Amador weekly ledger., 1857-12-05
Fun Particulars ofthe Tragedy at Volcano

the particulars of the Unlon FIAT tragedy.
The following is the most condensed account,
and at the same time complete; after exam
ing the testimony taken in both eases before
the acting Coroner (sent us by gentleman
who has our sincere thanks we are fully
convinced that this account is correct.
On Monday the Both inst difficulty oc-
cured between Abraham Hostetter and Sam.
Stevenson in regard to Hostetter fencing in
a lot on Union Flat claimed by one Liver
sage. Mrs. Lversage caused Sam Steven
son to take up the difficulty. Hostetter and
Stevenson had a fight in which Hostetter got
the better of it-Stevenson saying he was
meddling with something which was no bus
mess to him This was in the morning
Lversagc, wife and Sam then went to Sans
house and stayed till late in the afternoon
when they, one at time, went TO Liyersage's
near the disputed ground. Hostetter and
! Abe De Haven were fencing the lot, and
Sam. took bucket and started for the
spring, the path to which led across the line
of new fence. At the fence he stopped,
kicked off a board that was nailed on and
made a pass with knife at Hostetter-
/ Liversage from the house following to him
/ to "pitch in will be there in minute. e.
But Sam passed on to the spring, and Oh
his return put down his water and again
r:.l.ol nc tl,o hna-l ,.h;ch bo1 ;ncf haan re-
nailed on Liversage was there by that time
and as Sam. commenced cutting at Hostetter
he commenced firing revolver at Hostetter
also. shooting twice De Haven then caught
! Liversage around the arms, but Liyersage
twisted away from him and retracting short
distance fred at De Haven when his pistol
was taken away from him by some of the
spectators In the meantime Sam. cut at
/ De Haven, striking his knife into his arm
twice one below and near the shoulder penetra
ted the lungs DR. Ill. had seized a hatchet
and defended himself striking Sam. on the
head. But De II. gave way to his knees and
Sam. got his head down and was just about
to strike death blow, when a bystander,
named Phil. Raspberry struck him with n
shovel. and Dr. H. hit him with the hatchet,
at the same time Sam. fell lifeless and the
/ fight stopped. Hostetter was cut in the
right groin, the knife reaching to the muscle
of the back bone. His bowls protruded and
were severed. Hostetter died that evening.
He leaves four children both fatherless and
motherless. A large concourse followed his
remains to the grave. He was about as
years old-came to this State from Jones
county Iowa, with his family in lS54--he
having been here alone in 80. De Haven
died Thursday night. Stevenson has had
his skull cut out where the hatchet had broke
it in, piece as large as a half dollar being
taken out on the right of the top of his head !;
another blow cracked his skull, but they did
not trepan it, as they could raise it. The
blow with the shovel by Raspberry shaved
down the scalp on the left side of SANS head
nearly seyering the left ear. He is under ar
rest in Volcano. Liversage made his escape
after the nifray, but he was arrested that
night at the house of a relative on Sutter
Creek. He had hearing Tuesday night
before Justice Munckton, and was committed
/ for murder Great excitement has existed
ever since the event, nearly every one simpa-
I thisng with Hostetter and De Haven, both
of whom were peaceable men. Some are
clamorous for the arrest Of Mrs. Liversage,
on the ground that she urged on the killing.
Liyersage's three shots did not touch any
one.
We give below the verdict of the acting
Coroner's jury, in both cases
After an examination of the dead body of
Abram De Haven, we the Jury summoned
for that purpose, do find the following YER
Dict That the name of deceased was A5ram
De Haven; that he came to his death on the
Sd day of Dechmber, A. ID. 1851, on Union
Flat, in Township No. 3, Amador county,
California, from a wound received under the
left shoulder seyering the sixth rib and pune
turing the lungs, from one Samuel Steven
son, on the 30th day of November, A. ID.
1857.
Signed: l.. S. Scott, Foreman; Stephen
jerome, Frank A. Madeira, f. H. Tucker,
M. j. Goodrich, VIM Dorr, Robt Stewart,
d. Madeira, c. ID. Horn.
We, the undersigned, Jurors, do ind that
the name of the deceased was A. Hostetter