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From: Dee Sardoc <>
Subject: Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA -- 13-18 Feb 1860
Date: Tue, 09 May 2006 14:55:07 -0700


Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
13-18 Feb 1860
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>>Monday, 13 Feb 1860<<

GRAND JURY'S REPORT -- The Grand Jury, on Saturday, presented 4
indictments, and their final report. The latter is somewhat remarkable for
brevity being principally confined to a few recommendations which, if
practically carried out, will undoubtedly secure several much needed
improvements at no great expenditure. We present below the Report in full:

TO THE HONORABLE, the Court of Session:
Gentlemen:
The Grand Jury having examined into the charge of burglary preferred
against Ramon LOPEZ, Juan MATHRUDA and John KENDALL, recommend that they be
recognized to appear before the next Court of Sessions. Also, that the same
course be pursued in the case of Charles GREEN, charged with highway
robbery; all of whom are now in jail. They also beg to call the attention
of the proper officers to the accompanying reports of committees.
David F. DOUGLASS, Foreman of Grand Jury

COMMITTEE on JAIL and HOSPITAL -- The Committee after a thorough
examination into the management of the County Jail and Hospital of the
county of San Joaquin, find that everything in and about them is conducted
in a correct and proper manner. The different apartments appear to be in a
cleanly, healthy condition, and the inmates well provided for in every respect.
[signed] H.H. MEANS, John WILSON, E. MORRILL, H.F. HUBBARD, Cornelius CARPENTER

COMMITTEE on PUBLIC GROUNDS -- The Committee on Public Grounds recommend
that suitable out-houses and wood-houses be built on the Court House
grounds for convenience of Court House. Also recommend that the County
Clerk's office be enlarged by adding the office of the County Treasurer
thereto; and some other suitable places be obtained for the Treasurer. The
County Jail seems to be too small for the number of occupants, therefore,
recommend that an addition be built.
[signed] S.K. CAMP, John DONNECLIFF, Jos. K. SMITH, Austin SPERRY

COMMITTEE on MANAGEMENT of COUNTY OFFICES -- The Committee on County
Officers report that we have not found anything amiss, except that some
Justices of the Peace are too negligent in furnishing papers to County
Clerks in criminal cases; and that our County Superintendent of Public
Schools is a little too choice of his presence in Districts out of town;
and that Trustees of Public Schools are generally too negligent.
[signed] S.H. AXTELL, Jas. S. GROVER, Joseph KENNEDY, [rest cut off]


>>Tuesday, 14 Feb 1860<<

G.W. DURHAM, an Englishman, and formerly a school teacher at Angel's,
suddenly took his departure from that town a few days since. It was
ascertained by the school committee that he had been guilty of the most
disgusting and heinous crimes with the school children.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT -- J. MITCHELL, Goodman MITCHELL and Samuel MITCHELL
were examined yesterday in Judge BROWN's court upon a charge of disorderly
conduct, and the case taken under advisement.


>>Wednesday, 15 Feb 1860<<

ATTEMPT to COMMIT SUICIDE -- Fred. BARNETT, a sailor aged about 35 years,
attempted to commit suicide on Monday night, between 11 and 12 o'clock. He
had been drinking and playing at rondo, and had lost some $35, when he went
to "Nick's," on the Levee, with several of his comrades, where he partook
of a lunch, and drank several times. The excitement of his loss, and
liquor, drove him to phrenzy, when he seized a carving knife at the lunch
table and endeavored to cut his throat. In this he was foiled by the
barkeeper, who caught the knife by the blade and prevented him from
committing suicide. BARNETT cut through the skin of his throat. The
barkeeper had 3 of his fingers cut severely in preventing the action of the
would-be suicide. BARNETT is said to be a very kind-hearted man; but when
in liquor he attempts to kill himself, as he has made previous attempts
upon his own life while in a state of intoxication.

HORSE STEALING -- Horse-thieves are again infesting this vicinity. Monday
night a mare and colt were stolen from E.A. CHATFIELD, a short distance
from this city. An effort was made to steal a fine horse from the same
place on the same night. The lasso was thrown over him, but the animal
evidently jumped when he saw it coming, and succeeded in getting 1 foot
through it, so that it caught him partly about the body, and being strong,
he succeeded in getting away, and was found in the morning with the lasso
still about him. It was made of raw hide and is quite new, which gives
color to the belief that the horse thieves are Mexican. Our agricultural
friends should be on their guard.

