The Nevada Democrat., 1857-10-21
Annksr or rNrYI1t.Es.-C -Charles Neviles, who


is supposed to have attempted to murder Isaac
Rich, at Alpha, in March last, for purposes of
plundeF, was arrested in Shasta, on the 4th in
stant and lodged in jail, on the suppostion that
he had escaped from the Nevada Jail. Suspi-
clons are also resting upon him OF having mnr-
dered and robbed man named Bischoff, in So
mona county, some time since. Nevilles did
not, as was stated, escape from the Nevada Jail.
! He was discharged because the evidence against
= him was not considered sufficient to find an in
dictment. There is little doubt in this commu-
nifty that NeviIles was the man that attempted to
murder Rich. but It is doubtful whether he can
be convicted of the crime His case was in
vestigated by the grand jury Of this county at q
time when Rich was lying very low from the eff
fects of his wounds, and he could then recollect
nothing in regard to the outrage upon him.
\ His mind has since improved, and he now says
lathat Nevilles was talking with him about the
time he sat down to eat his supper But his in
tellect has not yet entirely recovered, and his
4 evidence of course would be scrutinized very
closely by a jury. If Nevilles was really the
man who attempted to murder Rich, he certain
ly exhibited degree Of cunning not usual
among criminals in obliterating all marks Of
the crime. His clothes must have been covered
with blood, and yet the suit which he ordinar-
1ly wore was found in his cabin, apparently just
as he had taken II off previous to his leaving.
He could not have burned his clothing for the
ashes in his stove were carefully examined. and
no cinders of wooden or cotton cloth were found
among them. 1t is not probable that he could
have went any distance from his house to bury
his clothing, for the deed was committed in day
light. and but short time after he was among g
the most active in endeavoring to discover the
perpetrators. Between twelve and two o'clock
of that night, Nevilles left and went below
His object in leaving at that unusual hour has
never been satisfactorily accounted for. The
supposition is, that he had left Rich for dead,
but fearing afterwards that he would revive
sufficiently TO inform on him be thought 1t best
to get out Of the place. As soon as II was
known that Nevilles had left, bis cabin was thor
oughly examined, and the only thing about his
premises that would indicate that he had COM
mtted the crime was the condition of the sink
While everything else in the house was covered
win dirt anu Nth, the sink was remarkably
clean 1t is supposed that be washed himself in
the sink and then secured it out TO obterate
traces of blood. This ia looked upon by many,
as the strongest circumstance against him. A
pair of rubber boots were also found in the cab
in, which exactly fitted tracks back of Rich's
house, and which are supposed to have been
made by Nevilles as he was leaving by the back
door. The circumstantial evidence against
Nevilles, although strong, is not sufficient to
warrant a jury in finding verdict Of guilty,
and should he be brought back for trial his con-
lyicton win depend much upon the character OF
the evidence given by Rich, the condition ofhis
mind, and what be is ahle to remember in re-
gard to Nevilles being in his house just before
the murder was attempted.