following is a concise resume of the plea made by Mr. Latimer on behalf of the prisoner at the bar, and will show the able manner in which he was defended.

        "I have been in the practice of the law a goodly number of years, and during that time it has been my duty to try a number of cases of murder, and I have often wished that I could go before a jury and court in a trial of a case of murder with a little less of that feeling of deep responsibility I always feel in such cases. I had hoped that I might overcome it, but now, in this case, standing before them in the trial of a young man for his life—his all—the same feeling I have always felt pervades me more strongly than ever, if possible. I am but an instrument, an humble officer of the court, the representative before them of the defendant, and stand here to do whatever I can in my humble capacity, and with my feeble ability for the protection of his interests. Gentlemen of the jury, sitting here, as you do, the sole and exclusive arbiters of his fate— standing, as it were, between this young man and eternity — when you recollect that by this, your verdict, should it be 'guilty,' you adjudge a fellow-mortal to death, how much greater than mine must be your responsibility. This is an extraordinary case; extraordinary in the enormity of the offense charged ; extraordinary in the seeming mystery that surrounds it; extraordinary in the great popular excitement it has produced; and extraordinary in the seeming extreme desire and determination of some of the witnesses in the case to convict the prisoner.

        "The testimony is entirely circumstantial, and consists of many isolated facts that are attempted to be fastened together as a chain of evidence, but many of the links of the chain were wanting; and, therefore, it could not be conclusive. They spoke of the murder of Cain in that vicinity a year ago, and now the murderer of Cain doubtless still lives there, and if Holmes has been murdered, show me the murderer of Cain, and I will show you the murderer of Holmes. Cain was killed in his cabin, shot with a revolver or pistol, and if that be the skull of Holmes (Holmes' skull was lying on the Judge's desk, it having been used as testimony), he was shot; the means of death was the same in both cases. This is a case where the evidence is entirely circumstantial, and the Court will tell the jury that it is to be taken with the utmost caution. The man, whose skull sat there before you on the desk, a little while ago, was found secreted in a cañon with those marks of violence upon it; but none but He who reigns omniscient above, knows how those marks of violence came. I do not know — you do not know —for the evidence fell far short of convincing the mind of any reasonable man that they came through the agency of Strong.

        "In civil cases the jury can weigh the evidence and decide in accordance with the preponderance of the testimony, but in criminal cases the jury cannot decide from mere weight of proof. In civil cases a possibility may be adopted as a good ground of Judgment, but in criminal cases a mere balance of possibility is not enough. Circumstantial evidence should be such as to produce the same degree of moral certainty as direct evidence, or the jury must acquit. A. great many cases have been tried on circumstantial evidence and innocent persons convicted and executed. (The counsel here read to the jury and referred to and commented upon a number of such cases). There is a great danger in this class of cases, and this kind of evidence should be taken with the utmost caution, especially when, as in this case, great popular feeling existed against the accused. This can be observed by the appearance and demeanor of the witnesses, and in other various ways has this feeling been exhibited. In cases of circumstantial evidence, the fact of an accusation puts everybody on the watch, and a thousand minor facts and circumstances are noted, and even fancied, which would not have been but for the mere fact of the accusation.

        "The identity of the body has not been established by the proof. Why were not the clothes found on the deceased brought into court? There is usually too much precipitation in these cases when a great crime has been committed, and there is such an intense and universal desire to find and bring to judgment the guilty party. (The counsel here reviewed and critically analyzed the entire testimony at length). It is possible that the body found was not the body of Holmes. Strong told a great many that he was going to buy Holmes out, and then that he had bought him out, made it public, and Holmes stated to several that he had sold out, therefore Strong could not have murdered him to obtain property he already owned and possessed. He could not have murdered him for money, for all the money found on the defendant was accounted for. A guilty man would have secreted the watch and carpet-sack, and not left them hanging up in the house in plain sight. There was nothing to warrant them in saying he was poor and had no money, for the money belt was evidence to the contrary. He may have tried to conceal the fact of his having money because he was living in a remote and dangerous locality, and in the vicinity where Cain was murdered for money a year or so before.

        "Ordinarily a guilty man, after knowing that he was suspected, would try to escape, and not go as Strong did, knowingly into the hands of the officers who held the warrant for his arrest. Strong had not started to San Francisco with the intention of escaping, because he loaned one hundred dollars to Mr. McDonald two days before, and his leaving a balance also, of eighty dollars due from Prince & Goldfish, showed his intention to return. It is easy for the witnesses to be mistaken in a word or so when testifying to Strong's declaration, for instance; instead of saying, 'they will never find Holmes' he may have said, 'they will never find Holmes' body,' or `they will never find the body there.' This Strong believed for Holmes had started to San Francisco on his way to Canada. (The counsel here recapitulated a chain of circumstances in the evidence which he claimed showed as strong a case against others as it did against the defendant). I hope the jury will carefully consider the evidence and take into consideration the feeling manifested by the witnesses, their apparent desire for a conviction; the contradictions and inconsistencies in their testimony, and return a verdict that will satisfy your consciences, so that in after life, when, thinking calmly over the circumstances of' the case, you may have no occasion to regret your actions."

        The case was given to the jury between 1 and 2 o'clock Saturday morning, and at 6 o'clock in the morning they returned with a verdict of "Guilty of murder in the first degree." Eleven of them were prepared to render such a verdict without leaving their seats, but one, while believing the prisoner guilty, yet thought that somebody else might have done the deed. His doubts, however, were overcome. At 4 o'clock P. M. Saturday the 18th, Judge Southard passed the following sentence on him :‑

        "You have been. indicted by the Grand Jury of this county for the murder of Frank Holmes in the county of Mendocino, on the 13th day of June last. You have had a fair and impartial trial, in which you have been aided by faithful and intelligent counsel. After a patient and careful investigation of your case by a jury of your own selection, they have been constrained and obliged by their consciences and their oaths to pronounce you guilty of a most foul and aggravated murder. Have you any cause to show why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced against you? The emotions with which I enter upon the discharge of the solemn duty which devolves upon the Court, and which I am about to perform, are too painful to be discussed. To pronounce the awful sentence which is to cut a fellow mortal off from society, to deprive him of life and send him to the bar of his Creator, where his destiny must be fixed for eternity, can but be disagreeable, and painful to the Court. But to sentence to the gallows a young man, just arrived at manhood, with all the anticipations and hopes of life, presses with the greatest weight upon my sympathies and feelings. If, in the discharge of this most painful duty that can devolve upon any Court, I shall, in describing the horrid circumstances of this case, use harsh language to portray the deep depravity it indicates, it is not for the purpose of adding one pang to your heart, which you have been steeling against the affections the righteous hand of the offended God is pressing so kindly upon you; but it will be for the purpose, if possible, of awakening you to a proper sense of your awful situation, and to prepare you to meet that certain and ignominious death which shortly awaits you. It is in order to soften your heart and produce a reformation in your feelings, that by contrition and repentance you may be enabled to shun a punishment infinitely more dreadful than any that can be inflicted by human laws—the eternal ruin of your guilty soul.

        "According to the testimony given on the trial there is no room to doubt the certainty of your guilt or the aggravated circumstances attending the perpetration of the bloody deed. The man you murdered was your companion, under whose roof you had been received and sheltered; you had wormed yourself into his confidence; he believed your stories of your position in society; your father's wealth; and he, ignorant and unsuspecting, supposed, from your youth and apparent sincerity; that you were seeking a home in the rugged mountains for the benefit of your health, and that you, assisted by your father's generosity, would pay him a large compensation for his home and property. You caused it, on every occasion, to be made known that you had or were about to purchase the place, such was the confidence of deceased in you, that he let you into the apparent possession of his property, and allowed you to commence making improvements upon what he thought you were to possess from him as your abiding place.

