The Shasta courier., 1868-04-11
Appalling Tragedy in the Police Court.

| inoSs dppdilluS tTaSeuy ever enacted
within the walls of the City Hall, occurred
Yesterday morning. in the Police Court
Ihe business ofthe day was nearly completed,
and there remained but one case for exami-
nation, that case being an attempt to commit
rape, preferred against W. II. Abel. The
particulars of the charge are, briefly, as fol-
| lows: Abel, short time ago, obtained a
little girl, between twelve and thirteen years
old, from the Industrial School. avowedly
with the intention of adopting her, He took
her to his lodgings at Hayes Valley, and,
after she had lived there some time, it became
rumored about that he WAS in the habit of
sleeping with her, and treating ter improp-
erly. The police took the matter under in.
vestigation, and obtained such evidence as
justified in arresting him on the charge before
mentioned. The case came up in the Police
Court, Yesterday, for examination and the
child, being put on the witness stand denied
that Abel had ever committed the serious
offense charged upon him. Under these cir
cumstances, Prosecuting Attorney Louder
back consented to accept the proposition of
the prisoners counsel, who offered to plead
guilty, on behalf of his client, to a charge of
assault. In accordance with this state of the
case new warrant was made out, for the
lesser offence, and Mr.. Louderback gave it
to the bailitf of the Court, Captain McElroy,
with directions to serve it upon Abel, who
was sitting in the dock The Captain went
over to him, read the warrant aloud and
turned away to the clerks desk to indorse it
as served. At this moment Abel put his
hand into his breast, drew something out,
and moved it sharply across his neck. Many
persons saw the action, but at the moment
fancied that he was merely brushing his
beard (which was so long as to hide his
neck), on one side. But as he drew his
hand the second time across his throat, a
crimson torrent that burst out from beneath
his beard and flowed down his breast reveal
ed the frightful truth. He had cut his
throat. An exclamation of horror that was
almost scream, broke from the people who
filled the Court room, and Judge provinces
exclaimed, as he sprang from the BENCH
g Seize him seize him and take him below"
Colonel Beige, officer Mccormick, Captain
McElroy and others then sprang forward,
and reaching the unfortunate man, who by
this time had inflicted four or five desperate
cuts upon his throat, and now stood brand
ishing in his right hand the bloody razor
that had done the work, seized and held
him. One of them attempted to hold togeth
er the gaping edges of t: frightful wound
from which his life blood was pouring but
his desperate struggles rendered the effort
Intellectual, all his captors could do was to
throw him upon the seat of the DOCK and
so restrain his writings.
In the meantime twenty pale and Mortified
men had rushed away in search of medical
assistance, and the sensation in the court
room was indescribable. The blood of the
suicide spurted over the edge of the dock, and
rose in fountains at each arterial beat
Finding that nothing could be done for him
there, he was taken below to the prison,
while messengers were dispatched for Drs.
Murphy, Henry and Harris. Supported by
three officers, the wounded man was slowly
carried down the prison stairs, glstening
river of blood, that eddied and spread over
the floor, marking the spot where he had
lain.
TERRIBLE SCENE IN THE PRISON.
Arrived below, the bearers laid their bur
den gently on the floor, and some blankets.
etc., were placed under his head. For half
a minute he lay without much motion. save
that through the terrible wound in his throat
that had severed jugular, carotid, and wind
pipe, proceeded an awful sound which was
not groaning or speech, but fearful mar
ticulate struggle for utterance, more terrible
to listen to than the widest shrieks of intelli
gible agony. Then, whileSthe officers stood
and looked upon him, waiting for the advent
of the physician be suddenly rose to his feet
and began striking wildly at all within his
reach. Nothing could exceed the horrors oi
this SC me. With his head thrown back,
disclosing the awful cash, from which tor
rent of blood bubbled and rushed down his
breast like a crimson river, his eyes glarine
wildly his whole frame working convulsivey
| xrratnhaH SIR md 4,
desperation. to prevent those who surrounded
him from quenching the flow of the fatal tide
For as much as three minutes he remained
erect threatening all who approached him
and turning round as if to face each mar
that came near. Then his strength began t,
fail, and seeing that he was on the point o.
falling. two officers rushed in upon MIN anC
; seized his arms. With final effort he hune
off their grasp, and then sank slowly down
At this point Drs. Murphy, Harris anC
Henry arrived, but the first glance showed
them that he was past the aid of surgery
and they could only stand by and look OF
with the rest. For few minutes the suffer
er lay, gurgling inarticulately, and movin:
, his arms uneasily, as if even then his stub
born will would force the dying frame to ODE,
its behests. Then he made another effort t,
rise but his failing limbs refused to supper
him, and with last vain struggle for speech
he sank back and died.
On the person of the deceased were fount
several letters, of which we give the follow
ing, corrected as to orthography:
"SAN FRANcIsco, April 2, 1868.
My DEAR WIFE: The fountain is drv.-
My heart is broken. l will soon meet m,
God. have prayed night and day and Goo
will forgive me. He will receive nv sinfu
soul. | am not guilty of the crime charged
loved the child. She called me father, apt
l loved her as daughter. | pray that Coo
will protect you; you have always been Sc
good, and love me so much and God know.
that | love you. Mr.. G. has been very kinc
to me; more than l deserved and he ha.
promised to be kind to you, so forget youI
loving but miserable husband, and forgiv,
him for all his wrongs to you. God know.
, your cup is full of trouble and sorrow. and
must still add the heaviest blow. Night anC
morning did that child and | pray on ou1
knees to God to protect US and you, and t
make US better. | was beginning to feel {
better man, till the last blow was struck
my arrest. This is more than can bear
| am disgraced and ruined-I cannot write
my brain is on fire. o, my God, forgive me
This is a dreadful place to be in-such ours
ing, and swearing, and bawling-it turn,
my brain. | long TO die. Oh, how bav,
prayed to God to die My dearest Mary
good-by. My beloved wife, forgive me. Liy,