REMAINS of a DEAD INDIAN FOUND -- On Monday the body of an Indian was found
lying in the tules about a half-mile from the residence of Mr. POST. It had
been there about a year, and was supposed by Mr. POST to have been buried,
but it seems, was laid in the tules and only partly covered with earth
which the high water had washed away and exposed the body to view. The
coroner and city sexton proceeded to the spot yesterday and interred the
remains, no inquest being deemed necessary.


>>Thursday, 16 Feb 1860<<

DIED FROM the EFFECTS of HIS WOUNDS -- Mr. FARRELL, who was severely burned
on Sunday, 11th inst., by the ignition of a roll of phosphorus which he
carried in his pocket, died yesterday afternoon from the effects of his wounds.

DEPARTURE -- E.F. JONES, Esq., of the firm of JONES & HEWLETT, took his
departure yesterday from this city for the Atlantic States, prior to which
a large number of personal friends assembled at his place of business and
bade him "God speed." Mr. JONES has been identified with the mercantile
interests of our city since the "flush times," has held important official
position, and by his uniform courtesy and gentlemanly bearing, has gathered
around him a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who would more deeply
regret his departure but for the promise of a speedy return.

AFFECTING SCENE -- A scene of sorrow was witnessed on the Levee yesterday
morning, that affected in an unwonted manner all who were present. Officer
SAULSBERRY, of San Francisco, brought up on the steamer, the night
previous, an insane woman to be placed in the Asylum. Her little son, aged
8 years, was with her, and when it was made known he could not accompany
his mother to the Asylum, but that he must be separated from her, his tears
and expressions of grief were such as to fill with sorrow those who heard
him. The boy was kindly taken in charge by Mr. HENRY until the steamer
returned to San Francisco, where a French family, country-people of the
insane woman, had engaged to take care of him.

HORSE STEALING -- A Mexican by name of ALVAREZ was arrested yesterday upon
a complaint filed in Judge Brown's Court, charging him with having sold a
horse of the value of $20 to a Chinaman, and shortly after taking unlawful
possession of the animal and endeavoring to sell it a second time. The
examination will take place as early as an important witness can be
secured; and in the meantime the Mexican will remain in jail.

COURT of SESSIONS -- The Court of Sessions was engaged nearly all of
yesterday in the trial of Samuel BEATTY for assault with attempt to kill.
The jury retired last evening and returned a verdict of "guilty of assault
and battery."

TELEGRAPHIC -- San Francisco, Feb. 15 --
-By the brig Aeolus which arrived here this forenoon from Humboldt Bay, we
have information that the body of William FRENCH, 1st officer of the ill
fated steamer Northerner, had been found near the scene of the late
shipwreck. It will be brought to San Francisco by the steamer Columbia on
her return here from the Northern coast.
-It is stated that proceedings will soon be commenced against Michael REESE
and Miguel CASTRO, the bondsmen of Jose y LIMUNTOUR for the forfeiture of bail.


>>Friday, 17 Feb 1860<<

EXECUTION -- CRAWFORD and CROISSIN, the murderers of LEWIS and FORD, will
be executed today in the jail yard. They have for some time past exhibited
little hope of obtaining any respite from the Governor, and have been daily
devoting their time to a preparation for death.

COURT of SESSIONS --
-Edd. REYNOLDS, convicted of grand larceny, was sentenced to 1 years in the
State Prison.
-ISADORE and STANISLAUS, Indians convicted of robbery, were each sentenced
to 1 year in the State Prison.

FROM MARIPOSA and TULARE --
-A fatal shooting affair came off in Hornitos on Thursday night last, in
which a man by the name of FLANDERS was so badly shot that he died Saturday
night. The cause of difficulty was a dispute at a card table, in reference
to the game. HARDY fled, and has not been taken.
-A Chinaman employed in a Foundry in Mariposa committed suicide on Friday
last by taking laudanum.
-A child, aged 6 months, was burned to death in Visalia on Tuesday last, by
the carelessness of a nurse. The 'Delta' says there is a mystery connected
with the affair, which would seem to infer foul means.

