San Andreas independent., 1856-10-25
CONFESSION OF BILL GR1srY, alias


Bill White, who was one of Tom Bells
gang; after confirming most of the ac-
counts heretofore published, and implica-
ting some roadside taverns (stage houses, }
in their robberies, he proceeds to confess
the murder of Rosenthal, detailing Incl
dents, so as to convey the idea that. Pom
Bell clandestinely murdered Rosenthal af-
ter the party had tied their victim to a
tree. He continues:
owe then went back to the Mountain.
eer House, owned by Jack Phillips, sgd
Fney man, seven miles from Auburn, on
the Sacramento road, and gave Jack Phil
lips about one hundred and fifty dollars
This house is stage house, and all the
hostlers, and every person around it knew
us and our business. We made 81 200,
by the operation"
White proceeds to state how things are
managed by Gen. Estell, at the State Pris-
on, who was responsible for the safe keep
ing of the convicts, at the time of his es-
cape:-
81 was sent from Placer county. to. the
State prison in the year 1856, for ten years,
for stealing three horses from the Girard
House. | remained until May, 1855; at
that time there were six orseven others be-
side myself escaped; | can only recollect
the names Of Tom Bell, Ned Connor and
Jim Smith. The manner of our escape
was this: was told by one of our guard
that his captain wanted to see me at the
office; went, he told me he wanted to get
rid of portion of the prisoners then in
prison. His plan was, for me to take the
party composed as stated above, on the
next day, (and the guard with us would be
posted as to his part in the natter out
ostensibly to chop wood, and when the first
tree fell, we were then to break and run.
| was to expose myself more than the rest.
The guard were to shoot blank cartridges
at me. | accordingly spoke to Bell and
told him my plans; he did not approve
them at first, but when told him the par
ty could run one way, and | would expose
myself to be shot at, he seemed to admire
my courage, and agreed to my plans Gas
he thought for our escape Bell, ever af-
ter this overrated my courage; | told him
that they might shoot at me; | did not
care to live. 1t was good chance for me
to convince him of my bravery, as there
was really no danger At the time the
tree fell, | run down in front of the guard
and they fired at me- The other party did
as directed, and we made good our escape
There re lily was no danger A further
account of this affair was published in the
newspapers at that time. Although the
officers of the prison were very kind to me
during the whole of my confinement, l
have thought there was something behind
the scenes more than this, to lead to our
escape. 1t is generally known that Gen.
Estell made bad contract with the State
to keep all her convicts, and he was very
anxious t. be relieved of said contract, but
could not do so. My opinion always has
been that he adopted this course to make
the contract system odious with the people
SO he could be relieved of bad bargain.
The following is, a description of indi-
viduals composing Tom Bells party =
"ToM BELL.-About six feet high; has
long auburn hair, thick light colored beard
all over his face, blue eyes, fiat nose which
had been broken when boy; complexion
light, slender made, weight AS pounds,
and age 80 years.
FRED. FARNSwoRTH-Stays with the
family at the mouth ofthe slough age 30
years, 5 feet 8 inches high, weight IT'S
pounds, blue eyes, black hair and black
whiskers. The family is composed of an
old woman named Elizabeth Hood, and her
three daughters; she is large fat woman,
has red hair and red face, and was born
in St. Louis county, Mo. The three
daughters are 9, IL, and IA years old the
oldest, Sarah, is kept by Tom Bell as his
mistress.
WARREN FARNswoRTH-Escaped from
Jail at Nevada, during the time of the late
fire. Age 80, weight l40 pounds, round
shoulders, long black hair, heavy goatee,
and dark blue eyes.
ENGLISH BoB-Formerly hostler at the
Mountaineer House; weight 40 pounds,
light hair, complexion the same, age 80
years.
NED CoNNoR-Escaped convict; weight
$50 pounds, dark brown hair, red whis-
kers all over his face; he is 5 feet s in
ches high, blue eyes, and of Irish descent.
He is shot on the inside of the little FINGER
on the right hand. and through the second
finger. This was done in the attack on
the Camptonville stage, and is not well yet.
jim SMITHS German; he ran
away several times from the State Prison,
but finally served his time out; weight
IT'S pounds, is 5 feet 10 inches high, has
light hair, gray eyes, and looks wild out of
them. On the back of one of his hands is
painted in Indian ink the initials of his