        "In an unsuspecting hour you decoyed him to a remote part of his ranch, secluded from the presence of man by almost impassable mountains and gulches, and in one of these, went on with your system of improvements by repairing a brush fence; and while thus engaged, you stole upon him and aimed the deadly pistol, in the use of which you are shown to be so expert, at his head; you shot and murdered your victim; you then, or shortly, after, took the body and secreted it some distance from the scene of the assassination; you covered up and hid from sight the blood, and took and destroyed or buried his shoes; and also his hat, through which the fatal bullet had penetrated before entering your victim's brain. But your guilt and depravity did not stop here, scarce had you commended his lifeless corpse to its shallow grave before you began to collect and riot upon the spoils of his property. To the crime of murder you added those of theft, fraud, forgery. The punishment of death has been pronounced against the crime of murder, not only by the laws of all civilized nations, but also by that law which was written by the pen of inspiration, under the direction of the unerring Wisdom of the great Jehovah, and as God himself has prescribed the righteous penalty for the offence, there is strong reason to believe that there are comparatively few murders committed; which are not ultimately discovered, and the wretched perpetrators brought to pay the penalty.

        "Wretched and deluded man ! In vain was the foul deed committed in the most impenetrable recesses of the mountains, away from mortal vision; in vain was the mangled body of your murdered companion committed to the earth, and the lonely grave covered with rubbish; you forgot that the eye of your God was fixed upon you—the eye of that God who suffers not even a sparrow to fall without his notice; you forgot that you were in the presence of Him to whom the light of day and the darkness of night are the same. He witnessed all your movements. You forgot that He would send the vulture and the raven to scratch away the rubbish with which you hail buried the body and leave it exposed to view, thus exposing you to detection and condemnation..

        "His vengeance has at last overtaken you. You are about to take your final leave of this world, and to enter upon the untried retributions of a never-ending eternity. And I tell you not to delude yourself with the vain hope of pardon or escape, which never can be realized. There is but One who can pardon your offenses. There is a Saviour whose blood is sufficient to wash from your soul the guilty stain even of this diabolical murder. Fly to him, then, for that mercy which you must not expect from mortals!

        "Listen now to the dreadful sentence of the law, and then farewell until we shall meet again on the great day :‑

        "You, George W. Strong, are to be taken from hence to the prison from which you came, and from thence to the place of execution, and there, on Friday, the 29th day of December, 1865, between the hours of 10 o'clock, A. M. and 3 o'clock, P. M., of that day, you are to be hanged by the neck until dead, and may God, whose creature you are, and whose laws you have broken, have mercy on your soul."

        The prisoner heard his doom pronounced with apparent indifference, and when he was removed to his cell, he remarked: "Now, I can sleep, as they cannot worry me much more; but they have not hung me yet, and never will." At a later hour a motion was made for a new trial on exceptions to the rulings of the Court, but it was denied. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court.            ‑

        Among the spectators present during the trial was a brother of the murdered man, recently arrived from Canada. He identified the skull exhibited in court, as that of his brother, from certain peculiarities of the teeth.

        The result of the appeal to the Supreme Court was the granting of a new trial, which took place in July, 1866. A venire of two hundred jurors was required before the panel could be filled. At length the following named gentlemen were decided upon: Wash. Higgins, George R. Lowell, E. M. Howard, James Hines, J. B. Short, R. D. Handy, D. Flanagan, John Reed, J. W. Williford, Jeff Johnson, C. Endicott and John Felton. Thomas L. Carothers appeared for and ably defended the prisoner, while the people were represented by District Attorney T. B. Bond, and R. McGarvey. No new facts were elicited at this trial, but the points of the testimony brought out at the former one were fully sustained, and in accordance with those facts the jury brought in the following verdict on the 21st of July:‑

"We, the jury, find the prisoner, George W. Strong, guilty of murder in the first degree.                                      E. M. HOWARD, Foreman."

        Tuesday, July 24th, was set as the day for delivering the sentence and on that day the prisoner was brought for the second and last time before the bar of justice to listen to the sentence of the law, which was that he should be executed by hanging till dead, on Friday, August 31, 1866, between 10 A. M. and 3 P. M. The doomed man began now in earnest to make preparations to die. First of all he wrote a full biographical sketch of his life, in which he made a full confession of his commission of the crime for which the death penalty awaited him. On the day set, and at about 2 P. M., he was led from the window of the jail to the scaffold, and after a brief speech to those present signified his readiness to meet his fate, and the trap was sprung and he was hurled from time to eternity and for once in Mendocino county the law had taken its course.

        People vs. Silas E. Gaskill.—The defendant in this case was arrested for the murder of Israel M. Malay, sometime in January, 1865. The following extract from the Herald of January 20, 1865, will give a correct idea of the first scene in the tragedy: "A man named I. M. Millay, residing about three miles from Ukiah, on the opposite side of Russian river, was waylaid and shot one day last week. He and another man were riding together on the road near Mr. William's farm when the report of a gun was heard from a thicket of bushes, and immediately Millay felt the ball pierce his arm. Millay is at enmity with several of his neighbors and it is evident that some one of them shot him with the intention of killing him. S. E. Gaskill, who has always been considered one of our best citizens, was arrested on suspicion and brought before Justice Hagans last Wednesday, January 11th, but no evidence could be adduced to implicate him with the transaction and he was discharged."

        Millay was taken home and cared for by friends, and there was every indication that he would recover from his wounds, when about two weeks later he was killed outright. The following description of the second scene in the tragedy is from the Herald of January 27, 1865:—" Last week we made mention of the shooting of I. M. Millay while riding along the road opposite Ukiah, a few days before. Last Saturday night, while lying in his bed on the floor in his cabin, before the fire, some person fired a double-barreled shot-gun, which appears to have been loaded with buck shot, through a crevice in the wooden chimney, some four or six of the shot taking effect in Millay's breast below the nipple, passing through his heart and lungs. This was about nine o'clock at night. He never spoke after being shot." On the following Monday W. P. Bovay, and on Tuesday Silas E. Gaskill, were arrested for the shooting, both of whom have been in that neighborhood most of the time for the past few years. Thursday evening J. J. Bell was arrested on the same charge. Gaskill was allowed to go on his own recognizance in the sum of $1,000, but he forfeited his bail and fled the country. His wife settled up his matters and went to him doubtless. No farther action was taken in the matter with the others who were arrested.

        People vs. Harrison Standley.—On the 25th of March, 1868, Harrison Standley shot and killed John Ketchapaw, near Sanel. Following is the sworn statement of G. W. Higgins, an eye witness:—"On the day of the shooting Standley met J. Ketchapaw and me on the road coming towards Sanel, and when he had come within about six feet of us he drew his pistol and presented it at the head, or in the direction of the head, of John Ketchapaw, and said to him, 'Johnny, just a word,' and repeated it once or twice, and then fired his pistol. Then Ketchapaw dodged down on his horse and ran by me on the gallop with the defendant following him. They ran a short distance, and two shots were fired, one by each, but I do not know who fired the second shot. In all five shots were fired, two of which were fired by Ketchapaw. Ketchapaw fell from his horse and died very soon."

        Following is Standley's own sworn statement:—"When I went up to John Ketchapaw, and got within four feet of him (I had my hand on the horn of the saddle at the time), I said to him John, stop; I want to see you a minute.' When I said that he caught his coat with his left hand and caught his revolver with his right hand, and got it part way out, the cylinder being outside the scabbard. I then drew my revolver and cocked it as I drew it. Then John started in the lead, and I started after him and came to where Wash. Higgins was. When I saw Mr. Higgins I took my eyes from Ketchapaw. I said to Wash., Excuse me Wash., I am not shooting at you.' I then looked and saw John with his revolver presented at me, and he fired at me. I then started my horse from where I had stopped and went towards where John Ketchapaw was, and then we both went around the barn together."

        It was proved to be a case of self-defense, and the defendant was found not guilty.

        People vs. Henry Fairbanks.—On Friday, December 13, 1867, Henry Fairbanks shot and killed George W. Knight, in Arena township. The statement made by Fairbanks is, in substance, as follows:— On the morning of the 13th he and his boy found some cattle in his pasture, which they thought were Knight's, and they drove them out into Knight's pasture. The two men met, and some harsh words passed between them. Fairbanks and the boy then went to work at getting out some rails from a fence over which there was a dispute between the two men. Knight came down to where they were at work, and, with oaths, told them to stop taking up the fence, and attacked the boy. Fairbanks, who had a rifle in his hand, fired, the shot taking effect in Knight's leg. Knight had a pistol or revolver in his hand when he was coming down towards them, but he did not fire it.

