Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-05-20
SANTA FE ROBBERS.

The Liberty Banner of the 9th inst. con.
tains the following confessions Of Mason
and Berry:
We were present at the commitment and trial
Of John Mcdaniel, in independence on last Fri.
day; and upon trial VIC heard the confession Of
S. y. Berry and VIM. Mason, both OF whom
were parties to the robbery. The following state
ment was made by Berry os near as we can rec
ollect as we did not take down his evidence in
writing at The time it wes given: Berry states
that John Nc Daniel, David Mcdaniel, Doct.
Harris, VIM Harris, Doct. Prefontaine, B. F.
Talbot, Nat Morton, John A. Mccormack,
Joseph Brown, Wm Mason, Kit. Searcy, GAL
Scarcy. Thomas Townsend, Skier Oldham and
| himself, and in all Is men left Westport some
time in March last, for the alleged purpose of
Joining in with man by the name Of WaIheld,
whom it was said held commission under the
Texan Government, and was at that time wait
ing for them in the region Of the Big Arkansas
river, near the boundary line between the United
States territory, and on or near the Santa Fe
road, from that place to Independence; he further
stated that after they had travelled from Wes,port
| he thinks aboat $50 miles, or whereabouts they
met Spaniarn and turned him hack towards the
Arkansas, with the Company. They then pro.
ceejed not very far before they met six other
| Sponiards, among whom was Chavis, well
known Santa Fc trader, and as he understood
the owner Of The goods and money then in pos.
session Of the Spanards, John Mcdaniel rode
! up first ard commanded the Spaniards TO surren.
! der, that they were prisoners Of Texas, which
! they did without resistance. Mcdaniel and his
men then secured the arms Of Charvis aud his
men, and then took the Spaniafds aud their goods
some distance, say four miles off the main road,
when they robbed them Of everything valuable;
after this was done, division Of the booty they
had gotten from Charvis was made among Nc
Daniel company. He stated that ne thought
there was about $4,000, in coin and bullion,
divided among Is men. Immediately after that
division, himself and six others, Doct Harris,
VIM. Harris, Doct. Prefontalne, B. F. Talbert,
Nat. Morton, and Jno. A. Mccormick, returned,
however, with the understanding, that the re.
naming eight were going on towerds Santa te
to join Warfeld and his men. This, in sub
stance is all that Berry stated to the Court.
After Berry had gotten through his statement,
Mr.. Mason was called on, and stated the same
in substance which Berry had stated up TO the
lime Berry and the six other men had left
Therefore, we do not repeat MdsOns statement up
to that time.
viz; Jno. McDaniel, David Mcdaniel, JOS
Brown, VIM Mason, Kit. Cercey Gal. Cercey,
I. Towsend and Skier Oldham, remained IN
possession Of Chafyis and his men, after The other
seven before named had left them. That they
found more gold and silver in the possession Of
Charvs, but he (Mason) does not know how
much, for John Mcdaniel took possession Of it
and divided it as he pleased; after which they
held q consultation about what they should do
with Charvs. After deliberating, they decided
tina, he should be shot. They then drew lots to
ascertain which four Of the eight should should
shoot him. The lots fell upon John Mcdaniel,
David Mcdaniel, one Of the Cerceys and HIM
self (Nlason0 that JOS. Brown volunteered to
shoot in lieu OF Cercey, and did So The four
above named shot, and tied him to the timbers Of
the wagon, and threw him into creek. The
company then agreed to return to The settlement
from whence they came. The understanding
was, however, that when they returned to West.
port, Immediately thereafter, John Mcdaniel was
10 Start to New Orleans, and there wal! the ar.
avail Of The company.