RootsWeb: CASANJOA-L Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA -- 23-30 Nov 1857; pt. 2 of 2

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From: Dee Sardoc <>
Subject: Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA -- 23-30 Nov 1857; pt. 2 of 2
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:30:58 -0800

Stockton Daily Argus Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA 23-30 Nov 1857; pt. 2 of 2 ************************* >>Tuesday, 24 Nov 1857<< MARRIED -- in this city, 22d inst., by Rev. J.A. ANDERSON; Mr. E.M. STODDARD to Miss Cyntha M. BENTON, both of San Joaquin county. ARRIVAL OVER the PLAINS -- The Sonoma Journal, of Nov. 20th, chronicles the arrival at Petaluma, Nov. 17th, of J.R. TIFFE, who went to the East some months since, for the purpose of obtaining stock. The Journal adds: Mr. TIFFE and company, composed of some 15 persons, left Columbia, Boone county, Mo., on the 15th of April, with 320 head of choice young cattle. Upon his arrival at the Sweet Water, his trip had been one of uncommon success. At this point, however, his stock commenced dying of the bloody murian, or a similar disease, and before reaching their destination, his drove had become reduced to 200 head. In other respects the trip was prosperous, having encountered little or no annoyance from the Indians. The train came in via the Honey Lake Route. We are pleased to learn that the stock is a very superior lot, and that among them there is some full-blooded Durham heifers and bulls. ----------------------------------------------- >>Wednesday, 25 Nov 1857<< HORRIBLE MURDER on the SAN JOAQUIN -- One of the most brutal murders we have ever been called upon to record occurred near Hills Ferry, on the San Joaquin, on Saturday last. It took place at the ranch of Mr. Anson BIRD, who, together with a young man by name of BALDWIN, were murdered under the following circumstances: BALDWIN, with a man by name of Pete, left Mr. BIRDs ranch on a hunting cruise, on Saturday morning, BALDWIN taking one direction and Pete the other. It is supposed that Mr. BIRD was murdered during their absence, and that BALDWIN, also, upon his return in the afternoon, was murdered by a California Indian who had been living at the ranch since September last. Mr. James S. BIRD, a son of deceased, was in this city on Saturday, and arriving at home on Sunday night, found the house deserted, and the gun used by BALDWIN standing against the door; from which fact and other circumstances attending the murder, it is supposed that BALDWIN was killed immediately upon his return. The son waited a long time, and no one appearing, he went to the neighboring ranches in search of his father, but could find no trace of him. On the following morning (Monday), parties left in all directions, it becoming apparent that foul play had been committed. In looking about the premises, the marks of a trail were discovered leading from the house to the river, when it became almost certain that Mr. BIRD had been murdered, and the body dragged to the river. Several persons followed the trail and on Monday discovered the body in the river, a few yards distant from the bank. It was taken out, and further search made for BALDWIN, whose body was also found near the same spot. They presented a shocking appearance, both bodies having received severe cuts on the head, that bore the appearance of having been made with an axe. The remains were taken to the house, and the neighbors started immediately out in search of the Indian who was suspected of being the murderer. Up to our latest accounts no tidings had been had of him, although it was highly probably he would be taken. A woman who had been living with the Indian at Mr. BIRDs ranch came to this city on Thursday last. The murder created great excitement among the rancheros along the river, to whom Mr. BIRD had been a neighbor for the past 3 or 4 years, engaged principally in stock-raising. Mr. BALDWIN was found with his hunting accoutrements upon him, from which fact, it is supposed, that he merely had time to set his gun inside the house, when he was stuck with an axe and killed. A pistol and some money that were in the house at the time of the murder were found missing. We learn that Mr. BIRD was from the State of New York, and about 55 years of age. Mr. BALDWIN was aged about 25 years. It is sincerely to be hoped that the perpetrators of this brutal murder may be overtaken and properly dealt with. ------------------------------------------------------ WILL RECOVER -- Mr. Harvey WILKINSON, who was reported as being killed by Miller BARLETT a few days since, at Six Mile Bar, in Calaveras county, is recovering from his wound. The ball entered the right side, passed through the body and came out of the left side, making it appear at first impossible for the wounded man to recover. WILKINSON is fortunate in recovering from pistol shot wounds. He has been shot several times, in other instances the balls passing through his body, from which he recovered after hopes of his life had been given up. >JOHN DOUGHERTY and