        Knight died in an hour or so. Fairbanks gave himself up to the Justice of the Peace of Anna township, who committed him to await the action of the Grand Jury. On the 4th of March, 1868, that body found a true bill against him, but on the trial he was acquitted. Some time afterwards Fairbanks was assassinated while sitting in his own house, but by whom it is not known. No arrests were ever made.

        People vs. Calvin Stewart.—About 10 o'clock on the night of July 18, 1868, Calvin Stewart killed Irving R. Wright, in Big River township, under the following circumstances:—J. Dodson, Constable, had a warrant for the arrest of Wright, and, failing to find him, had got some of the neighbors to help hunt for him, and among them was C. Stewart. They hunted all day for him, and after dark they went to a barn in which some of them thought he might be, and after hunting around for awhile they found him in the straw. When discovered he was coming towards Stewart, who told him to stop several times, but he kept on coming towards him, and said, " G-- d--- you, what are you doing here?" Stewart said, "Stand back!" to which Wright replied, "I'll blow your G— d----- brains out!" Wright still came towards Stewart, repeating the above, when Stewart fired, the shot going through Wright's body, killing him instantly.

        The Grand Jury found a true bill against him at the September term, 1868. He was tried for manslaughter in November of that year, and on the 8th the jury returned a verdict of guilty. The next day a motion was made for a new trial by R. McGarvey and Thomas L. Carothers, attorneys for the defendant, which was granted by the Court. District Attorney, T. B. Bond, appealed from the order of the Court to December 1st. Remittitur from the Supreme Court sustaining the lower Court in the granting of a new trial was issued April 6, 1869. The second trial was had in April, 1870, at which the following verdict was rendered :‑

        " We, the jury, empaneled in the case of Calvin Stewart for the crime of manslaughter do find the prisoner not guilty.         HENRY D. LEY, Foreman."

        People vs. James Thornton.—September 5, 1870, the Grand Jury found a true bill against James Thornton for the killing of Jacob Bolling. The murder was committed June 20, 1870, by a pistol shot in the breast; and the shooting was done in Big River township. The murdered man was a native of Ireland, and about twenty-three years of age. The testimony of P. Rutledge was as follows: "At a few minutes before 10 o'clock on the 20th day of June, 1870, Bolling came to work on the road, and had been at work but a few minutes when James Thornton came up to him and spoke, but I do not remember what was said. Did not hear Bolling speak. Do not think he spoke until after he was shot. Thornton had a small revolver. When spoken to about doing the shooting he said he did not care. Bolling died the next day at 6 o'clock, P. M."

        People vs. Elisha Cain.—On the evening of November 21, 1869, he killed Owen Cuningham. A warrant for his arrest was issued November 25, 1869. The testimony of William Jackson, who was present at the time, was as follows: "On the night of November 21, 1869, I was at the house of Benjamin Doyle, and saw Cain and Cuningham there at the same time. They got into a quarrel, and Cain ordered Cuningham to leave the house. Cuningham, who was at the time cooking his supper, refused to go. Cain then made an attempt to put him out of the house. Cuningham then turned on him and they clinched, and Cuningham threw him to the floor. Cuningham then desisted and returned to cooking his supper. I then saw Cain get up from the floor and seize a beetle or maul that was lying under the bed in the house, and strike Cuningham with the same on the head from the effects of which he died. Cuningham was a native of Ireland, and forty-five years of age."

        The Grand Jury found a true bill against Cain December 8, 1869. April 15, 1870, he was tried and the following verdict rendered :‑

        "We, the jury, find the defendant, E. Cain, guilty of manslaughter.                                                                    JAMES H SAY, Foreman."

        Motion for a new trial filed the next day, which took place in July, 1870, and on the 26th of that month the following verdict was rendered :­

        "We the jury, find the defendant not guilty.                                                                                                     J. C. TINDALL, Foreman."

        People vs. John Armstrong.—The Grand Jury found a true bill against Armstrong for the murder of A. Washington, in Arena township, by shooting him with a gun, on the 5th day of June, 1871. A change of venue was secured, which removed the case from the courts of Mendocino county.

        People vs. George W. Cleveland.—The Grand Jury for the March term, 1873, found a true bill against George W. Cleveland, which sets forth that he killed James V. Crowey, December 15, 1872, in Anderson valley. He had his trial August, 1874, at which time the jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter. On the 4th of that month sentence of imprisonment for the term of fifteen years was passed upon him.

        People vs. John Coates.—At the March term, 1872, the Grand Jury found a true bill against John Coates, setting forth that he killed Samuel Besse, on the 1st day of February, 1872. In July of that year he had his trial, and the jury brought in the following verdict :—

        "We, the jury, find the defendant, John Coates, guilty of manslaughter, and recommend him to the mercy of the court.  S. G. NEECE, Foreman."

        Motion for new trial filed July 22, 1870.

        People vs. Robert M. Darr.—The Grand Jury at the March term, 1875, found a true bill against him, which sets forth that on the 23d day of February, 1875, he killed Avhla McNeill. In July of that year he had his trial, and on the 22d a verdict of guilty of manslaughter was brought in by the jury, and on the next day a sentence of imprisonment for fifteen years was passed upon him.

        People vs. Daniel and W. Lynch.—At the March term, 1875, the Grand Jury found a true bill against the defendants for the murder of Ah Foo, in Ukiah, February 15, 1875.

        People vs. E. Marks.—The city of Ukiah was thrown into an intense state of excitement on the morning of April 3, 1879, by the announcement that Mr. L. Landecker had been stabbed to death by E. Marks. The two had sustained the relation of merchant and clerk, and some differences having sprung up between them, Marks was discharged from service the day before the homicide. On going to the store on the morning of the murder, and finding Marks in his accustomed place, an altercation occurred, which resulted fatally to Landecker. At the June term the Grand Jury found a true bill against Marks, charging him with murder. His trial came up in August of that year, and on the 13th of that month the following verdict was rendered:-

        "We the jury, find the defendant, E. Marks, guilty of murder in the second degree.                                      THOMAS ALLPORT, Foreman."

        Two days later he was sentenced to hard labor in the State prison for the term of twelve years.

        Murder of Jerry Cain.—About the 20th of October, 1863, Jerry Cain was murdered in Sanel township, the particulars of which, as follows, are gleaned from the Herald:—"Jerry Cain, living three miles from McDonald's place in Sanel township, was found dead in his cabin by an acquaintance of his who had made arrangements to go with him on a hunting expedition on Thursday the 22d, and who had gone to the cabin on Wednesday evening to stay all night with Cain. Not finding him in, and the door being locked with a padlock, he waited till dark, and then broke the door in and cooked his supper. After awhile he went into the bedroom to go to bed, when he found the bed-clothes on the floor. In taking them up, he was surprised to find the body of Cain under them. He found that he was shot in the back and near the heart. Some bruises are also said to have been found on his head. The following circumstances seem to point to a clue to the murderer: Some two or three weeks before the murder, he had sold a sheep ranch on Sanel creek, after which he had moved to this place near McDonald's, and he was known to have some $300 or $400 in money. Sunday or Monday before the murder, he hired a stranger to work for him. On Tuesday morning, early, this man passed through Cloverdale riding Cain's horse."

        Killing of John Rector.—In April, 1867, a man by the name of Somers, killed John Rector, by striking him with the king-bolt of a wagon. It seems that they met at some place where Somers was fixing his wagon, and had the king-bolt in his hand, when Rector came up. Somers at once accused Rector of insulting his wife, to which accusation Rector deigned no reply, except to laugh at the charge, whereupon Somers struck and killed him.

