The Shasta courier., 1868-05-02
The Bald Hills Homicide.

the difficulty between I. A. Jones and G. r.
Henson, last week, which resulted in the
death of the latter, we now publish the testi.
mOny of W. v Murphy, the only witness of
the affray, taken down by the Justice of the
Peace before whom the examination was
held, with the verdict of the Coroner's jury ::
William V. Murphy sworn, sa5s-On the
22d inst, in the afternoon, Mr.. Jones, the
defendant, came to my place; said TO Mr..
Henson, the deceased, that he wanted to talk
to him that he wanted to talk to him calmly9
if | can talk calmly SIR. Henson's reply
was, Vel. Defendant then said, That letter
you wrote to Mrs. Lansdale, an old lady
seventy odd years DID, Henson said l wrote
just what felt and believed to be the truth.
Jones said, Such letter as no gentleman
would write to an o.d lady. Henson-A
gentleman would write such letter. Jones
Il say no gentleman would write such a
letter to an old lady 20 odd years old. Jones
had a shovel with hiui be is attending ditch
for A. r. Andrews. Henson said. Don't
draw your shovel on me, at the same time
reaching to get his knife, and drawing it, a
sheath knife. Don't know whether Jones
drew shovel on Henson or not. AT this time
the parties were ten or twelve feet apart.
DOM think Jones advanced towards Henson
at the time he was told not to draw shovel.
Henson then advanced toward Jones aud
picked up piece of plauk; think if defend
ant had wished to injure Henson he could
have done SO easily when Henson stopped to
pick up the piece Of board. After getting it
they both seemed to maneuvre for the advan-
tage, and almost instantly came together,
Henson with his sheath knife in one hand
and piece of plank in the other, and Jones
with a shovel think Henson advanced most;
Jones' stroke with shovel knocked Henson
down; Jones struck him orce as he fell. |
think | said Hold on, that's enough. l
then went up and raised Henson's head he
was bleeding very badly; think Jones said,
Sip. you must let my family alone. said
to Jones that feared he had killed him. He
(Jones) said. no he had not, for me to take
his knife from him, and he would help me to
attend to him. | told Jones ne did not have
the knife he (Jones) then came up. My
daughter asked if wanted anything. l told
her to bring some cold water. Mr.. Jones
said, Hold on, | will go for the water He
then went, | think on run | think he met
the little girl on the way; he came with the
water; had got Henson in sitting posture
the blood would clear hia clothing. | then
took cold water and put on his head, Jones
holding the bucket. At the time told Jones
that Henson did not have his knife he Hen
son) looked around for it, as though he
wanted to get up with it. Jones said to
Henson, You must let my family alone, and
my old mother-in law, over 10 years old
she has no one to defend her but me, and
what would people say if did not. Henson
says: Thad. Jones, I'll make this mighty hot
for you yet, and commenced trying to get up.
told him to set still. Jones says: Henson,
don't you try that on me. Henson got up,
think with intention of renewing the attack,
as he tried to get hold of something, but
found he was too weak. l kept my hands
on him, and he soon sat down again. After
Henson was down, Jones came and offered to
assist him. Henson says: Go off, | don't
want your help; Jones said: Well, I'll go,
and walked off. | assisted Henson to the
house. After getting there he seemed bet
ter, and talked in natural tone of voice, but
in about half hour he commenced to vomt
and got worse, aud half an hour later | think
was entirely insensible. James Chestnut
came in said Jones told him to come down.
Jones soon after came, and | think had
Chestnut go after physician. Chestnut
came back without a physician, the doctor
having told him he did not think it necessary
to come, as there was no trouble except loss
of blood. Henson died about II o'clock, or
a little after, on the morning of the 23d /
think the deceased drew his knife with the
intention of using it upon the defendant, as
he at the time made motion forward, pick
ing up the piece of plank at the same time,
keeping his eye on the defendant. 1t is
customary for men attending ditch to carry
a shovel. There was no other person present
at the time of the affray.
Following is the verdict of the Coroner's
jury
We, the undersigned, the jurors summoned
to appear before d. Lynch, the Coroner of
Shasta county, on the 24th day of April, A.
ID. 1868, to inquire into the cause of the
death of George r. Henson, having been duly
sworn according to law, and having made
such inquisition, after inspecting the body
and having the testimony adduced, upon our
o,ths, each and all, do say that we find the
deceased was named George R. Henson, was
a native of Kentucky, aged about fifty years,
that ne came to his death, on the 23d day of
April, 1868, from the effect of wound in.
flicted upon his head, on the afternoon of the
22d inst, by shovel in the hand of Thad
deus A. Jones. in self defense.
(Signed II. Ii. Shuff1eson. Isaac Crow. E.
n. Baker, James S. Drew, Dennis X Maher,
II. Fidler, j. NJ. Chestnut, Thomas Larkin.