TELEGRAPHIC -- San Francisco, Feb'y 16th -- A German girl, named Meta
BUMEISTER, committed suicide last night.

SUICIDE in SAN FRANCISCO -- A young German girl, named Martha BARMIESTER
[spelled 2 ways], only 3 months in the country, committed suicide in San
Francisco on Wednesday afternoon, by hanging herself with a rope, suspended
from a beam. The supposed cause was home-sickness.

>>Saturday, 18 Feb 1860<<

EXECUTION -- Thomas CRAWFORD and William CROISSIN were executed in the
jail-yard yesterday afternoon at 10 minutes past 3 o'clock, the former for
the murder of John B. LEWIS, and the latter for that of John V. FORD. About
50 persons were admitted to the yard, while the roofs of the houses in the
neighborhood that could command a view of the scaffold were crowded with
people eager to witness the death scene. The condemned men were attended by
the clergy, with whom they were engaged in prayer and the reading of the
scriptures up to the moment the Sheriff gave notice that the time had
arrived for the execution. They walked from their cells to the foot of the
scaffold pale and with trembling step. At this point they seemed to recover
courage, and mounted the platform with firmness.

They looked around upon the sea of faces turned toward them, and expressed
a desire that there should be no delay in the execution. CRAWFORD addressed
a few words in a low tone to the Sheriff, to the effect that he died
innocent of any intent to commit murder, that he was not possessed of a bad
heart, and that he killed LEWIS in a moment when all consciousness of what
he was doing had left him. While his feet were being bound he discovered
that he had upon them a boot and a shoe, and turning to the Deputy Sheriff,
smilingly remarked that "it would make no difference in a few moments."
CROISSIN exhibited great nervousness, but spoke freely with the clergy and
those who came upon the platform to bid him good bye. To Mr. OVERTON, the
jailor, he gave a grasp of the hand and remarked that "he was a small man,
but had a big heart," and thanked him for his kindness to him while a
prisoner under his charge.

Sheriff O'NEAL read the death warrants, after which the doomed men were
bound securely, hand and foot, with handkerchiefs. CROISSIN remarked that
the binding was tighter than was necessary, but that "it matter not."
Neither of them expressed any wish to speak to the crowd, and having shaken
hands with the clergy, (among whom were Rev. Mr. HILL, Rev. Mr. KING and
Rev. Mr. McDONALD,) the black caps were drawn over their heads, and at
precisely 10 minutes past 3 (Haas' time), the drop fell and they were
launched into eternity. CRAWFORD was killed instantly and not a motion of
the muscle was discernable, the fall having broken the neck and instantly
paralyzed the system. CROISSIN, though a man of greater weight than
CRAWFORD, struggled some 3 minutes, and a violent contraction of the
muscles continued for about 15 minutes. At the end of about 20 minutes
pulsation ceased, and the physicians in attendance pronounced the bodies
lifeless.

Thus have CRAWFORD and CROISSIN, who commenced the journey of life with
hopes, perhaps, as bright as most of us, expiated the crime of murder upon
the scaffold. Neither of them, it is but charitable to suppose, intended
the commission of the terrible deed for which they have suffered the
extreme penalty of the law; but both were under the control of those
reckless practices and passions which must ultimately lead to crime. Of the
former history of either of them we are unacquainted; but are informed that
CROISSIN has relatives in this city who mourn most bitterly the fate that
has befallen him. CRAWFORD, previous to the killing of LEWIS, had been in
this county but a short time, and was personally known to very few, and had
no acquaintances whatever with him who fell a victim to his passion.

The bodies were taken down, and that of CROISSIN delivered to his friends
and deposited in a velvet-covered coffin. The body of CRAWFORD was placed
in a common redwood coffin and interred at the county's expense. A funeral
service was held at the Baptist Church, on Centre street, and the remains
of the deceased taken thence to the City Cemetery, and at half-past 5
o'clock, they were buried.

CRAWFORD came from Madison, Illinois, in 1853, having previous to that time
resided near St. Louis. CROISSIN emigrated from Texas to Arkansas in 1851
and shortly after came to this State. Both crossed the plains, and both
after their arrival here, for several years conducted themselves in a
manner that foreshadowed anything but an ignominious death upon the gallows.


Transcribed by Dee Sardoch
To see more old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php


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