        The Little Lake Vendetta.—On the 11th of October, 1865, one of the bloodiest and most fatal affrays occurred at Little Lake that ever has occurred in the annals of the State of California. Two families, named Coates and Frost, resided in that vicinity, between whom a feud gradually grew into existence until it reached a culmination under the following circumstances; as recorded in the newspapers of that date: "On the day of the fight, Wesley Coates bantered one Mr. Duncan, a brother-in-law of the Frosts, to fight. They went out into the road and began fighting, when the following parties came rushing up and took part in the fray:---on one side were Mr. Duncan and Martin Frost, Isham Frost and Elisha Frost--all brothers; on the other side were Wesley Coates, Albert Coates, Henry Coates, Thomas Coates, James Coates, Abraham Coates, and Abner C. Coates. Wesley, Henry and James Coates were brothers; Abner C. was the father of Albert and uncle to the three brothers; Abraham was a cousin of all except Thomas, who was his uncle. All the Frosts and Duncan had Colt's navy revolvers; Duncan, however, broke his in the fight with Wesley Coates, and he did no shooting. Wesley and Abraham Coates had pistols, and Abner C. Coates a double-barreled gun, one barrel of which was rifled, and one smooth for shot; Wesley Coates also had a knife; Martin Frost was seen to shoot Wesley, Abraham, and Henry Coates; Isham Frost was seen to shoot Thomas Coates; and Elisha Frost was seen to shoot Albert Coates. Abner C. Coates killed Elisha Frost with his shot-gun, both barrels of which were discharged at him and took effect, Abner Coates was shot through the shoulder, but by whom it is not known. James Coates received a pistol-shot in the abdomen, and it is not known who fired it. Duncan was dangerously stabbed, and it is presumed that Wesley Coates did it, from the fact that a knife was found very near him, the blade of which was very bloody. Five of them were killed instantly and never spoke, except Albert Coates exclaimed­'My God!' Abraham Coates lived until noon the next day, when he expired. The shooting could not have lasted more than a quarter of a minute; but in that extremely short space of time twenty shots were fired. Elisha Frost received four or five mortal wounds, and about forty others.  Thomas Coates leaves a widow and two children; Elisha Frost leaves a widow and five or six small children; Abner C. Coates had a family, but all the others were single men. The dead were taken into the hall and laid out side by side, where they remained until they were placed in their coffins. As the coffins lay in front of the hall, just before the funeral procession moved away, there was a scene rarely witnessed in this day and age of the world. The parents, children, wives, brothers, and sisters of the slain and their slayers mingled their tears together over those who but a few short hours before were grappling in fierce combat, but who now were cold and still, and lay peacefully side by side. The killed were as follows: Thomas J. Coates, native of Pennsylvania, aged sixty-three; William Wesley Coates, native of Wisconsin, aged twenty-five; Henry H. Coates, native of Wisconsin, aged twenty-five; P. Albert Coates, native of Wisconsin, aged twenty-one; Abraham T. Coates, native of Wisconsin, aged twenty-one; Elisha Frost, native of Missouri, aged forty-two."

        Murder of Mrs. G. W. Strong.—Mrs. Strong and her husband lived on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated north of Sherwood valley a few miles, and distant about thirty-seven miles from Ukiah. Adjoining them were two men, partners, named Gieger and Alexander. Some time previous to the murder of Mrs. Strong, her husband had been arrested for killing a steer, and through the exertions of these men and the testimony they gave, he was sent to the State Prison. Their intention seemed to be to drive the Strongs away from their ranch, but Mrs. Strong was not to be driven in that way, and after her husband was sent to San Quentin she remained on the place and looked after her interests as best she could. Gieger and Alexander did all in their power to aggravate and annoy her, even to openly driving their stock upon her place. She would mount a horse, and with the assistance of a dog, drive the stock off, when. they would meet her and use all manner of language towards her. So matters continued till about the first of February, 1874. The last time she was seen alive, Ed. Saunders, a stage-driver, was given an order for a bag of flour by her, about the last day of January. The next day on his return trip he brought the flour, but found her not at home. At the end of four or five days, not seeing her about as usual, he gave the alarm and the neighbors began to search for her. About a week after her disappearance Gieger swore out a warrant for her arrest for killing sheep, and sent a constable to the neighborhood to search for her in his official capacity. When he had done this, knowing that she was missing from home, suspicion began to rest upon Gieger and Alexander of murdering her. On the 16th of February, J. M. Standley, Deputy Sheriff, was sent there to investigate and work up the matter.  The entire community was now thoroughly aroused, and a band of Indians were brought down from Cahto to help in the search. At length her horse was found in a deep ravine, shot through the head, and that fixed the fact almost to a certainty that she had been foully dealt with as well. The search began now with renewed vigor, and every gorge and cañon were thoroughly explored. At last her hair-comb was found in a most dark and grewsome spot in the very darkest recesses of the almost midnight forest, close at hand a babbling brook sang its merry melody to the eternal stillness of the mountain glade, but in times of freshets from the winter's rains or the melting snow, it is a mountain torrent rushing down the steep descent with a tumultuous roar that well dissembles a stream of mightier proportions, and just here a shelving rock caused it to leap far out and strike the earth below with redoubled fury, until a large basin was burrowed out  to a depth of several feet. After the horrid deed was done:

"I took the dreary body up,

And cast it in a stream

A sluggish water, black as ink

The depth was so extreme:—

*          *          *          *          *

Down went the corse with a hollow plunge,

And vanished in the pool;

Anon I cleansed my bloody hands,

And washed my forehead cool.

*          *          *          *          *          *

Heavily I rose up, as soon

As light was in the sky,

And sought the black accursed pool

With a wild misgiving eye,

And I saw the dead in the river bed,

For the faithless stream was dry."

        And so it was in this case, or so nearly so, that the dress was seen floating on the top of the water. It was found that the body had been put into this hole, and sunk with a pile of heavy rocks on top of it, but the rush of the waters had removed the stones, and the water had then passed away leaving the dead body revealed.

        The body was found February 22d, Standley at once arrested Gieger and Alexander, and rushed them off to jail in Ukiah, followed by a score of men who would doubtless have given the murderers their just deserts and saved the county all expense. But they were lodged safely in jail, and there remained till their trial. This was had on a change of venue in Sonoma county. They were tried separately, Gieger coming first. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and he was sentenced to State prison for life, but he had friends who assisted him, and he escaped from the jail in Santa Rosa, and has never since been heard from. A technical point was raised then to the effect that there was no evidence to prove that Alexander was in collusion with Gieger in the murder, and the same testimony could not be used for his conviction, which point was sustained by the Court, and Alexander was released from custody. To the credit of the good people of Mendocino county, be it here recorded, that as soon as it was known that Mrs. Strong had been murdered, a petition for the release of her husband was signed by every man in the county who had an opportunity to do so.

        Murder and Suicide.—One of the most horrible affairs, which it falls to the lot of the historian of Mendocino county to record, is the murder of Mrs. Reynolds by Joseph Caneza, and the subsequent suicide of the perpetrator of the infamous deed. Mrs. Reynolds was a widow lady, and resided in Ukiah, having two children, both quite young. Caneza was a native of Chili, and made Ukiah his headquarters. He took a fancy to the widow lady, and would call at her house at times and bring presents of shoes, etc., to the children. Not daring to offend the man, she could not refuse to accept these gifts. At length he became so persistent in his attentions to her, that she determined to leave the place and him behind her, and be rid of him. With that purpose in view, she took passage on the Lakeport stage, July 17, 1877, intending to go to friends in Lake county. About five miles east of Ukiah, they came upon Caneza lying on the side of the road under a tree covered with dust, and groaning, and apparently suffering from excruciating pain. The driver stopped and asked him what had happened, when he stated that his horse had thrown him, and had run down the road. He then requested the driver to let him ride to the next house, and at the same time, requested the only other passenger besides Mrs. Reynolds, to get out and run ahead and look for his horse, which he did. The driver then started along, but before he had proceeded far, he heard Caneza say: "this is what I got in here for," and immediately he discharged two balls into Mrs. Reynolds' head. He then jumped from the stage, and running about ten steps, placed the pistol to his head and fired, falling dead instantly. It seems that he laid all his plans most adroitly, even to going to the stable and hiring a well-known fractious horse, and taking good care that the driver of the stage should see him ride out of town on that horse, so that his tale of being thrown, would not be questioned by him.  The horse was found securely tied to a tree not far from where the tragedy occurred.

        Killing of James Clow. — This was a difficulty between two boys at school, which, unfortunately, resulted fatally. The affair happened at the school-house in Anderson valley, August 19, 1877. It seems that A. E. Irish and John Clow became engaged in a quarrel; and ,Clow struck Irish, whereupon the latter drew a knife and cut his antagonist. James Clow, a brother of John, then ran up to take his brother's part, exclaiming: "Boys, he has gotta knife !" Irish retreated a few steps, but, when hotly pressed by Clow, turned on him and cut him above the hip, from the effects of which he died.

