Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-03-07
STATEMENT

Of John B. Ferguson made to hi,
counsel in presence Of Under Sherif
Cotton, voluntarily, the day befor.
his execution, concerning the murdel
of B. r. c. Johnson.
On Saturday previous to the killing
Of johnson, l met Jesus Miranda, il
China Street, San Andreas, below
Garry's saloon, and he asked me "if ]
would 60 with him down the river tc
Johnson's ?' l asked him "who John
son was z" He told me "he was q
Frenchman who kept a store on the
Calaveras,' and he wanted me to &c
with him to kill him, (Johnson,) and
that if L would go with bim he would
pay me that he, (Jesus) was to re-
ceive $500 from Johnson's wife, Manuel
Munoa and his peddler who drove two
mules do not recollect his name; and
is the same man | saw at West Point
talking with Jesus after the murder.
1 told him l would go with him on his
promise that he would pay ME portion
of that money; the amount was not
agreed on and, as further induce
ment, he told me that johnson had in
his store $500 or 81 900 and he would
get that too. The next night was then
agreed on to commit the murder, being
Sunday. On the Sunday that we
agreed to commit the murder | met
Jesus about the same place; | told him
l would not go that day but would 60
with him the next night 1t was SO
agreed he told me on that occasion
that Chinaman was going to help him
kill johnson he only wanted me to 60
with him to the place. On Monday
about l or 2 o'clock we went from
Garry's saloon to Jesus cabin in San
Andreas be there took his weapons, a
pistol and knife. | had no weapons.
We went slow and sat down an hour
and half or two hours before getting
to the store. l told him l did not want
to go; he insisted on my going and
said need not do anything. [ finally
concluded to go with him. The China
man was with US at the time we were
talking; we found him on the top Of
the hill near Lattimers, on our way
down The Chinaman had for weapon
a six-shooter. l know of no other
weapon upon the Chinaman We all
three reached Johnson's store about
dusk. l, myself, was never there before.
We met johnson standing on the porch
of his store; we went in; he asked us to
sit down. In about ten minutes, Jesus
said "let us all have drink" johnson
went behind the bar and waited upon
US. | am not certain whether johnson
drank or not. Jesus put down four bits
to pay for the liquor, johnson showed it
back and would not take it.
After drinking, we all three sat down.
Jesus and johnson were engaged in
conversation. 1t might have been a
half hour after drinking, Jesus pro-
posed to drink again. We then all
went to the bar to drink, and johnson
went behind to wait upon US. When
johnson was in the act of placing a
decanter on the counter, he was shot
by Jesus the Chinaman, at the same
time standing with drawn pistol
pointing towards the kitchen. [ i'm
mediately passed out of the store and
stopped near the barn. Jesus immedi-
ately followed me and called me back.
l went back with Jesus. We found
the Chinaman standing close by the
bar with hatchet in his hand. Jesus
stepped behind the bar and discharged
two shots into the body of johnson,
and used knife on his body. The
Chinaman then stepped up and struck
johnson with the hatchet or ak. The
person that Johnson's clerk saw, as he
came out in front, was me, going to the
barn, as no other person except we
three was there after we went there
The Chinaman and Mexican com
menced plundering the house. 1 was
on the outside. Presently Jesus brough
me Johnson's gun and pistol, and thent
went back, searching the house with a
candle. They got about thirty dollars.
we all WenI Dack 10 OaQ AuQreaS.
There the Chinaman left US, and | have
never seen him since. Jesus and |
went to West Point, where l was ar.
rested, and there we saw the Mexican
who peddles vegetables, before referred
to, and saw him talking with Jesus
privately. Jesus escaped over the hill
at the time | was arrested.
This statement is made by me, unso-
licited, with desire, on my part, that
the real facts of the murder of johnson
should be known. | have nothing
more to add. his
JOHN B. X FERGUSON.
mark
Attest :-J. P. DOUGLASS:
l desire this statement read to my
father, mother, sister and brother, and
desire that my brother will take warn
ing and not do as | have done.
Particulars of the Execution
INTERESTING DETAILS!
The majesty of the law has again
been vindicated in this county. Jus
tice. whose total blindness has, for the
past ten years, permitted every person
charged with murder to escape the