San Andreas independent., 1856-10-11

4AA4S~sAs S@~~
The particulars of the arrest of Tom Bell,
as we learn from one of the Sheriff's party, con
sisting of D. L. Mulford, A. A. Adams and 9th
ers, (who arrived at the scene of arrest and exc
cution, the morning after Bell was hung,) ar
these:
By the information obtained from one Bill
White" an escaped convict, and one of Bell!
gang who was arrested by the people neal
Knights Ferry, it was ascertained that some o
the bandits were concealed in the willows neal
the junction of the main Slough, leading from
Tulare Lakes to the San Joaquin, about six
miles above Firebaugh's Ferry. Also that two
brothers, by the name of Framework, were
keeping Camp, and that a woman and her three
daughters were with them
Acting on this information, Judge Belt and
Mr.. Armstrong, of the Merced, organized par
ty of eight men, armed and equipped for the
most desperate emergency, and hastily started
in pursuit. taking White with them as a guide.
After arriving at the place of the robbers rem
devouz, Belts party went into camp, and found
that Under Sheriff milford, and McNish, Adams,
and others, had previously arrived and arrest
ed the Farnesworths and secured the stock &C.,
belonging to the robbers. They also posted q
guard to arrest any new arrivals. After the
guard had stood sentry five days and nights,
without discovering anything, they broke up
camp, on Saturday morning,) and started for
Stockton. Two of the Sherif's party had pre-
viously started for Stockton, with the prisoners
already arrested When about mile below
Firebaugh's Ferry, one of Judge Belts men,
Mr.. Robert Price, of Sonora, separated from
the party and crossed the river, on his way to
Sonora. After crossing the river he observed
man, on horseback, suspicously concealing
himself in the willows; Price went his way as
if not noticing the incident when out of sight
he hastily returned to Belts party and informed
them of his suspicious. Three men, including
Judge Belt, followed the trail, while the Others
took position on the plains so as to prevent his
escape. The three who were ON the trail came
up to Bell, who was sitting on his horse, talk
ing to Mexican, also on horseback When
within about fifty yards of them, Belts party
rode briskly up, the Judge at the same time
dismounting, and aiming o ble-barrelled
shotgun, cooked at Bells head, and ordering
him to give up his gun, ia Mississippi rifle }
which he did without reply or resistance. Belt
then said, q believe you are the man we have
been looking for?" Very probable" coolly
replied Bell One of the party then stepped
up to the bandit, and took Navy Revolver and
Bowie Knife from his belt and proceeded to
tie him. and ordered him to dismount, which
he did without murmur; he was accordingly
secured, with the Mexican, and taken to Fire
baugh's Ferry. This was about l o'clock of
Saturday, the 4th day of October, and they
hung him at o'clock of the same day.
Tom Bell said he had not robbed any for
two months. That he had been in fight on
Tuesday night, previous, near Auburn but
did not know with whom, or what had been the
fate of his companions He himself was not
hit in the fight, and his company was entirely
broken up and most of them arrested Bell
wished time to confess, & but the emergency
of the case was of such nature that his captors
thought it advisable to hang him before night
should come on
He asked for time to write, which was then
given him, and he hurriedly wrote two letters;
one to his q Dear Mother and the other to
Mrs Elizabeth Hood the woman found in the
Camp. The letter to Mrs Hood, is now before
US, it is written in bold elegant style, such as
would be called a business hand" carefully
punctuated, &c The following is copy rer5-
attn, ct hteratint:
FIREBAUGH's FERRY, Oct. 4, sc.
Mrs. HooD-Ny dear and only friend,
noao IN this country:
AS am not allowed the liberty of see
ing you, have been allowed the privilege
to write you few lines, as [ have but a
few moments to live. / am at a great loss
for something to say. have been mos,
foully betrayed. Bill and John have tolG
things that never took place | am ac
cused of every robbery that has been com
mitted for the past twelve months, which
is entirely false I never have committed
but three highway robberies in my life
but still am to blame, and my fate il
sealed, | am to die like dog; and ther
is not but one thing that grieves me, anc
that is the condition of you and your fam
lily. Probably have been the instrumen
tality of your misfortunes. In my las
moments [ will think of the many favor
you have done me, and if [ had fifty king
doms to present, you should have them all
But alas! am poor, and my fate is sealed
| would like to give you some advice, but
! fear you may think me presumptuous-
What | would say, is this: That you had
better send the girls to San Francisco to
the Sisters of Charity. There they will