        Murder of J. B. Owens.—J. W. Burke killed J. B. Owens in 1874, and was sent to the State prison for life for the deed.

        Murder of A. J. Shrum.—A. J. Shrum was a peaceable, quiet, inoffensive man who lived with his wife on the east side of Round Valley. On the night of July 11, 1878, he was called out of his house by one or more parties, and shot dead.  Jesse and James Anthony, and the wife of the murdered man, were arrested for the commission of the deed or complicity therein. Jesse Anthony was first tried, in which instance the jury failed to agree, and he was let out on bail. James was next tried, found guilty, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. This was in May, 1879. The attorneys for James took an appeal to the Supreme Court. Jesse petitioned for a charge of venue, which Judge R. McGarvey granted, but the District Attorney, A. Yell, entered his protest and carried it to the Supreme Court. Mrs. Shrum was put on trial in July, 1880, and on the 15th of that month the prosecution announced that they would consent to a verdict of "not guilty," on the ground that there was  not sufficient legal evidence to convict the defendant; the admissions of Jesse and James Anthony, after the commission of the homicide not being admissible under the rules of evidence. The Court so instructed the jury, the verdict was rendered and the defendant discharged.

        Killing of William McInturf.—This occurred in Point Arena township, March 20, 1879. Robert Lindsay was the son-in-law of Mclnturf, and it seems that they had a joint interest in some stock, over which there was a disagreement. On the day of the killing Lindsay rode up to the house of McInturf, and, after some conversation concerning the object of Lindsay's visit, he (Lindsay) states that Mclnturf stepped into the house in such a  way that he thought that he would use the door as a shield, and fire at him (Lindsay.) Being impressed with this idea, Lindsay fired and killed the old man.

        Lynching of Indian Charley.—One of the most dastardly deeds in the annals of crime occurred in Walker Valley, May 6, 1878. On this day a lady went to a neighbor's on a visit, and while eating dinner, an Indian was observed sitting in the yard whetting a very large knife: As he was well-known to all present nothing was thought of it at the time. Later in the day as the lady was on her way home, she was suddenly accosted by this same Indian, and forcibly dragged from her horse and into the brush which grew by the roadside. The lady screamed for help and struggled with might and main to prevent the Indian from accomplishing his hellish design. In the struggle the woman received several severe cuts from the fiend's knife. Suddenly her presence of mind came to her rescue, and she was able to accomplish by strategy what her feeble strength had failed to do. She suddenly exclaimed: "Stop, or that man will kill you!" little dreaming that any one was in sight; but, fortunately, a man was passing along the road, and when the Indian saw him he fled, leaving his victim almost exhausted from her struggles and the loss of blood. She managed to creep back to the roadside and, finally, a wagon came along and she was taken back to where she had spent the day. A party at once started out to search for, the Indian, whom they apprehended about 8 o'clock that night, and hung and shot till he was dead.

        Lynching at Little Lake.—For many years the citizens of Little Lake had been harassed by a crowd of men who had been engaged in robbing smoke­houses and other petty larcenies, and at times getting drunk and rendering night hideous and not a little dangerous by their shouts, yells, and promiscuous use of fire-arms. No one dared to complain of these men and thus bring them before the law lest his life should pay the forfeit; but all things come to an end, and the patience of an outraged community sometimes has its bounds. It so happened that the boundary line of endurance in this community had just been reached on the night of September 4, 1879, at which time a sort of a local "601" was organized, and did their work very effectively. On this day Abijah Gibson, Elijah Frost and Thomas McCracken were arrested and placed in charge of an officer for safe keeping till the next day. Some time in the night the "Regulators" arrived duly armed and masked, and relieved the guard of his charge very pre-emptorily, and with but little ceremony. The victims were taken to the bridge just north of Willitsville, and suspended from the side guards. When found in the morning they had all been dead several hours. It is said that since then the place has been remarkably quiet and free from barbarousness.

        People vs. Harvey Mortier.—The defendant was a 'half-breed' Indian, and was charged with the murder of Richard McPherson, near Noyo in Big River township, March 25, 1880. It was a cold-blooded assassination, and various theories have been advanced as to the impelling motive, none of which, however, have assumed a definite shape. On the day of the homicide McPherson was at work out in the field back of his house, when Mortier came to the house with his gun in his hand and inquired for him. On being told where he could be found, Mortier went out, and, with no ado about the matter at all, shot McPherson dead in his tracks. He was arrested and brought to jail, and the Grand Jury found an indictment against him for murder in the first degree. In July his trial came on in the Superior Court and after the testimony was all given, the case was submitted without argument. The jury were in consultation four hours over the matter, at the end of which time they returned a verdict of murder in the first degree. On Monday, July 19th, after a motion for a new trial had been denied by the Court, he was sentenced to suffer the extreme penalty of the law.

        People vs. Nells Hammerland.—April 3, 1880, the defendant killed his wife and a man named Frank Olson at Nevarra, Big River township, under the following circumstances: Hammerland and his wife and two small children lived in a very small shanty at Nevarra, in which there was but one room and a shed kitchen. They were poor people, and their household furniture was as limited as the outward appearance of the house would seem to imply. The entire family occupied one bed. About a year before the homicide, the man Olson put in an appearance, and was taken into the family; and the already overcrowded family bed was shared with him. On the night of the killing they had all been imbibing somewhat freely of beer, and about ten o'clock P. M. Hammerland went over to the hotel bar for a fresh bucket of the beverage. He remained away from home for some time, and upon his return found that Olson and his wife had retired, and were sound asleep. Either the fact that they had gone to bed and to sleep while he was absent for the beer, or that they had retired together in his absence, infuriated his maudlin brain, and rushing out he grasped an ax, and returning absolutely chopped them to pieces. He was arrested and indicted by the Grand Jury, and his trial came on July 8th. The following persons were impaneled as a jury in the case: T. S. Chambers, John Sansbury, W. V. Powell, D. N. Le Ballister, J. H. Tomlinson, Berry Wright, W. M. Henry, James Hooten, John A. Maddox, C. W. Tindall, Seth Williams, and John Tatham. At five o'clock P. M. of the next day the case was submitted to the jury, and at 9:25 of the same evening a verdict of murder in the second degree was returned. Monday, July 12th, he was sentenced to imprisonment for the term of eleven years.

        Killing of Frank Southard and Wilbur McCoy.—The following particulars of the affair are gleaned from the Mendocino Beacon: "The homicide took place about twelve miles east of Usal, and about three miles from the Humboldt county line. The difficulty which led to the bloody consummation grew out of a land dispute. It seems that Marshall Howard had purchased and stocked a sheep ranch, and that part of his claim had been jumped by Southard. To escape trouble Howard bought Southard out, who, it is said, promised to withdraw entirely from the place, but instead of doing so had scarcely gotten the money in his pocket when he again located on the land and began the erection of a building. In the meantime Howard's house was burned, and he was subjected to threats and annoyances by parties who evidently intended by those means to drive him out of the county. On the day of the shooting, Friday, July 1, 1880, Howard went to the place where Southard and McCoy were building a house on the disputed land, and when he arrived there, Southard was discovered by him to be on the top of the house nailing on shingles; Howard shot him dead. McCoy was carrying lumber toward the house, and when Southard was shot he started to run, but Howard shot at him twice, fatally wounding him. He lived long enough, however, to make a statement. Immediately after the shooting Howard rode off and procured men to come to the spot, and also sent a telegram to Kibesillah for an officer to come up and take charge of him. Deputy Sheriff Banker responded to the call, and on Tuesday, the 6th, returned with Howard in custody. He at once went before Justice G. W. Claxton of Ten-mile River township, and the examination was set for Thursday, the 8th, at ten o'clock A. M. At the time appointed, G. Canning Smith appeared for the defendant. He was held to appear before the Grand Jury on a charge of manslaughter with bail at $3,000, which was furnished with Messrs. Stewart, Banker, Frazier, and Bonee on the bond."

