Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-02-04
Terrible Tragedy near Los Angeles.


Through the kindness of Mr. Grainger we
have been furnished with letter from Los
Angeles, containing full particulars OF a
most terrible tragedy which happened IN
that county on the 22d ult. 1t seems that
large and powerful band OF Senorian ban
dit,i have organized in the neighborhood OF
San Juan, (about sixty miles south Of Los
Ange!es) who have for some time past been
the scourge of the whole southern portion OF
the State, and en- the evening of the I'D
some young men by the name OF Hardy who
we're in San Juan with fine team OF horses
being apprised of the immediate danger OF
returning to Los Angeles without an escort
sent messenger to that place asking for
ail party was Immediately formed, con-
sisting of sheriff James II. Barton, consta-
bles Little and Baker, Frank Alexander,
Charles Daley, one of the llardys and a
Frenchman by the name of Lacog who start
ed that night in pursuit of the robbers. On
arriving at Sepulvada's Ranch, they were
entreated not to go further, being told that
the robbers were at least fifty in number,
and all well mounted and armeat. Not heed
ing these statements, the little party pushed
forward, and about fifteen miles farther on
they met the robber band, some of whom.
according to the Frenchman's statemenD
cried to the sheriffs party not to shoot,
whereupon Barton and his men rode up to
them, when the cowardly Williams sent a vol
ley of shot into the little band, instantly
killing Barton, Little, and Baker the others
fed, But Daley being on a mule had gone
but about three miles and half when he
was oyertaken and shot dead. The other
three who were mounted on horses were
chased nearly up to the ranch, where the
Frenchman's horse gave out, and all stopped,
their pursuers having turned back on near
ing the ranch. IIardey came into Los An
geles with the sad news. A company of
about forty men was soon formed, and wag-
ons with collins for the murdered men start.
for the scene Of the tragedy, guided by
Hardey They were all found with their
hands tied and stripped of their jewelry and
weapons The party returned on the 25th
with the bodies.
A company Of sixty men was raised at
the " Monte" and went to the scene of the
murder, and thence on to San Juan, where
they learne the names Of the leaders of the
robbers, and other particulars concerning
them and their movements. The leaders
name is Juan Flores, and was represented
as having come into San Juan on Bakers
horse, boasting of his fue qualities and ex-
ulting in having killed the best man in the
county.
The robbers had broken open the stores
and houses in San Juan, and taken every
thing valuable. They also killed German
and robbed his store in the vicinity.
On the 29th the party returned to Los
Angeles, being out of provisions for them
selves and their horses.
Mr. Barton was one of the Oldest residents
and most highly respected and popular men
in the state, and had held the Office Of sher-
iff for several years. Baker, Little and
Daley were all young, and highly respecta-
BILE men, and universal favorites. On the
day of their burial the whole town Of Los
Angeles was draped in mourning, and gen
eral gloom prevailed.
Want of space forbids our giving further
particulars of this fearfnl tragedy.