Daily national Democrat., 1860-07-27
An Awful Piece of Work.

Wells. the murderer of man named w etzell,
in Sacramento, aud who had been arrested
at Virginia City, passed through this city in
charge of an officer, on his way to Sacramen-
to by stage. The news reached here yester-
day that he had made his escape under cir
cumstances unparalleled by anything hereto
fore heard of 1t seems that, on reaching
Nicolaus with the stage, rumor came that
two hundred citizens of Sacramento were
awaiting the arrival of the stage, in order to
take W els out and hang him. In order to
prevent this catastrophe, Wells was put into
an express wagon, the intention being to
convey him by the river road Deputy
Sheriff Wharton, of Sutter county, and MI.
Armstrong, of Virginia City, (who had
helped to bring the scoundrel down from
Washoe) assisted by a man named Stoddard,
took charge of the express wagon and the
prisoner. Wharton and Stoddard were sitting
on the front seat, and the prisoner, (hand-
cuffed), and Armstrong were lying in heap
of straw in the body Of the wagon, behind
Arriving within mile and half of the bridge
near Sacramento, (at about o'clock yester-
day morning). Wharton suddenly heard the
crack of a pistol directly behind him. Look.
ing back, he saw that Wells had shot Arm
strong dead in the wagon, and, before he
could move to defend himself, Wells fred at
him, shooting him through and through and
disabling him; and, Immediately after, in an
instants' time, shot Stoddard killing him
also. Wharton fell ont from the wagon, and
the horses ran, the wheels passing over him
but the horses soon stopped. Wells then
went to work and robbed the dead bodies of
money, watches and arms He also robbed
Wharton supposing him dead. OF the money
taken was the sum Of 81 500 which had been
found on the person OF Wells, upon his ap.
prehension at Virginia City. and which he
had taken at the time he killed Wetzell-
Thus he got back what he had killed Wet
zell for and additional booty besides.
After this desperate proceeding, he went
away about his business, paying no attention
to the horses and wagon.
and slowly dragged himself to Sacramento,
where he arrived at o'clock in the morning
Immediately the fire bells were rung, the
whole city aroused, and parties sent out in
pursuit of the murderer.
Armstrong and Stoddard are both we'll
known in this region. Armstrong, we are
told, is the man who at one time had an un-
happy disagreement with his wife in this
city, and was divorced from her. Stoddard
lived in Sutter county, just opposite Nicolaus,
and leaves wife and two ehiIdcen.
1t is supposed that the prisoner was not
securely hand cuffed and that, slipping off
the fetters, he snatched Armstrong; pistol
from his belt, and commenced his work.
Either this or Armstrong was asleep, and he
silly stole out the pistol. 1t is little singu-
lar that men guarding prisoner should not
have been more careful
The Bee of last evening gives a statement
Of the affair, which furnishes additional facts
and slightly varies from the above account in
respect to the conduct of Wharton. After
receiving Wells fire in his side, Wharton
drew and fred at Wells The Bee says:
Collecting himself, Wharton drew his pis-
tol and fred at Wells-thinks he struck him.
Wells returned the fire as he was retreating
and shot Wharton in the thigh. Severely
wounded and bleeding freely. Wharton star
ted for the city, where he arrived in about
half an hour. Weak and fainting, he left
word at the gas works, and a messenger was
at once sent to the station house Officers
started for the scene of the affray, and found
the team standing at the same spot, one of
the wheels being caught by a large tree
which laid by the roadside. Stoddard was
picked up dead, and Armstrong was found
near the tree, specifies and dying.
The bodies were placed in a wagon and
brought to the station house, but Armstrong
died before reaching the police office. Whar.
ton was taken to the United States Hotel, on
front street, between J and K, and Dr.
Simmons was called to his assistance. No
money or jewelry were found on the body of
Armstrong, though it is reported that all the
coin and articles of value taken from Wells
were about his person. 1t is thought that
after Wharton left, Wells must have return.
ed and robbed the body of his victim.
Although handcuffed, Wells, taking adyan.
tage of Armstrong being asleep, drew the
pistol from his holster, and excited by the
report that mob were ready in Sacramento
to hang him, and hearing that the journey
was nearly at an end, and that the sleeping
guard was to be aroused, determined to take
the desperate chances for escape, and sue
ceeded, as we have stated. His tracks lead
up the bank of the Sacramento river to
where two or three boats were tied his steps
can be seen where he passed over one boat to
get in another where there were oars. The
latter boat he, no doubt, took, and escaped
down the river
GIFT CoNcERT.-The theater was crowded,
last NIGHT from nit 10 dome To ,uitnnss thn