The Nevada Democrat., 1856-09-03

Tom BEII.-The Granite Journal, of the 9th
ult, gives the following sketch of Tom Bell, who
is supposed to be the leader of the gang of rob
bers that have recently been committing so
many depredations in this section of the State:
Tom Bell is in stature nearly six feet, well
proportoned, combining in his frame strength
with acton--of sanguine temperament, quick
in his motons he is described as being never at
rest-sandy hair and full crop of it; light
goatee to match his hair in color His nose,
which was well formed and large, has been
mashed in the bridge, so as to be almost level
with his face. This defect renders countenance
which is otherwise rather prepossessing, some
what repulsive and even hideOus when viewed
in connection with the bandits practices. His
eye is very light blue, of that cast which APP
proximates so nearly to a gray and in its rest
less wanderings, is constantly sparkling with
intelligence. Bell is native Of Alabama, re-
ceived a medical education, and, it is sad prac-
ticed that profession when he first came to Cal
ifornia, which, as well as we can ascertain, was
in 1850. He afterwards took to mining, and,
being unlucky at that, his next step was gamb-
ling; and when that ceased to pay he took to
the road and has been engaged as a robber for
about two years. in which time he acquired q
fame for boldness and success second only to
Joaquin Murietta.
In the outset he generally Travelled alone, and
it is said, for his better security, wore coat of
armor under his clothes, and never she'd the
blood Of his victim unless it became absolutely
necessary to enforce compliance with his de-
mands; of late it is known that he has associated
with several other characters scarcely less noted
than himself. one of whom, at least (Bill Gristy
alias Bill Whte,) an escaped convict and one of
the band with Walker and NiconOra, broken in
upon by detachment of the Sacramento and
Marysville police, near this place on the 23d of
April last and the only one Of the party who
escaped is cruel. cunning, and bloodthirsty.
This scoundrel, it is said has been in Bells band
for three months The band is supposed to num-
Der from six to eight; and they range the coun-
try along the foot hills from the Yubas to Gra-
mite City. OF late, however, their depredations
have been mainly confined to the several roads
crossing in the neighborhood between Granite
and Gold Hill, in Placer county. The country
is rough, broken and covered with an impene-
trable chapparal, in the recess of which, an
"army with banners' might securely hide
Their Outrages in this favOrite field have fol-
lowed each other in such rapid succession that
scarcely day has passed during the present
summer without furnishing a newspaper item
from the calendar of their exploits; but in no
instance. we believe, have they shed blood
The plan of the chief seems to be to frighten
the traveller into terms and avoid the cruelty
of murder
On one occasion, as we learn from an officer
who is well posted as to the history Of the
robbers crimes, Bell and Gristy, with one other,
made an attack upon gentleman who was trav-
cling from Downieville to Marysville with a
large sum of money in his possession the trav-
eler resisted, and fired upon his assailants, and
fed from them towards deep canon, in which,
if he could reach it, he knew he was safe from
pursuit on horseback. Just as he was about to
reach his goal Gristy fired with a navy revolver,
and shot him in the thigh, knocking him down.
The robbers relieved him of his money, and in
stead of dispatching him, or leaving him to die
from the hemorrhage Of his wound, Doctor Bell
kindly and expertly took up the severed artery,
bound up the wound, and just at that moment
hearing a wagon pass, Bell turned to one of his
subordinates, and ordered him to attend to the
teamster The wagon was stopped, and the
driver relieved of his cash. and the wounded man
placed upon mattrass hastily made in the bot
tom of the wagon, and the parties dismissed with
the injunction to drive slow and pick their road.
The wounded man requested Bell to tie his (the
traveler's) horse behind the wagon Bell refused,
but assured him that he should have his horse,
as he seemed attached to him, but that he would
turn him loose in the woods after stripping off
his saddle and bride, which promise he faithful
ly kept.
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