Arnold LEWIS have been arrested in San Francisco on a charge of rape upon the person of an intoxicated woman named McCARTY. She was in the habit of becoming intoxicated, and while wandering on Pacific street, wharf was seized by some dozen villains, and despite her struggles and cries, accomplished their purposes. Her husband is now confined in State Prison for manslaughter, and she has several children. >THEY HAVE murderous liquors for sale in San Francisco. A drinking house kept by Diedrich GERDES treats its customers badly. A short time since, a man who drank in the back room of the house a little too much of GERDES liquor, suddenly fell back and died. The house stands near the water, and within 30 feet of it, and 10 days since, the body of Peter JOHNSON was found drowned; on Sunday night a German who drank some of GEDES [spelled 2 ways] liquor, attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat -- his life may yet be saved however, although he had lost much blood, means were taken in time to prevent his bleeding to death. The police have made a descent upon this drinking house, and seized several bottles of the stuff, sold as a good article of liquor, and have handed them over to a chemist to be analized, to know what manner of poison they contain. The properties of the liquors are said to be most nauseous to the taste and smell. -------------------------------------------------------- DEATHS DOINGS -- Uncertainty of Life in California -- S.F. Alta In the month of May last, a company consisting of 6 persons, organized themselves into an association for the purpose of damming and fluming a portion of the South Fork of Salmon river in Klamath county. Before a week had elapsed, one of the parties fell off a stick of timber which spanned the stream, on to the rocks below, and fractured his skull. Some time afterward, another went over to Union, Humboldt Bay, for provisions, but never returned, having been taken sick in that place, and afterwards died on his passage to the Sandwich Island, whither he had gone by the advice of his physician. The 4 others had a successful season; but, whilst crossing mountains, one of them became separated from the remainder of the party, and had not been heard of up to a few days ago. And now we are called upon to announce the death of George P. LYON, also a member of this unfortunate company, who lost his life in Monterey County, on the 17th November, in an affray with one William BURKMAN. What a striking example of the vicissitudes of a miners life in California! The survivors, Messrs. LOWREY, JAMES and WELD, are now in San Francisco. The former 2 will returned to Ohio, their former homes, on the next mail steamer. The latter has come down to see his 2 partners off, and contemplates going again back to his now lonely cabin in the northern mountains. ---------------------------------------------------- >>Thursday, 26 Nov 1857<< IMPORTANT ARREST -- Jose, the Indian suspected of the murder of Mr. Anson BIRD and Mr. BALDWIN, on the San Joaquin river on Saturday last, an account of which we published yesterday morning, was arrested last night by officer John CROFTON. Information had been given that Jose had been seen in the morning eating breakfast in the Mexican portion of the city, but the officers who started in search of him could get no tract of him during the day, as Jose evidently was keeping himself out of sight, fearing an arrest. Last evening, officer CROFTON, learning Jose had a wife in the city, commenced the search anew, and passing a grocery on corner of Washington and Hunter streets, he observed a man at the counter with his back towards him, wearing a coat that accorded with the description of the one worn by Jose. He immediately entered and stepping toward the Indian, observed that he had a large pistol, a 6-shooter hung to his side. Mr. CROFTON placed his hand upon the weapon and ordered him to surrender, which he complied with, offering no resistance. Jose was taken to jail, where he is now lodged, awaiting an examination that will take place today. ----------------------------------------------------- OBTAINING MONEY by FALSE REPRESENTATION -- A man by name of John MAYHOOD was arrested and brought before Justice McCAUSLAND on Tuesday upon a charge of obtaining money from a teamster by name of TAYLOR, under the following circumstances: TAYLOR brought to this city about the 1st of November, the sum of $30 from a party in the mines, to be delivered to a person by name of SAMPSON, whose countenance very much resembles that of MAYHOOD. TAYLOR meeting MAYHOOD on the Levee, inquired if his name was SAMPSON, to which he replied that it was, and of course, the teamster paid over the money, which MAYHOOD assured him was all right. TAYLOR suspected nothing wrong until the real SAMPSON turned up for his money, when a new light suddenly broke upon the bewildered vision of TAYLOR, who immediately commenced a search for the bogus SAMPSON, whom he found on Thursday last, by the assistance of officer CROFTON. MAYHOOD had boasted in public of the way he came the giraffe