Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-10-03
CALAVERAS CHRONICLE.
Brutal Murder and Robbery.

Bile distinction in the annals of crime. Muir
derers and robbers, emboldened by their ap-
parent immunity from punishment, infest
every road, rendering not only property, but
life itself insecure. In each issue of this pa
per for the past six weeks, we have been call
ed upon to record murder, robbery or as
sassination. and in some instances all three
combined On Wednesday last, however.
murder was committed, so fendish in con-
ception and brutal in execution, that we are
of the opinion it will awaken the people
to the necessity of adopting some measures
for their protection. On the afternoon of
the day mentioned, our citizens were horri-
fed bv the intelligence that Mr.. E. SAID,
Suparintendent of the Petticoat mine at Rail-
road Flat had been murdered while on his
way from that place to Mokelumne Hili.-
The arrival. shortly afterward, of the CORY
corpse of the murdered man, while it created
an intense excitement, also aroused deep
feeling of vengeance against the cowardly
assassins, calling forth universal expression
that no mercy should be shown them it
caught. The particulars of this terrible af-
fair are as follows: On Wednesday last,
about two o'clock in the afternoon, Mr..
Said accompanied by t"o men in his employ
named Meek and Reese. left Railroad Flat
for Mokelumne Hill. Mr.. Said drove his
own team, which was attached to double
seated covered buggy. Mr.. Meek sat on
the front seat with Mr.. Said, Mr.. Reese oc-
cupying the back seat. When about two
and half miles from Railroad, four men
masked and armed with shotguns, suddenly
arose from the thick brush which skirts the
road in that locality, and without attempt
ing to stop the horses or ordering halt, fired
two shots-one at DIr. Said, killing him IN
stantly. the other taking effect upon one o.
the horses. Immediately after the shots
were fired, Mr.. Meek leaped from the car
riage and endeavored to escape; but was pur.
sued, oyertaken and robbed of what money
he had upon his person-some sixty dollars
He was then ordered to return to Railroad
a command which he was not slow in obey
ing. Fortunately the horses started upon 8
run when the shots were fred. Mr.. keest
Jumped over the front seat and seized the
reins which had fallen from the hands of Mr.
Said, then palsed in death, and applying the
whip he kept the horses at the top of their
speed for two or three miles, supporting the
lfcess body with one hand and driving with
the other. In this manner the corpse, drench-
ed with its lifes blood. conveyed to this
place. The object of the fends was undoubt-
cdly wo-foid-murder and robbery. Mr..
Said has been in the habit of bringing the
bullion extracted from the mine to this place
by private conveyance and had considerable
treasure in the buggy at the time he was kill
ed. This fact generally known, anC
Mr.. Said had for some time apprehended al
attack. Had robbery alone been the object
however, it seems to US that demand woult
have been made for the money before thu
fatal shot was fired. The robbers did no
succeed in capturing the treasure. Th'
alarm was speedily given and large mum
Der of citizens Joined with officers in pursul
of the m rderers, but no clue has yet beer
obtained. Mr.. Said was an estimable citizen
and gentleman who by his quiet unobtru
sive manners, genial social qualities and hi
fairness and uprishtness in business life, hat
gained the respect and esteem of all. Hi
terrible death has cast gloom over the en-
tire community. lie was taken to San Jose
where his family resides, for interment. Al
inquest was held upon the body by Justic
Tibbits. To give our readers all the inform
alton possible. wepublish the evidence entire
y. l.. Meek, being sworn. aeposes and says:
resie at Railroad Hat, in the county Of Calaveras
l came there in January last know the dece as
ed his name is Elkanah Said his age, he has tol
me, was about fort, five he was born in the Stat
of kentucky. | was at work for him and he askc
me to down to the Hill with him. | starte
in carriage with him. and when we had go
about two and one-half miles from town, four me
out of the bushes and shot the deceased
there were two i'll the carriage besides myself
The men came out of TIE bushes and one of then
shot, without saying anything. | heard bnt on'
shot fired, and deceased said 'soh, Lord ~ an'
immediately fell over to one side. jumped ont o
the carriage and ran, the men following me, an'
one of them said, s's.op, l will kill you.' hac
good view of three of the men one of them said
al want your money" The one that took the mon
cy from me was large man. They had blac
cloths over their faces with holes for their eyes
had got about one hundred yards from where th
shooting took pl ce before they caught me. The
then started me back in the opposite direction fror
Railroad Flat. | went to where the shooting wa
doBc-picked up deccased's hat, and went back t
Railroad Flat. The that robbed me was tn
who did the shooting one of the men wa
large and the others medium sized. dit
not see the man until just the time he fred
had been arranged some days before that we shoul
CONC down to the Hill on Thursday. This happen
ed, should think, between the hours of three AM
four oclock r. NJ on the 39th day of Sept mber
1868. have doubt but the object of those me
vas to rob Mr.. Said. They robbed me of some sixt!
dollars. The men. when first saw them, were il
front, and to the right of we were coming
this way think they were some thirty feet from
US when they 6red.
Daaiel Keese being duly sworn, dcposcs az
say live at Railroad Flat 1 have lived ther
about six weeks. The deceased, Mr.. Meek ant
myself were in a carriage coming down to the Hill
Some men rushed out of the bushes in front ant
| think one of them said ''whoa,'' to the hi rse.
before the shooting, and Immediately fired.
heard two shots / stopped down when the frs
shot was fired, and then l jumped from th
back seat to the front and caught the lines +; the
had fallen from the hands of deceased. only saw
two men one of them, think, had on whit
roundabout. AS as took the lines whipped
the horses and was soon out of the way OF the men
MIR. Meek jumped out and 1 expected that he wa
killed. thns the men were about thirty fee
from when they first shot /; the curtains of TIL
carriage down. The horses were going at
slow trot at the time deceased shot. thinl
the object of the men was murder and robbery
This happened about three O'Clock in the after
ncon TODAY, and about two and one-half or thre
miles on this side of Railroad Flat. After TIL
shooting l came on to the Hill. If it had not hay
been for the top of the carriage the deceas ed wou
have fallen out fit. l an at work for the deceas
ed; have had lame hand Tor some days SO tina
could not work. 1t was but short time atte
deceased said that he would come to the Hill to-day
before he was ready. The carriage was past wher
the shooting took place before got hold of th
ilncs one of the horses shot in the hip, il
such manner that it could not have been dom
when the hrst shot was fired, and one was shot il
the head l think the weapons used doubl
barreled shot guns.
examined the body of deceased and found thre,
wounds one lacerated the low er lp broke the law
and removed part OF 1t /; one on the right side o
the neck, and about two inches below the stern
u, IN the medium line, caused by ball or slug an,
passed through the upper portion ef the heart anf
the upper lobe of the right lung which ,n,s. -,
caused instant death.
The following is the verdict of the Coro