Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-14
The Kunxx. Tragedy.


The tragedy at Newcastle on Saturday, in
which one Knaggs killed both his wife and
himself in fit of jealousy was announced in
our telegram Of yesterday. The Sacramento
Union Of yesterday morning contains very
full account Of the unhappy couple. II
seems that Knaggs was for several years
connected with the Police Department Of
Sacramento, but after few years service
was believed to have leagued himself with
some Of the thieves of the State, and lost the
confidence Of the reliable officers Of Sacra-
mento and other portions Of the State. The
history of his connection with the miserable
woman who was the cause Of the double
murder, is thus given by the Union:
While in the enjoyment Of fair reputa-
ton he engaged with officers of Placer coun-
ty in the pursuit Of Symonds and Croker who
were charged with having robbed one Of
Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agents in Placer Of
1900. In this connection he kept watch
on Mrs. Symonds, presuming she would, in
the course OF time, Join her husband. She
took the stage at Grass Valley for this city,
and Knaggs in disguise rode in the same
coach. Here she learned who he was, and
he placed another officer on the track. Mrs.
Symonds was followed to Stockton where, in
a short time, Knaggs succeeded in arresting
the husband. 1t was soon afterward discov-
cred that Symonds and Crozier had murder
ed Russell and another man near Bensons
ferry, in this county. For that crime Sy-
monds was hung in this city few months
ago. Soon after Symonds' arrest, 1t become
evident that an improper intimacy had sprung
up between Knaggs and Mrs. Symonds. She
visited her husband at the county jail for q
short time, but soon ceased to call to soc him,
and several Of their last interviews were Of
very unfriendly CHARACTER, IN which she
taunted her husband with her preference for
Knaggs. During Symonds' confinement in
Jail the enlargement of his wife engrossed
his attention to the exclusion Of everything
else. Theprospect Of death upon the seafold
seemed to have no terrors for him, but he
did not conceal his desire to escape from Jail,
for the purpose Of killing Knaggs. He
always mentioned his name with his bitterest
curses up to the time OF his death. Knaggs
and Mrs. Symonds lived several years at the
corner of Eleventh aud B streets, but when
the work of grading the Pacific Railroad
track commenced they removed to Placer
county, They there kept saloon and board
ing house for some Of the workmen. An
occasional quarrel occurred between them,
followed by temporary separation. They
lived together in this manner until Symonds
was hung. Three or four weeks after that
event they came to this city and were married
by Justice Coggins. A short time after their
marriage they returned to the city to live.
While here, Knaggs and Andy Poland
were arrested for selling earth from a
public square In the eastern part Of the
city. Poland got off by some means, and
Knaggs was convicted and sentenced to fifty
days Imprisonment in the county Jail, His
term be served out, but before its expiration
his wife abandoned him, aud he and Poland
quarreled, Mrs. SYmonds went to live with
q man at Newcastle named Jack Openshaw.
Kuaggs censured Poland for encouraging
the separation, and also for abandoning him
in the hour of misfortune. On Thursday
last, Knaggs borrowed gun Of Louis, the
proprietor Of the coffee stand at Eighth and
J streets, for the purpose Of hunting. To
some Of his friends, it is said, he ayowed it
to be his intention to kill Poland before his
return. Poland lives at either Newcastle or
Auburn, but we presume that KnaggS did not
find him. A correspondent speaks Of the
murder and suicide as follows: Z" On Satur-
day afternoon, Knaggs was observed near the
dwelling Of Openshaw with gun in his hand,
but no notice was taken of the fact, as it was
supposed he was or had been hunting. Soon
after Mrs. Symonds took rocking chair out
on the porch, and had scarcely seated herself
when Knaggs made his appearance round the
corner of the house and deliberately dis
charged one barrel Of the gun at her, which
shattered her arm in q shocking manner and
passed into her body, from the effect Of which
she died on the same evening. He had no
sooner committed this deed, than taking the
ramrod from the gun he with il discharged
the other barrel into his leit side, which,
penetrating his heart, caused instant death:
The affair caused intense excitement, as we'll
il might" ."s