San Andreas independent., 1858-05-29

SHOOTING OF NEGRo-GREAT EXCITEMENT.
Our city was thrown into great state of
excitement, yesterday afternoon, by shooting
affair which occurred on Hunter street, be-
tween Market and Main. The relation of the
occurrence that took place at this locality is
of little interest, in comparison with the cir
cumstances connected with the affair. We
will first, however, briefly state that the shoot
ing was done by Mr.. Shell Deth, highly re-
spectacle gentleman proprietor OF the Hawk
Eye House on the road to Murphys, four miles
from Angels Camp. He met with negro ma
med Joe Williams (who was formerly employed
as his cook at the corner of Main and Hunter
streets. Some words passed, when the negro
started and ran, Mr.. Deth Immediately firing
upon him. The first ball struck the negro on
the arm, shortly above the wrist He crossed
Hunter street, and in diagonal direction to-
wards vacant lot at the side of the Eureka
Engine House. AS he stepped upon the side
walk, he stumbled, and the second ball struck
him in the back, just above the small and close
to the spine. The ball passed up his back, in
wardly, and lodged in the shoulder He then
fell fat on his stomach, and Mr.. Deth imme
diately rushed up and fired at his head as he
lay. Strange to say the shot missed by an
inch or two The assailant was then seized
by Constable John Crofton, who held him
and threw up his arm, but he wrenched him
self away, and would have succeeded in killing
the negro had not Mr. H. S. Sargent, whose
store was opposite, and who knew nothing of
the circumstances of the case, seized him also.
Mr.. Deth was then taken to the Jail, and the
negro was taken to the house at the corner of
Ell Dorado and Market streets. DR.. Ryer there
examined the wounds, and found that they
were not at all dangerous. Mr.. Deth, who
has hosts Of friends in this city and who is
greatly respected, was, in about an hour,
brought before Justice Brown, and by consent
of the District Attorney, was placed under
bonds of S. 900, which was Immediately fur
nished. We have no hesitation in saying that
100000 would have been furnished by the
soundest men in the city, had they been re-
quired, so great was the general sympathy for
the accused.
The above mentioned occurrence, as we
have before mentioned, would be of trihing
consequence were it not for the circumstances
preceding it, the sickening detail, which we
would gladly avoid if we could do so in JUS
tice to all parties. 1t appears that Mr.. Deth
has been married about two years to an inter-
esting looking young woman with whom till
of late he has lived very happily. About
three weeks since the wife was delivered of a
child. The infant was dark in complexion
little was thought of the matter by any person,
but the wife and negro, who, as we stated
lived in the house. The fact was, the fellow
and the wretched woman had had illicit inter-
course together, and the child was the conse-
ouence of il. This fact would, probably, not
have been discovered had not the negro, who
was very much alarmed, applied to neigh
bor. n white man, for advice, contesslng MS
share in the guilt at the time. The nelghooI
at once informed the dishonored husband, and
the miserable wife confessed that she hao al
first submitted to the embraces OF the negro
when under the influence of drugs that ne nad
administered for the purpose OF stupeiyihe
; her: and though she was conscious oil the act
she was powerless to prevent 1t. Inc Woinan
confessed also that she had permitted the ne
gro to repeat the infamy on three or tour occa-
sions, principally through fear by bis threats
The anguish of the husband at this dlsclo-
sure can be imagined. The negro presented
him with pistol, and begged him to shoot
him, but spare the wife. Bewildered and
stunned, Mr.. Deth knew not how to act. The
: negro came into this city, where he has been
some two weeks On Monday, the guilty wife
and her offspring were sent from the home
that she had made miserable and yesterday
the husband came to this city. The result oil
e the visit is stated above The Indignation OF
e onr citizens at the recital of the facts was be-
yond all description, and there was feeling
of universal regret that the negre was net
: killed. none regretting it more deeply than The
gentleman who unknow;ng to the circumStan-