The hydraulic press., 1861-02-02

For the Hydraulic Press.
"Reminiscences of Early Times I'm the
Region of Fosters Bar.
Murder cf Charles Moore-arrest Of Steacart-
his escape from the Prison Brig at Sacra-
mento.
In the month of December, 1850, Col.
VIM. Prentiss (now deceased) and Charles
Moore left Winslow Bar, situated about five
miles below Fosters Bar, on the Yuba river,
with the fntention of proceeding to Marys-
vile for the purpose of purchasing q train
of pack animals. They had, between them,
So 500 in gold duet, which they conveyed in
pair of saddle-bags, swung across a horse
owned by Col. p. At the "Mountain Cottage
Ranch" situated on the top of the mountain
above Winslow's, an arrangement was made
between them by which Moore was to pro-
ceed on COL P.'s horse, taking the treasure
to Dobbin's Ranch, some six miles distant,
there TO await Col P.'s arrlval-the latter to
proceed by way of Shawndown Ranch, on
the pack trail, to procure another animal, so
that each might ride to Marysyille. Having
effected this lsarrangementthey parted-Moore
taking the wagon road, and Col. Prentlss
taking the pack-trail, on foot.
a -
Prentiss reached Dobbins', and learned to
!, his surprise, that Moore had not been there.
He related to Capt. VIM. Dobbins and his
partner, Wilson, the circumstances of his
separation from Moore, and expressed con-
viction upon his mind that Moore had been
foully dealt with To this Oapt. Dobbins
replied, that packer had passed by the
house only short time before Col. P.'s ar
boI foJ hot G ad
on the road that he had been up the noun
tain to the place pointed out BY the packer,
but finding nothing to denote murder, had
returned, supposing it was false alarm.
Col. Prentiss insisted that thorough search
should be made for Moore, and all hands at
the ranch turned out for. that purpose. News
that man had been murdered near Dobbins'
Ranch, reached Fosters Bar, nine miles dis
tant, about the middle of the afternoon of
the day on which it occurred. Parties i'm
mediatey started for the scene of the mur-
der but on arriving at Billiard Bar, received
information that in all probability no mur
der had occurred bet that there was a man
missing, and that parties were out searching
for him. etc, On receiving this information
they all returned excepting only the Justice
of the Peace. He proceeded to Dobbins', to.
aid in the search, if necessary, and in the
,event the dead body was found, to hold an
inquest over it. Towards evening of that
day, and before the Justice reached there,
the body of Moore was found in a ravine
situated about one hundred yards south of
the road, and within a mile of DobbinS'
house. A pool of blood was discovered on.
the road, and mems footprints and other
marks traced to the spot where the body lay
in the ravine. These footprints were exam
ined, carefully measured, every naiprinti
counted, and carefully noted down. It was
discovered that one of the Parties engaged
in the murder wore boots or shoes which
had a metal el-tap on the right and none
on the left foot. This led to the detection
of the parties engaged in the murder, and
the arrest of Stewart, as will be seen in the
sequel.
The body of Moore was conveyed to Dob
bins Ranch, where post mortem examina-
ton was made by doctor whose name I
have forgotten, and where, also, an inquest
was held by the Foster Bar Justice, acting
as Coroner. During the investigation one
Mr.. Rowley testified that he was in the en-
ploy of Dobbins Il Wilson, and was engaged
in hauling wood that three days previous
to the murder of Moore, three men rode up
to the wagon, near Dobbins' house, and
made some inquiries of him concerning es-
tray animals, which they said they were in
pursuit of; that he took particular notice OF
these men, and of the horses which they
were riding; that one was riding & biack,
another gray, and the third sorrel animal;
that they all wore boots, the smallest man
having brass tap on the heel of his right
boot, and none on the left. He gave an accu-
rate description of these three mep, and al
though be had never seen Jim Stewart, his
portraiture of one of the three horsemen
fitted that individual so accurately, that the
Justice, who knew him well, Immediately
announced to the jury that Stewart was un-
doubtedly of the party. Capt. Wilson also
described one of the three men, which an
.swered to the appearance of Stewart He
testified that he had sold to these men a
double barreled shot gun, some powder, lead,
hard bread, a few cases of Holsters, dried
beef and cheese; that the parties told him
they were in search of estray animals, and
would be compelled to camp out in the
mountains several days. He also testified
that he had visited the place where some
men had ,camped near the scene of the mur-
der, and had seen the identical cans which
he had sold to these men, and scraps of pro-
visions corresponding with the articles they
mao puTcuaSeu. Luis Cdmp Nus SltualtI
about one hundred and fifty yards north O.
the spot where Moore was murdered, under
q thick bunch Of manzanita bushes, and on
an eminence commanding view Of tht
highway for distance of one-fourth of .
mile in each direction. He also testified te
the want of one heel-tap on the boot of ont
of the parties, corresponding with the boot
track near where the body had been secreted
The post mortem examination showed two