Killing of Marion, W. Gardner and Jacob H. Fitch.–The inhabitants of Little Lake valley were startled on Saturday evening, July 10, 1880, by the circulation of the report that two boys, Marion W. Gardner and Jacob H. Fitch, son and step-son of John Gardner, aged respectively twelve and eleven years, had been found dead at a place known as Manzanita Flat, lying on the road from Willitsville to Potter Valley, and about seven miles east of the first-named place. It seems that Mr. Gardner had a claim at this place, had some stock there, and kept the boys there most of the time to hold his claim. On the day that they were killed he went over to see them, as he usually did every few days, and not seeing the boys about the house he called to them. They did not answer, so he started out to search for them; and about three hundred yards from the house he came upon their dead bodies, lying very close together, one, Marion, being shot through the head, and Jacob, through the right side with bullets. The first impression that obtained was that either the boys had quarrelled and one had killed the other, and then suicided from grief or fright, or that one had accidentally killed the other, and then taken his own life from the same motives. The fact that there was a revolver found near by them with all the loads discharged, which, when last seen, had three charges still in it, so confirmed this theory that the Coroner's jury returned a verdict to that effect. Later discoveries lead to the supposition that the boys were murdered, and the mother is thoroughly impressed with that idea. It is now thought that some one wished to get possession of the land, and that they were heartless enough to kill the boys because they were kept on the place to hold and maintain possession. A pool of blood was discovered quite near the house, and traces of blood leading from the house to where the bodies were found.

        The Mendocino Outlaws.—It is most befitting that in collating and recording the murders of Mendocino county, we should put aside the chronological sequence, and close the chapter with a record of the "Mendocino Out­laws." From the Mendocino Beacon we take the following: "Our community has been thrown into a state of excitement hitherto unparalleled by the occurrence of a shocking calamity. On October 15, 1879, two of our most esteemed citizens were atrociously murdered and a third wounded within four miles of our town, their comrades narrowly escaping death. Particulars of the sad affair are as follows:—

        "Last Monday Constable William Host, while coming through Big river woods, accidentally discovered the entrails of a beef which had been recently buried with the evident design of concealing the killing of the animal. He returned to town and reported the suspicious circumstances to the Mendocino Lumber Company, to whom the creature was supposed to belong. Next day he and Thomas Dollard and William Wright went to the place to investigate the matter, and following some tracks about a quarter of a mile, found four men encamped in the thick woods about four miles east of here, near a spring, eating their breakfast. The stolen beef was hung up, undergoing the process of jerking, or curing, and their rifles were stacked up by a tree. Their white hands and high-heeled boots indicated that they did not make their living by hard work. The two parties entered into conversation, but Host did not then attempt the arrest of the thieves, having as yet no warrant, and not considering his party of sufficient force, giving as an excuse for their visit, that they were looking for a place to locate a tie camp. The investigating party then returned to town, swore out a warrant, and with further assistance, started in the afternoon to arrest the men, but on their arrival found the camp deserted of every vestige of the outlaws.

        "On Wednesday morning, Host went out again with a posse comitatus, consisting of J. J. Morrow, A. Yell, E. W. Potter, James Nichols, C. Galbraith, Thomas Dollard, and William Wright. After following the ridge from the camp previously found for about a mile, they saw below them, in a rough ravine, the remains of a camp-fire. Descending the hill, Wright and Yell, who were in advance, the others following closely, stooped to feel the ashes, to ascertain if they were still warm; Wright exclaimed, 'They must have stopped here last night,' when suddenly, without a moment's warning, a volley was fired upon the party by the outlaws lying in ambush on the opposite hill a few yards above them. Wright immediately fell backward, having received a shot in the back of the neck, ranging downward; Dollard was struck in the upper part of the thigh, but fired a shot in return. Nichols was shot in the left shoulder, and another ball perforated Galbraith's coat. The outlaws kept up a rapid fire, and hit Dollard twice more, which prostrated him, and he gradually rolled to the bottom of the ravine, when he pulled off his coat and crawled under a log in the creek, where he lay groaning. Yell, Potter and Galbraith shot several times, but the murderers kept themselves almost entirely concealed, only some portion of the bodies of one or two appearing, and it is not yet known whether any shots took effect on them or not. Host, Potter, Yell and Morrow finally gained a cover, where they remained till succor came. They are convinced that their assailants numbered eight or nine, as the shots came very rapidly and from several directions in front. In the meantime Galbraith and Nichols gained their horses and returned full-speed to town with the frightful news. Constable Nelson immediately organized another posse, and also engaged teams with bedding to bring in the wounded. Upon their arrival at the scene of conflict, they found Dollard already a corpse, and Wright helpless and speechless, and evidently near his dissolution. With considerable difficulty they carried them up the steep acclivity to the wagons, and returned with them to town, giving up further pursuit of the desperadoes for the time being. Wright was taken to Carlson's hotel and cared for. As the two men were brought in, and the body of Dollard was laid out in a room over the post-office, a mute expression of sorrow was visible on every countenance. An inquest was immediately held, Justice Smith acting as Coroner, on the deceased, at which the jury returned the following verdict: "We, the jury impaneled to inquire into the cause of the death of Thomas Dollard, do find as follows: That the name of the deceased was Thomas Dollard, a native of Ellsworth, Maine; that he died on the 15th day of October, 1879, about four miles east of Mendocino, in Mendocino county, California; that he came to his death by means of hemorrhage from three gun-shot wounds, caused by rifles fired by several, parties unknown to us.'

        "A public meeting was held and a committee of safety numbering twenty­one was appointed to act in the emergency and organize a determined pursuit of the outlaws.

        "William Wright died on Wednesday evening about seven o'clock, having remained unconscious nearly all the time since his fatal wounding in the morning. Subsequent examination showed that he had received a second shot through the side near the heart.

        "The inquest on his body, held on Thursday morning was substantially the same as in the case of Dollard. This town and vicinity is thoroughly aroused, and two separate parties well armed and equipped, left here Wednesday evening in search of the guilty parties. Caspar mill and woods ceased work Thursday, and a large party from there joined in the hunt. On Thursday evening word was brought that three of the outlaws had been seen on the prairie back of Little River, and that two had obtained breakfast and supper at the house of a settler on that day. The same day, a man named Carmichael, reported that while riding toward Mendocino on the Ukiah road, about three miles out, he saw a man by the roadside, who threatened him with a rifle, but seeing him unarmed, slunk off into the woods.

        "One man was arrested in Little River that night on suspicion, but after examination was released.

        "Nearly the whole of the circumstances go to show that there are but four men who have perpetrated these crimes, and they are undoubtedly the same who were found by Host and the deceased on Tuesday. The description, as given by Host, is; one about five feet ten inches in height, dark complexion, short dark hair and moustache, face unshaven for a week or two, weight about one hundred and fifty-five pounds, age about twenty-six years; one about five feet eight inches high, heavy set, complexion dark, short hair, black moustache, otherwise clean shaved, dark eyes, about thirty-two years; the third, five feet eight inches high, light complexion, big moustache and goatee, blue eyes, weight one hundred and sixty, age thirty-five; and the fourth, five feet eleven inches, sandy complexion, blue dyes, big moustache and goatee, heavy set, about one hundred and seventy-five pounds, age about forty-five years. An armed force is now scouring the prairie near where they were last seen. The funeral of the murdered men was held on Friday, at 1 P. M. Mr. Dollard was an officer and member in high standing of Mendocino Lodge, No. 179, F. and A. M., and was buried according to the rites and ceremonies of that order. Mr. Wright, though not a member of any secret society, was attended to his grave by the Odd Fellows as a mark of respect. As we go to press, nothing of importance has been heard from the parties in pursuit of the outlaws."

