Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-09-05
p.r, acc,npsr-On Saturday last near

FATAL Acc1DENT.-On Saturday last. near
the Golden Gate, in this county. occurred a
most heartrending accident-one of those
sudden visitations of violent deaths-a cat
astrophe so horrible in its details and result,
as to chill the blood and appal the senses in
its contemplation. W. I. Mudgett, an old
resident and highly esteemed citizen OF Gala
veras, a farmer residing about hVe mics
south of this town, on the Stockton road'
left his home in the morning of the day men
toned. in the full enjoyment of health and
vipor. to be brought back at evening a man.
pled corpse. The particulars OF this SAD
affair 60 far as ever will be known, are as
to,,ovs About five o'clock in the morning,
on Saturday, Mr.. Mudgett went in search OF
his horses, which were grazing near his resi-
dence. for the purpose of taking load of
b.v 70 town. As is the usual practice among
ranebers when turning out their stock, ropes
of considerable length were attached to the
horses necks to facilitate their capture when
REQUIRED. As the animals were but short
distance from the house, and Mr.. Mudgett
did not return, his wife became alarmed at
his continued absence and communicated her
fears to one of the neighbors. About four
o'clock in the afternoon her anxiety became
so great that she started in quest of her hus-
band. Several of the neighbors joined in the
search, which resulted in the realization of
their worst fears. Mr. Mudgett was found,
dead, his body horribly bruised and mangled.
From the appearance of the corpse and the
fact that piece of rope corresponding with
that used for tethering the horses, was at
tached to one of his ancles, the cause of his
death was clearly apparent The body had
heen dragged distance of three hundred
yards, over rocks and through bushes,
bloody trail marking its pathway. 1t was
so disfgured and mutilated as to be scarcely
recognizable. The neck was dislocated. the
right arm and leg broken in several places,
the eyes torn from their sockets and the en-
tire body so bruised, worn and mangled by
contact with the jagged rocks over which it
had been drawn, that it bore but little SEM
hlance of humanity. 1t is supposed that Mr..
Mudgett had caught one or both of the horses
and WIS proceeding towards home, when
they became frightened. and he by some
means getting entangled in the halter, was
dragged until his body caught in tissure in
the rocks. breaking the rope. The remains
of the unfortunate man were brought to the
Hill for interment, on Sunday last. attended
by large concourse of citizens. Mr.. Mud
gett leaves family to mourn his loss. who,
in their terrible bereavement have the SYM
pathy of the entire community. An inquest
was held upon the body, on Sunday, by JUS
tice Tibbits. We append the verdict of the
Jury:
We the undersigned. the jurors summoned
to appear before o.. +. Tibbits, Justice of
the Peace in and for the county of Calaveras.
on the 30th day of August, 1868. to inquire
into the cause of the death of William T..
Mudgett. having been duly sworn according
to law and having made such inquisition,
after inspecting the body and hearing the
testimony adduced, upon our oaths, each and
all do say that we find the deceased was
named William Thomas Mudgett; was ma
tive of New Hampshire. aged thirty-eight
years and that he came to his death. on the
29th day of August. 1868, in this county, by
being dragged by horse as stated in evil
dence. All of which we duly certify by this
'inquisition in writing. by us signed, this 30th
day of August, 1868.
l.. NJ. ScHRAcK, Foreman.
DAVID ISGLEs,
NATHANIEL BEALs,
G. w. PORTER,
l.. l.. Rowland,
L. A. MORSE,
Thomas CowELL,
J. III. JACOBS,
JOHN NooSs: