The Placer herald., 1864-02-13
A NIGHT WATCHMAN MURDERED

NIGHT WATCHMAN MURDERED.
Our community was startled yesterday
morning by the announcement that Samuel
Mcdonald, the night watchman, had been
found dead--having been shot through the
heart with pistol ball, sometime during
the night
The decreased was found lying in the rear
Of Stener's brick store, and upon examna-
tion, it was found that an attempt had been
made to break into the store, by forcing
doors. Several bricks had been pred out
with short, pointed iron bar that had been
left on the ground.
1t is presumed-from the fact that Nc
Donald had stated in the evening that he
bad bis eye upon several men, whose actions
were suspicious-tbat he had gone up the
alley-way Ohat passes on one side Of the
storey on the lookout for them, or else to
observe the smoke house belonging to Speedy
& Co., that had fire in, and when little
past the back part of the store, was shot
and instantly killed by one of the burglars,
who must have been stationed in the alley
above the store.
There are several small cottages on the
street or alley, occupied for sleeping rooms
and residences, and some OF the inmates
heard single pistol shot at about haf-past
twelve o'clock; but the occurrence of pistol
shooting at night is so frequent, that little
was thought Of the circumstance. Mr.. Goodl
ricb School Superintendent, however, who
but little while before, had retired to bed,
heard the report Of the pistol, and immedi
ately following painful exclamation Of
'Oh! oh! am shot" got up and went down
the alley but finding no one, and hearing no
further noise returned to his room. His
failing to see the deceased, arose from the
fact Of Mcdonald having fallen from the
road over dug bank several feet in height,
near the rear Of the store. Other parties
heard the footsteps of one or more persons,
(afer the fring) running up the road. But
nothing WAS done or thought of the matter
until the body was found early in the morn
ing by Mr.. Slade, the dairyman.
Yesterday, Justice Woodin, summoned q
Coroner's Jury, before whom number o
witnesses were examined by District Attor
ney Hamilton,-the substance of the test
mony as to the killing being as here stated
The deceased was shot through the upper
part Of the heart-the ball ranging from the
left side in a direction slightly downward
showing that he must have been shot by
some person standing in the street above
him, on the ascending ground.
Mr.. Mcdonald had resided in Auburn fol
many years, and was known as quiet and
inoffensive man. He was single man, and
has but one relative in this State, cousin
residing in :his vicinity The deceased was
native of New Hampshire, and was aged
shout thirty'four years. His remains were
properly cared for by his friends-his funeral
taking place at p. M, yesterday.
As vet no definite information has be en-
obtained as to the perpetrators of this cold
booded deed but there is 6 hope they will
not elude the vigilance of justice.
VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AT AURoRA.-Wm
p. Johnson, highly respected citizen, was
recently assassinated in the streets of Aurora
in Mono county. The act highly exaspera-
ted the popuace, who Immediately organ
lied Vigilance Committee and proceeded
to investigate the affair. Disclosures made
caused the arrest of John Daily, James Buck
lev, James Masterson, and John Mcdowell
alias "Three fingered Jack" and their sub
sequent condemnation to suffer death. Or
the 9th inst, the Citizens Safety Committe
marched to the jail, and took the prisoner
from there to Armory Hall, where they hun!
them. Buckley and Daily admitted ,ha
they had killed Johnson,
A Map OF CALlFoRNIA.-Mr b. Ii. Ber
ry has new map of California, and Oregon
also Washington, Nevada, and Idaho Terrific
ries. 1t has just been issued. He has th
Agency for this county.
"NoRTHER"-A high wind blew out c
the North on Wednesday and Thursday, tina
sent the dust off the roads as completely a
if they had been swept with brooms.
some of the high fumes in tho mining dlt
trcts escaped tumble their owners ma
consider, ,,thernselves fortunate. The win
was dry, but not cold, but we should judg
it would have blightng upon the gralr