        A reward of $300 for the first and $200 for each subsequent murderer was offered by the Governor. Early the next week Dr. J. F. Wheeler, a resident of Mendocino City, was arrested for complicity in the affair. The clue that led to his arrest was the finding of a tin cup and a frying-pan in the camp said to have been purchased by Wheeler recently. Wheeler had gone to Mendocino City some time before and started into business as a dentist, but finally developed into a regular practicing physician. He was a married man, of pleasing address and suave manners, and soon managed to have quite a number of friends in the place, and was doing quite a thriving business. Nothing was known of his past life, and, California like, nothing was asked. He was, apparently, a gentleman now, and that was all that was asked or required. The truth was, however, that he was an ex-convict, having served his time in San Quentin for his connection with a stage robbery some years ago. It was developed shortly after Wheeler's arrest that he was the grand moving spirit in the enterprise. In August previous John Billings received a letter from Wheeler, as follows:—"I have here, in. Mendocino county, a rich claim, worth about $15,000; it can be worked in about two weeks if I have good men. The claim is the Sheriff of Mendocino county. I have one good man with me. Come yourself and bring any one you know and can depend on." The good man he referred to was H. E. Brown. About the 10th of September Billings arrived at Mendocino City, bringing with him Samuel Carr, an old ex-convict, who had been sentenced to the State Prison for life from San Francisco for killing a man in the "Thunderbolt " saloon, but who had been pardoned on the condition that he leave the State and never return. There was also with them a young man named George Gaunce, heretofore to criminal fame unknown. As the plan was to rob the Sheriff when he was making his annual round collecting the taxes, and as it would yet be some time before he would come on his trip, the gang concluded to rendezvous in that vicinity, but, of course, not at the hotels or elsewhere where they would be seen much by the people. For some time their rendezvous was at a cabin owned by A. B. Courtwright, in the mountains east of Westport. While here Wheeler supplied the necessaries of life, and also purchased a lot of ammunition and fire-arms for their use.

        About two weeks before the murders the gang moved their quarters down to within a few miles of Mendocino City, and were vigorously engaged in jerking beef and in other ways preparing for the journey they soon expected to take. While here they were in daily communication with Wheeler, who advised them never to surrender if an attempt was made to arrest them, but to shoot, and how well they followed his advice the story of their attempted arrest sets forth. One of the gang, Samuel Carr, was overtaken and arrested at a cabin in Long valley on the morning of the 22d, while cooking his breakfast. He was tired, sick and footsore, and without arms, as he had thrown his rifle away. He turned State's evidence, and hence was used as a witness for the people, and narrated all the details of plans, etc., with evident truthfulness.       .

        On the 29th the posse who were scouring the mountains divided into two parties; one, under the direction of Sheriff Moore, started towards Piercy's ranch on Rattlesnake creek; in which direction the outlaws were heading, and the other, under J. M. Standley, remained on their track, closely pursuing them. During the day Standley's party suddenly came upon them near the mouth of Rattlesnake creek. Each party discovered the other about the same time, and after ordering the outlaws to surrender their pursuers began firing, but with no particular result, except that they fled and left their camp equipage behind, escaping with only their arms and a few rounds of ammunition. The gang then changed their course from north to east; and ate breakfast on the morning of the 30th at William Rea's, near Blue Rock. They were then heading for Trinity county, north of Round valley. They were next heard from in the Mad river country in that county, where a posse from Round Valley came upon them in camp in a deep gulch. This was in the night, and the posse decided to divide, and one part remain above and the other go below, and thus be ready to trap them in the morning, but daylight found the birds flown, and they had evidently passed very near to their pursuers. They were next heard of at Petit Johns', in Tehama county. It was known ahead that they were coming that way, and Petit Johns expected to arrest them, and for that purpose had asked a neighbor to come to his house that day, as he expected them to pass about noon. They came, however, in the morning before they were expected, and they found Johns by himself. They called for breakfast, and were provided with the meal. Johns' wife placed the plates all on one side of the table, so that all were in a row, and when they came in and sat down they left their guns setting just outside the door. The woman then went off to the barn, expecting her husband to open up a fusilade upon them and probably kill one or more of them. The old man seemed anxious enough to do something of the kind but he felt that he was taking too great chances. He went into an adjoining room twice and came out again after a time, his courage evidently failing him. He went into the room a third time, when Billings' suspicions were aroused, and drawing his revolver and placing it on the table said that if he came in the room again from that room he would shoot him in his tracks. Johns, fortunately for him, passed out through another door.

        At one place they had stopped in a roofless and deserted cabin to spend the night. Presently they were aware that their pursuers were on their track, and close at hand; so they rushed out into the bushes and hid. Standley, it is said by Gaunce, came near losing his life here. He rode up to the house and looked over into it, and then started on up the cañon, but a mule he had for packing refused to follow him; and he was obliged to turn back for it twice, and he then changed his course. Had he come right on he would have, come upon them in their ambush; and as he was recognized as the leader of the posse by the gang, it was well known to them that if he were killed the posse would break up, or at least be so demoralized that they could get a good start. Billings seemed determined to shoot anyway, but was persuaded to desist as his man was too far off; but that mule, fortunately, did not let him get close enough for Billings to carry his purpose into execution.

        On the 8th of November they were at Last Chance Hollow, west of Red Bluff. On the 10th they crossed the Sacramento river above Red Bluff. Here all traces of them were lost by the pursuing party, and the chase for the time abandoned. The pursuers traveled over one thousand miles in this most wonderful man chase, and the most of the time on foot, and some of the time through soft, wet snow. The following description of their journeyings will convey an adequate idea of the great amount of traveling they did. From Big river north to Blue Rock; thence east to Bell Springs; crossed Eel river; thence north to Red Mountain; thence north to Mad river; thence west to Kittenchaw valley; thence east, up Mad river to the three forks of the river; thence up the north fork of the main divide between Mad river and the south fork of Trinity river; thence south to the Yolo Bolles; thence across the Yolo Bolles; thence east to the foothills on Cold creek; (Petit Johns lives here); thence south to the Red Banks. Here the posse divided, Donohoe and Shepherd going south to Paskenta, thence south to Newville; thence south to Stony creek; thence north to Elk Grove; thence north to Paskenta, thence east to Red Bluff; thence south to Tehama; thence north to Cold creek; thence south to Mount St. John; thence east to Willows; thence home, having lost all traces and given up the chase. After the separation Moore and Standley went from Red Bank to Vale's Gulch; thence to Red Bluff; thence down the Sacramento river to Tehama; crossed the Sacramento river and went to Vina; (at this time the outlaws were on the railroad between the two pursuing parties); thence to Tehama; thence up the Sacramento river to Blossom's ranch; thence east to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains; thence south along the foothills a distance of fifteen miles; thence back to Tehama; thence to Thomas' creek; thence southeast to Newville, near Stony creek; thence up Stony creek to Bear valley; thence east to Willows; thence east to Colusa; thence to Williams', and thence to Ukiah. This was the end of the first chase, and all parties were now in Ukiah; and it was thought that the gang had eluded the vigilance of the officers.

        But Standley had his ears always open to catch stray reports that would lead to anything like a clue. At last he heard that Brown had a brother-in-law somewhere in the vicinity of Nimshew, Butte county, and knowing that the track of them was lost in that neighborhood, he surmised that they were located near there somewhere. Acting on this supposition he and Moore again set out on the chase, going to Butte county. On the morning of December 5th, Sheriff Moore, J. M. Standley, C. A. White, of Nimshew, and a Chico stage-driver named Messer, surrounded a cabin on Butte creek. About one hundred yards from the cabin the men took their positions so as to command the place; White above the cabin, Standley near the ravine, Moore commanding the ravine in one direction, and Messer in the other direction. White and Standley had Winchester rifles, and the others had shot-guns loaded with buck-shot. After they had waited a few moments Billings came out with a gun and ax, evidently intending to chop some wood to cook their breakfast with, as this was very soon after daylight in the morning. When about seven feet from the cabin Standley called to him to throw up his arms. Instead, however, he sprang back into the cabin, whereupon Standley fired, the ball striking him in the shoulder. On hearing the firing Gaunce and Brown dashed into the brush, White discharging four shots at them as they ran. He then turned and saw Billings trying to get his gun leveled at him. When Billings saw that he was discovered he ran into the cabin again, but came immediately out. White then fired, the ball striking Billings in the knee, bringing him partially to the ground. While in this position Billings again tried to aim and fire at White, who continued to shoot at him till he fell dead. He fell about thirty feet from the cabin, face downward with his gun under him. He only gasped once after he was reached by the officers. His body was carried into the cabin and a Coroner sent for, and an inquest held, after which Sheriff Moore started for Ukiah with the body. By this time it was night again, but the officers started out into the dark, using a lantern to show them the trail. About one hundred yards from the cabin the trail divided, one of the parties, Gaunce, going southwest down the creek, and the other, Brown, had gone up the creek. After pursuing Brown perhaps a mile and a half, they concluded that as he was lame, he could not elude them so well as Gaunce, so they returned and started out on the trail of the last named. They followed the tracks down Butte creek three or four miles, and then the trail made a square turn and led them to within a very few rods of town where it was lost. It was now about midnight, and the pursuers had been at work fully twenty-four hours without an hour's sleep or respite, hence they went to the hotel and retired. In the morning the irrepressible Standley was out bright and early, and as eager for any new clues as he ever had been. He soon learned that a gentleman had lost a buggy robe during the night, and rightly guessed that Gaunce had taken it for a blanket, and that he had spent the night close by. The buggy stood in a shed adjoining a vacant cabin, and naturally enough they searched that building first, in one of the rooms there was an old cupboard, and, stowed away behind that, they found the culprit, who was worn out, exhausted, and broken down in spirit as well as body. Standley took him in a buggy, and drove to Chico, where he overtook Moore, and turned Gaunce over to him to bring to Ukiah.

