Daily national Democrat., 1858-11-16
The shooting Of a Stage Driver.

| last Inc Express gave az ucccuut ol IT, III
Mondavss issue, which we have heard much
complained Of for unfairness and a desire tC
throw odum where it did not properly he
long. The Express having given its version
Of the matter, we shall now proceed to stat,
what has been stated to us, net only in re
ference to this one matter, itself, but in re
ference to other matters having direct bear
ing upon it.
What We have heard is this That the
California Stage Company. at this place
have been in the habit of endravorng tc
beat off opposition by demonstrations Of
hrute force, such as following up opposition
stages and running into them or very near
them. heading them on the road and detain
ing them on their journey, throwing fire
crackers under their horses feet, DC, &c.
This, tits alleged has been repeatedly done
by the drivers of the California Stage Com
pany On Sunday morning it is stated that
the driver of the opposition stage to Sacra-
mento was fallen upon in this city by one of
the employees of the above named Company
and was severely beaten. In order to avoid
being harassed on the road, he waited until
all the regular stages of the California Stage
Company, for sacramento, had left, and pur-
posely delayed his own departure to an un.
usual hour, to wit: about nine o'clock in the
morning. As soon, however, US he had
rugged up his horses, gotten his pass myers
aboard, tone of whom had a double barrelled
shotgun and made ready to start, Oscar
Case, one of the California Stage Company
drivers, went to the Company's stables, har
messed up his horses to an empty stage Tor
had them, already,) and drove on after the
opposition stage It's currently stated that
he took every possible pains all the way
down to Nicolaus to harass the driver of the
opposition stage, and actually hemmed it up,
at one time for an hour, in the corner of a
fence, so that it could not proceed Besides
this, he succeeded at another time in knock
ing one of the opposition horses down, and
at another, threw fire crackers under the
horses feet. Finally, after passing Nicolaus,
at about distance of mile, he ran against
or near the opposition, in such a way as to
turn the horses completely around, and so
locked the wheels that they could not run
without danger of overturning the stage |
While in this position, q passenger on the |
outside with the opposition driver, (the one
who had the double-barrelled shot-gun) told |
him to cease his attacks or he would shoot
him. Oscar paid no heed to the warning, !
notwithstanding it was several times repeat
ed. but rushed on, and the passenger, both |
enraged, probably, (as he naturally might
bc,) and fearful also that the stage would be |
upset and he and the balance of the passen-
gers injured and perhaps killed, or that the
horses would become frightened and break
things to pieces, which would be equally
dangerous raised his gun and fired. Oscar
was severely wounded, and turned his horses
back toward Nicolaus One of his horses be-
coming excessively tired, from the furious
driving to which the team had been subject
ed, fell down, and Oscar dismounted to help |
him up. Not being able to do so, and begin
ing to feel very faint, he lay down beside
the road, where he was found by Mr. Whar
ton, who sent for surgeon, and otherwise
assisted him. The wounds are supposed to
be mortal.
Since writing the above we find the fol-
lowing in the Sacramento Union:
"The name of the driver of the California
Stage Company coach is Oscar Case; the
name of the man who did the shooting was
Ames, who is said to own Il ranch somewhere
on the west side of the river, between this
city and Fremont.
After the shooting, the driver, who was
wounded, it is said, kept his seat and turned
his horses after Ames, who had jumped to the
ground. But after running him a short dis
tauce, he turned toward Nicolaus, which was
the last those on the opposition stage saw of
him. After going few yards, he was com
PEELED from faintness to stop his horses and
get off the seat. He was found a short time
afterwards 10y two men on horseback, who
rode to Nicolaus, procured buggy and had
him taken there. They also saw Ames, who
tod them he had shot the driver and was
going to Sacramento to give himself up
These facts relating to the wounded man
were brought down by the afternoon stage,
which left NicOlaus about six o'clock last
night AT that time, Case was alive, but his
wounds were thought to be mortal. lie was
shot with a double barrelled shot gun, load
ed with shot and slugs The charge entered
under the shoulder and came out in front
Ames, SO the other passengers say, borrowed
the gun ofan acquaintance after the first col
lision between the stages took place.
The Union also publishes an affidavit
sworn to by the driver and passengers of the
opposition stage, which is as follows:
CARD-To THE PuBLIc-In order that the
public may be informed of the true nature
OF an attray occurring near Nicolaus on the
l4th inst, the following affidavit stating the
facts OF the case are published.
d. Fowler d Co.
State Of California, County Of Sacramento,
SIS Stinchheld being duly sworn on oath
says that he is the driver of the stage owned
10y d. Fowler d Co., and running from Ma