The Shasta courier., 1853-12-10
INvEsTIGATION OF A Fatal. Az
FRAY ON SALMON RIVER

| Mr.. John Conacdy being called testified on
| honor, there being no form of oath administer
| cred, that John Murphy entered the house of
| VIM. J. Trick 4 Cromba1gh on the evening of
the 9th Nov, 1853, apparently slightly intox.
Gated, and advanced to a young man by the
name of Anthony Walton, (formerly of Iowa
and who was employed cook for the estab
lishment at the time,) at the farther end of the
house. and asked him if he had any potatoes.
He answered no. Murphy then called him
id son of b-h, qualifying the expression by
an unconth invitation, at the same time, declar,
ing that he did not care for any of them. Mr..
| W alton told him to go away and let him alone
as he did not want anything to do with him.
Upon that Murphy struck him in the face with
his hand. Walton ran to the opposite side of
The house and procured pick handle-Mur-
ply pursuing him, and drew large knife from
bis scabbard. AT this crisis Mr.. Trick cansht
| Murphy arm, when Antony struck at him, and
| Mr. Trick relinquished his hold to evade the
| blow. Anthony then ran to the other end of the
house but was overtaken by Murphy, who
caught him by the collar, drew him forward.
and struck him several underhanded blows di-
recting them towards Anthony's breast. Wit
ness did not know whether Murphy had knife
| in hand at that time not. Witness then struck
| Murphy with pick handle, which staggered him
| out of the door. Witness turned to Walton and
saw the blood gushing from his breast, and heard
him exclalm :. | am killed." Mr.. Trick rushed
to the door with revolver, and found Murphy
standing close by; he fired two shots at him
which did not appear to take effect. There be-
] ing no other loads in the pistol, Trick obtained
another from which he fired five loads, and
which brought Murphy TO the ground liteless,
the last shot taking effect in the posteror portion
o. the head. Question Did Murphy offer VIZ"
lence to Trick? Ans Yes, he had his knife
drawn over his head in the act OF striking, at
The time Mr.. Trick shot him.
| CoJ n II EY1uc00u called and testified. that
| Murphy came TO his house slightly intoxicated.
and wished to borrow pistol OF him. Witness
thinking it unsafe to let him have it, refII-
sed; accompanied Murphy to Trick & Croni-
baughs; upon entering the house witness EN-
tered into conversation with some persons. pay
| ing no further attention to Murphy until he
heard him call Walton Id son of b-h.
Walton said 60 away, want nothing To do with
you. Witness did not notice particularly but
| heard blow looked around, and Walton
run to the opposite side of the house, and pro-
cure pick handle Murphy pursuing so closely
that Walton could not it efecinally. MIR.
| Trick then caught Murphy around the arms ami
| tried To hold HIM, when Walton struck at Mur-
| phy with the pick handle ai,d Trick released lis
hold on Murphy Walton for the front do"r,
Murphy following, striking him nnderhandcd
blows with his fist | thought until they
rived at the uoor then Mr.. Conway inericred,
knocking Murphy ont at The door. Walton
me- Mr.. Trick Immediately pursued, exclaim-
ing. :" he has killed the best boy Salmon nv,
er-give me pistol!' and fired at Murphy
from the door. Question. Did you see The kniio
taken trom The hand of Murphy -Ans. No
| Qurst. Would you have considered 1t safe la
| have rushed on Murphy and taken him AS ho
was! Ans. No. Quet. Had Murphy any Oill-
er arms! Ans. No. Qmest. What state of mind
was Murphy in-drunk Ans. did not con
slider him drunk but perfectly rational. Quest.
Did Murphy offer violence to any other persons
prior to his attack on Walton Ans. Yes, he
handled Mr.. Muti roughly as he was passing tn
Walton. Quest. Did Murphy follow Walton
when he retreaied! Ans. Yes. Q~ea. Did
you see any weapons III Murphy hand before
he arrived at the door! Ans No. Quest. Arc
you acquainted with Mr.. Trick? Aus. ies. more
or less, since last spring; he is a peaceabc.
good citizen. Quest. What kind of WAS
Murphy I Ans. A singular man, apparently pos
sessed of an inward devil. Quest. Did Trick
tell Walton to run out, that Murphy had knife
44ns. Yes. Quest. We're you acquainted with
Walton! Ans. Yes, he was peaceabe good
| fellow.
M John Confr called and testified, that he
entered HE house. Murphy speak to Wal
ion; he told him he didn't dam for him
or all OF them. Walton answered, '-go AWAY;
| want nothing to do with you." Walton
citing on IA stool, aud Murphy standing before
hm He struck WALTON in the mouth, who then
sprang to his feet ran to The opposite side of the
| house, and caught upa pick handle. Murphy be,
lug in close pursuit, striking unierandrd at
hIm. Walton struck Murphy on The head with
! pIck handle; Trick III, catch Murphy
| aronud the arms and throw himself back
against the house; Walton to the front door,
and Murphy followed. Trick lnosine his hold ON
him; Murphy striking al different times, but
did not see his knife; the motion of his arm;
saw Walton fall at ihe door aud The blood rnn-
ming; saw some one strike Murphy with pick
/ handle saw hlm go ont ot the door, Walton
| claspng his breast exciaiming, "he has killed
me-" Here Mr.Trick exclaimed ''ht has killed
the best boy on Salmon river" Heard some one
say, hold on to Murphy; don't let him escape.
Mr.. Trick called for pistol; procui ed one
SAW him shoot twice out of he door at the time
Walton lay on the floor. QneM. Did you hear
Mr.. Trick tell Walton to GO out of The door, HAT
| Murphy had knifei Ans. Yes. Quest. Woud
you have been willing 10 have assisted III ta-
king Murphy without disabling him. Ans. No
sir, | would not Que&t. Why not! Ans. Be-
cause have heard him say he never would
strike another man with his fist. Qnest What
did he say he wonld take1 Ans. His knife
Mr. Lon'1ng Noice being called. testified sub
stan'iaily the same as the proceeding witnesses.
The Jury then retired 10 a private apartment,
and returned The following decision, viz:
R7soired. That find in The affair which oc-
Cured on sunday. the 9Th day OF November,
at the House of Trick & Crambaueh, on South
salmon river between Mr.. John Murphy and
Anthony Walton. and which resulted in the death
OF Anthony Walton, by the hands of John Muir
| piey and also in the death of John Murphy by
| ihe hands OF Mr.. Jacob Trick ri et nrmis. that
The action of Mr.. Trick is not only snstainabe
upon principles of natural insice and equity,
| but even conmeudabIe and that this jury. re-
| tiecting The public opinion Of the miners oi Sal
| mon river fully and unqtalifiedly cxonerate ia