Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-07-04
TIE MANUSCRIPT.

The Auburn Messenger, ol the list ot
November. 1870. contained the following
paragraph:
4 few days ,iucc we called public AT
tention To the singular conduct ol James
/ G.. Wilkins. Justice of the Peace for the
Cape Horn" District, in this county. in
diSeharsing without trial = man named
I Parker, who Was. rs ", still think. seri.
ously implicated in the mysterious death
or IN old man named Summerfrld who,
oui readers will probably remember. met
81 tragical All end dn the line of the Cen.
| trail Pacific Railroad in the month of Dc
( tuber last We have now to record an
other bold outrage on public justice. in
connection with the same affair. The
Grand Jury of Placer County has just ad-
/ iournrd. without finding any bill against
I the person named above. Not only did
the, 4, fuse to find true bill or to make
any prcScntment. hat they went one step
luithcl towards the cNoncralion ol the
offender: they specially ignored the in
diclment which our district attorney
deemed II his duty To present. The main
/ facts in relation to The arrest aud subse
qucnt discharge oi Parker may be sum
med up in few words:
1t appears that about the last ol Ocio'
/ bcI. one Gregory Summerheld. an old
man nearly 20 Years OF age, in company
With Parker. took passage ior Chicago,
Via the Pacific Railroad anil about the
middle ol the afternoon reached the
ueighborhood OF Cape Horn. in this coun.
I ". Nothing oi amy special Importance
/ seems 10 have attracted the attention I'll
ANY Of the passengers toward these per-
/ sons until few moments before passing
/ the dangerous curve in the track over
I looking the North Fork OF the American
river, st the place called Cape Horn
/ \. our readers are aware, the road ut
this point skirts precipice with rocky
perpendicular sides, extending TO the bed
ol the stream, nearly LOO feet below.
Before passing the curve, Parker was
heard 10 comment upon the suLlimiiy OF
the scenery they were approaching, and
\ liEally requested the old man To leave
the ear and stand upon the open platform
\ i'm order TO obtain better view OF the
tremendous chasm and the mountains
I lust beyond. The two men left the ca:
Il moment afterwards Il cry of horror was
heard by all the passengers, and The old
man observed to fall al least 200 feet
upon the crags below. The train was
stopped Ter a few moments, but, fearful
OF collision if any considerable length
of time should be lost in All unavailng
search for the mangled remains. il soon
moI ed on again, and proceeded rs swift
Is rs possible TO the next station. There
the miscroant Parker was arrested, and
conveyed 10 the office of the nearest JUS
tice of the Peace for examination. We
understand that he refused 10 give any
detailed account OF the transaction, say
ing only that ''the deceased either iell OF
was thrown off the moving train"
The examination was postponed unit
the arrival of Parker's counsel. O'Connel
/ * Fitzpatrick. OF Grass Valley. and after
they reached Cape Horn not n single
word could be extracted from the prison
er. 1t is said that the inquisition was
mere farce; there being no witnesses
present keep, one lady passenger who
with commendable spirit volunteered u
lay ever one day, to give in her teslimo
ny. We also learn that after the trial
the Justice. together With the prisoner
anal his counsel. were cIOSeted in secre
session for more than two hours; at ln'
expiration of which time the Judge re