over the unsuspecting TAYLOR, and signified the greatest desire, in view of the success of his criminal exploit, to stand treat for all his friends. Justice, however, overtook him in an unguarded moment, and he was brought, a culprit, before his Honor, the Judge, who found him guilty, and fined him $75 and 30 days in the County Jail. ----------------------------------------------- FIRE -- We learn that a house on the upper Sacramento road, about 10 miles from this city, was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday. The fire caught the ceiling, and the house being lined with cloth, was almost instantly destroyed, affording barely time for the inmates to escape. All the clothing of a wife and family, and a sum of money amounting to about $100, were lost. Mr. CASNA, who occupied the house, was severely burned in attempting to save his effects. The loss sustained is about $1,000. ------------------------------------------------ HORRIBLE DEPRAVITY -- S.F. Call 2 negroes were arrested Monday in San Francisco, at the complaint of Mr. J.S. TAYLOR, a veterinary surgeon, who charges them with tampering with the chastity of his little daughter, a child of only 3 ½ years old. The men accused are William WILSON and Robert BERRY, both barbers, doing business on Second street. Mr. TAYLOR states that it is customary for his wife to send their eldest child to his place of business to notify him when dinner is ready. Monday, in consequence of the sickness of the usual messenger, Mrs. TAYLOR sent her youngest daughter to call her father. At 3 oclock, a lady stepped into his surgery, and inquired about the child, stating that she had seen it taken into the barber shop of the defendants, and hear it cry. The appointed time for the childs coming having passed, he became alarmed, and rushing to the barber shop designated, found the door fastened. Bursting it open with his foot, he descried one of the negroes holding his hand over the childs mouth, whilst the other was pinning up its dress. As soon as they saw the father, one made towards him with a chair, but was knocked down and stamped upon by the frantic parent. He then drew a large jack-knife and threw it at the other fellow, without effect, however. By this time, a crowd collected and managed to separate the infuriated father from the man he had thrown to the floor. The childs face was scratched and much swollen from the pressure of the hands of the men who tried to suppress its cries. The above is substantially the statement of the occurrence as related to us by the father. On the other hand, the accused men deny that they intended injuring the girl in any manner. The whole matter will come under judicial examination, when we will be enabled to arrive at the merits of the case. If the fathers statement be sustained, it is to be hoped that the severest punishment will be meted out to the vile wretches. ------------------------------------------------- >>27 Nov -- issue lacking<< >>Saturday, 28 Nov 1857<< MARRIED -- in this city, on the 25th inst., at the Parsonage of the Methodist Church, by Rev. P.G. BUCHANAN; Mr. Andrew J. BAILEY to Miss Sarah Jane ALLEN. DIED -- in this city, on the 25th inst., of congestion of the bowels, Mrs. Mary, wife of John THORNELOE, a native of England, aged 36 years. DIED -- in this city, on the morning of Nov. 27th, Loretta M., daughter of Benj. R. and Juliet V. LIPPINCOTT, aged 10 months. [The friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from their residence this day (Saturday) at 2 oclock p.m.] SENT to MERCED COUNTY for TRIAL -- The Indian who was arrested on Wednesday upon suspicion of being the murder of Anson BIRD and S. BALDWIN, at Hills Ferry, will be taken today to Merced county upon a warrant issued from Justice JENKINS Court. The Indian has acknowledged having sold 2 of the horses stolen at the time of the murder. ARREST of a MURDERER -- The murderer of a man by name of BEIGLER, at Bear Valley, a short time since, has been arrested by Sheriff CRIPPEN of Mariposa county, and lodged in the lock-up at Mariposa, where he has some half dozen companions in crime to keep him company. SUDDEN DEATH -- [from San Francisco] An Irishman named James SIMMONS, who had been laboring in the livery stable situated under the National House, No. 76 Pacific street, while carrying a hand full of wood, fell down in a fit soon after breakfast this morning, and notwithstanding medical aid was brought, almost immediately expired, before any relief could be afforded. >>Monday, 30 Nov 1857<< AMBROTYPES -- Some of the finest specimens of the Daguerrean art, in the form of abortive pictures, may be seen at the rooms of Misses GENNING and CAREY, on the corner of Hunter and Levee streets, up-stairs. These ladies, with a spirit worthy of all success, have established a permanent business in this city, where, with the evidences of their skill in the daguerrean art always free to public inspection, they hope to meet a due share of the public favor. Their rooms are open at all hours of the day. Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006