The union Democrat., 1870-10-22
A Miners Story Of Killing his Partner in
1851, nt Columbia.

EDITOR DENoc2AT:-l herewith send you
for publication a story, which / think may
prove sufficiently interesting to your readers
to warrant you in inserting it in your valua.
BILE journal. am not a newspaper writer,
am but a simple miner; therefore your read
ers will have to pardon any defective rhcto-
rio, which may come unde: their notice.
One evening in September, 1869. a little
over year ago, as was seated in my cabin
| enjoying the sensational columns Of the "San
Francisco Chronicle, step came to my door,
the owner of which. upon making due appli-
cation by knock was invited in. had not
disturbed myself from my position, deeming it
one Of my neighhors. who had come to hear.
the news. Upon looking around however, J.
recognized an individual whom I had seen
alight from the stage that evening, rs it ston-
ped in front of the P. O. Invited him to be-
seated.
lie was very tall and thin, but we'll built.
Ills full chest and broad shoulders, bespoke
him to have been once strong muscular
man. His complexion was of dull sallow,
almost like that Of Spaniard. and the glossy
black hair, hanging in short thick curls over
his forehead, gave him n youthful appear
ance, greatly out of keeping however, with
the sad expression of his large, deer sunken,
dark eyes; and the long thin mcstache he
wore, only added to the melancholy Of his
features. His manner and bearing were dig
ni6ed and refined at the same time easy and
unaffected. The ease with which he after
wards conversed, told palmer than words could.
that he was a thorough bred gentleman, still,
one glance Mt his care worn countenance,
would suffice to assure you that his was far
from being happy existence.
He commenced the conversation bv inauir-
ing how long had lived here and from whom
had bought tae house. and on my answer
ing these questions satisfactorily. said he had
been the owner, and O. was the person to
whom he had sold it, Tie did not recognize
the apartment in which we were sitting.
for had made several improvements. taken
out the old boards one by one, and replaced
them with new ones until had new floor
in my kitchen. lie asked to be allowed to
enter the other room, and taking the lamp
we went in. lie walked straight up to the
head Of my bed, stared like one demented-
eyes rolling and glaring like those of mad
man-it frightened me to behold him-snd
all at dark spot which had often noticed
in the floor; then stopping lower he exclaim-
ed, Eyes. there it is, sure enough -
After few minutes he turned to me and
said, 81 know you think me a queer person.
as indeed am, but if you promise me secre-
cy, will reveal to you, what but enc other
ever heard, and thus prove to you that the
strangeness Of nv actions ia not without rec
son." / replied that never having had
very important secret entrusted to nv keep
ing, could not tell to how great an extent I
might be trusted. / was DESTROYS to hear
what he had to say; and so assured him that
| would not disclose anything he might deem
proper to impart If by so doing. should in
any way endanger his safety. lie expressed
himself perfectly satisfied, and returning to
,he FIRE. said it was necessary for his purpose
that should be- made acquainted with his
secret. lie hegan-I give it as near as posi-
BILE in his own words
cane to Columbia in 1S4o, and on the
first night Of my stay here, while sitting in the
bar-room of F-'s hotel, overheard the
conversation Of two young men who wers seat
ed at small table playing game of euchre.
One remarked that the time of his promised
return to his family was fast approaching.
| and il he could find suitable purchaser for
his share of the claim. would sell and depart
an an eastward bound steamer, the fellow
ing week. Now, as had come here with
the intention of mining, l thought the sooner
began the better; 50 went up to them, and
begging to be excused for the intrusion, made
inquiries about the mine. These proving
satisfactory, we arranged it go that should
see the claim the next day. Having satisfied
myself by personal inspection, thought him
out" the following day.
/ liked my new companion. J. T.,
very much, and hoped the friendship would
be mutual, Afterwards had every reason to
suppose it was. We worked together. and liv-
ed asagreeably as two brothers during the two
years taat followed. The mine paved exceed
ingly we'll all the while. We only sold what
gold was necessary to supply our wants, the
rest we safely deposited in hole under that
corner. Pointing to where | was tting.)
AT the end of two years, my partner began
to think of leaving California and returning
to Vermont where he had lived several years
previous to bis coming here, and where he
supposed his relatives to be still residing.
We accordingly went about settling u? our
accounts, was to retain his share Of the
claim, and then all that remained to be done
was to divide our gold. TN the evening Of
the 2lst of September. 1851, we were sitting
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