        We will now return to Brown and follow him through the devious windings of his path from his escape from the cabin to his arrest, for be it here recorded that all the gang were finally brought to Ukiah, and lodged in jail. After leaving the cabin where Billings was shot he went up Butte creek, on into Conchow valley; thence due east, up the slope of the Sierras to the snow line; here he stopped all night with an Indian; thence, starting on the morning of December 8th, he crossed the north fork of the Feather river, staying all night at Last Chance; he then crossed French creek to the Mountain Rouse, on the road from Oroville to Susanville; thence on the main road to Bidwell's Bar; here he took to the shrubby foothills and traveled to Wyandotte; he then turned towards Rice's crossing, on the Yuba river, and thence to the vicinity of Bidwell's Bar. On the evening of the 10th, Standley and White arrived at the last-named place on horse-back and in the morning scoured the country, warning everybody to look out for Brown. Sheriff Sprague of Yuba county joined them at this time. Some time during the day the officers met two men—Thatcher and Ryan—who had Brown in charge, they having apprehended him about a mile ahead of the officers. Standley arrested Brown and returned to Ukiah with him at once.

        And so was ended one of the greatest man-hunting expeditions on record, and it is doubtful if indeed it can be excelled in all the annals of crime. No one can begin to have a just appreciation of its magnitude, and what they were called upon to undergo and endure until he has traveled over those chemessal mountains, going through places where scarce a grizzly bear would attempt to force his way. Let any one take a map of the State, and trace out the route traversed, and he will be amazed. Great credit is due to all who were in any way connected with the pursuit, but to J. M. Standley, Sheriff Moore and Jerry Donohoe, the burden of the honor falls due for their untiring energy and determined zeal. The last named was on the road sixty-one days. When Standley arrived at Ukiah with the last of the outlaws, great excitement prevailed, and the stage was surrounded with a great crowd of eager spectators, desirous both of getting a glimpse of the captive and of paying a just tribute to the captor. Upon Standley's arrival at Little Lake quite an ovation was tendered him. Anvils were fired, Rev. A. O. Ross delivered a speech of welcome, and the grand rejoicing was fittingly closed with a dance.

        On the night of November 30th, Wheeler, in company with James Anthony, made his escape from the jail by the aid of a false key made of Babbitt metal. The guard of the jail had stepped out for a few moments, not thinking but that his prisoners were safe under lock and key, and when he came back the birds had flown. They went to a livery stable and appropriated two horses to their use, and fled northward toward the mountains, but were both captured near Calpella not having gotten a dozen miles away. They were successful jail-breakers, but not so much of a success in eluding recapture in the muddy, rainy days of mid-winter.

        In April, 1880, Wheeler, Brown and Gaunce had their trials, Carr, the main witness for the people, giving the most of the foregoing facts concerning the intentions and movements of the gang up to the time of the shooting, and Wheeler's complicity with them. Judge J. G. Pressly, of Sonoma county, was on the bench. Following is the text of the sentence of Wheeler: "John F. Wheeler, you have been charged with the highest crime known to human as well as divine law, and of this charge, after a fair and full trial, you have been convicted by a jury of your countrymen, sworn to try the case and to render a verdict in accordance with the proof.  You have been very ably defended; your counsel have been persistent; have, with pertinacity and skill, contested every point made against you. The same laws which you have broken gave you the means of presenting anything in the way of defense or exculpation that would tend to establish your innocence or extenuate your acts. After hearing all that you have offered in your defense, a jury of intelligent and unbiased men have found you guilty and another proof of circumstances which divests your crime of the glamour which surrounds a bold and daring robbery and murder, is that you remained in the background, and had your work done by confederates. If the circumstances detailed by witnesses are true, and the jury have found them to be so, you were the master spirit in one of the most diabolical conspiracies which has, perhaps, ever been entered into within the limits of this county.

        "A man who had not harmed you was to have been robbed, and the funds intrusted to him by virtue of his office, taken away and divided among you and your subordinates in crime. In order to carry out your nefarious purposes you compassed the death of any citizen who might attempt to interfere with your plans. The result was the death of an estimable citizen of this county—a young man in the prime of life and vigor of manhood, cut down without a moment's warning, and that by men under your command, cowardly secreting themselves and shooting from ambush. The fate which has at last overtaken you, is but the just deserts of the act, shown by the testimony, to have been done by you. Your present condition is but another proof of the truth of  the scripture which says that ' the way of the transgressor is hard.' I do not desire to harrow up your feelings, or inflict more pain upon you than my duty, as one of the ministers of justice, requires me to do. I will not prolong this, to me, painful scene, further than to advise you to prepare to meet the awful fate which will surely overtake you. I have endeavored to give you a fair trial. I am not now aware of any errors committed by me to your prejudice. I am glad to know that if I have committed any, and if you have been deprived of rights, there is a tribunal to which you may take your case if you so desire. I hope no human being will ever, by any mistake of mine, be ushered into the presence of the Great Judge, who will finally award to everyone the just deserts of his deeds, and that without possibility of error. I think you need not look to any power short of Omnipotence for pardon of the crime of which you have been convicted. I advise you to dismiss from your mind all hope of human aid, and look alone to Him who, 'though your sins be as scarlet, can make them as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, can make them white as wool.' Your sentence and the judgment of the Court is that you be, by the Sheriff of Mendocino county, on Friday, July 2, 1880, hanged by the neck until you are dead, and. may God have mercy on your soul."

        The city of Ukiah was thrown into a fever of excitement, on Saturday morning, May 15th, by the report that John F. Wheeler, one of the outlaws, had committed suicide. In an almost incredible space of time hundreds of people congregated on the outside of the jail, and in the hallways leading to it, anxious to gain the latest information from within. The door to the Sheriff's office was locked, and only a few were admitted, and when any of those who were fortunate enough to gain an entrance would retire, they were plied with all manner of questions as to the condition of the condemned man. The interest seemed to abate but little until death ensued, when most of the people silently betook themselves to their homes there to meditate over the drama just ended.

        At half-past seven o'clock, on Saturday morning, the guard on duty in the jail spoke to Wheeler, who answered that he was all right, and half an hour after, on being spoken to, he made no response. A few minutes later one of the other prisoners looked into the cell and remarked: "The Doctor is lying flat on his back, with his mouth wide open and sound asleep." No notice was taken of this announcement by the authorities, as it had been customary for Wheeler to remain up late at night reading and writing, and to sleep in the morning. At about a quarter to ten, his wife called to see him, and on going to his cell to bring him out, he was found stretched upon his bed in a comatose state. He was at once removed to the Sheriff's office and placed upon a mattress, where Drs. Dozier, Mason and King did everything in their power to resuscitate him, but without avail, and at 6:50 P. M., he breathed his last. The shackles were at once removed from his ankles and the body placed in the hallway, where, after being encoffined, it remained until buried on Sunday afternoon. It was visited twice by Mrs. Wheeler while there, once that evening, and again the next morning. On both occasions she manifested great affection for him, and app