The Republican journal., 1871-09-21

! Ilo OH6 knew MS WHEREABOUTS. GfauudllN
the gossip ceased, and only memory of
the actors in this episode was left in San
| Dioso.
| Robert Fairway was true to his rcsolu-
ton. Gathering about him his newly ac-
| qured wealth-for he had realized large
sum by the sale of the Rancho-he invest
ed largely in growing real estate in San
Francisco. Freed from his cursed lnfat-
uation, he applied his mind to his profess
sion, The study of icriminal law became
with him passion, and in a few years he
rose to the highest rank in the practice of
that branch of the law During this por-
| ton Of his life was intimate with him,
and from friendly letter dated at the
hotel at Placerville. and written to fill in
q leisure hour, gather the main incidents
narrated in the following chapter. He
was sent for from far and near, and his
tees were enormous; but he had the
reputation Of clearing his clients. He
could sway iuries by the torrent of his
eloquence In the prime Of life, he had
attained the highest distinction. Already
| had his name been spoken of in connec-
lon with the highest offices in the gift of
the people. Men looked up to him
crowds tlocked to hear him honors pour
ed thick upon him. But one day he dis
| ppeared-went out from among the pres
ence Of men rs though the earth had
swallowed hm-went out like flame
| that is extinguished-an from that hour
| TO this no man has known what became
OF him. Those who follow this history to
IFS end will be the first to lift the veil of
the seemingly impenetrably mystery
| that surrounded his fate.
In May, 1852, a cold-blooded murder
was committed under circumstances Of
great atrocity in Placer county, and 4
| Spaniard. known by the sobriquet of
! Spanish Joe, to whom suspicion attracted,
| had ieen arrested for the crime. The cir
| cumstances attending the murder will be
| remembered by many as we recall the
| principle incidents, the crime having
caused widespread comment and interest
at the time. The man 50 foully assassi-
! mated had resided Tor short time in the
| neighborhood of Placerville-- or, as it
was then known, Hangtown-and al
though peculiar in his habits, was {.
peaceable, orderly citizen, living alone
in q cabin about mile from the town.
| Living by himself, as was the custom
with many in those auriferous days, he
had never been known by any other name
than that of Baltimore Dave. he having
spoken of the City of Monuments as his
native place. Dave was in the habit of
| coming to town only once in the week, to
sell his dust and buy his little supplies;
during other times working his claim,
which yielded fair wages. He had little
to say, made few acquaintances, and was
generally liked for possessing the virtue
Of minding his own business. His cabin
stood in a ravine some distance from the
trail, and in an untrequente1 part Of the
gulch. Dave was missed from his usual
work for Il week or so, but it excited no
remark, as in those days it was no un-
usual thing for q man to pack up and be
off to other places without any notice.
But on one Saturday afternoon white
faced miner rushed into town and pro-
claimed the news that he had called ut
the cabin to borrow a pan, and had found
the body of Dave lying partly under his
bunk, having evidently been dead some
time. There was no inquests in those
DAYS, but Il crowd of miners and others
repaired to the spot, and upon investiga-
ton discovered that the poor fellow had
been shot as he sat upon the edge of his
bunk, smoking his pipe. \ thorough
search "ennonStrated the fact that the as
SaSsln had fired three shots through Ine
window, every one of which had penc.
trated his body; but the most horrible
feature Of the matter was the strong
probability that the man had lain there,
helpless dying, and alone for davs-no
one could; tell how long The reaction
against lawlessness had Just set in ut that
thr,t, orI,p +ho ffa,, fr;,-
ing decent burial to the remains of the
commenced Il vigorous search into the
mystery surrounding the crime 1t was
found that the Spaniard spoken OF had,
from the monte saloon pistol, which he
found embedded in the woodwork of the
also ascoitaincd, that on that night he had
been seen going in the direction of Dawes
cabin. A shoemaker also recollected
repairs, shortly after that time, which
was thickly encrusted with the peculiar
red Clay Of that neighborhood. The evil
dence against him being thought sulli-
cient, he was arrested and lodged in Jail;
lOlli Nilltll JttttC llt It'lt 10
| Robert FairWay, San Francisco.
In due time Farway received the letter,
and the bar Of placer were somewhat
| surprised to receive the announcement
that this Spanish gambler was to be de-
Tended by the ablest criminal lawyer on
the coast. 1t was notorious that Spanish
Joe had no money save what little he
could win at cards; and why Fairway
II. II l.;
Of much speculation and discussion.
However, he came. The clerk of the
| Carey House greeted him with I'm obse-
| qlious bow as he registered his name
| the landlord, in person. showed him to
the best room in the hotel; judges and
lawyers greeted him cordially. But he
scarcely seemed himself. His usual genial
manners were overcast with a look of sad
ness, and ,his face was paler than usual
Hastily excusing himself, he requeste d
| that his horse-;s valuable animal which
| he had ridden over from Auburn-should
be taken good care of, and, in company
with the Sheriff, started for the jail to see
| his client. When the two were left alone,
the Spaniard was the first to break the
| silence:
"Fairway," said he, ''you once said
that you would grant any request of mine.
You must save my life"
Yes, Jose Alvido," he replied; Il re-
member, and ] am here"
"A long conversation ensued between
the men, in the course of which Alvido
freely admitted his guilt. Said he:
''When you left me, homeless pauper,
in San Dioso, | did not complain; what
you had you won fairly. | murmured
not. had left me my health and
strength, and my knowledge OF cards.
Upon the latter | relied to retrieve my
fortune. You were wiser than I, but no
matter. Delphina" as he mention
cd her name, an almost demoniacal light
glittered in his eye-"Delphina soon
found out that was ruined. She taunted
me with it; and when l spoke of my in
tentlons for the future, she brazenly told
me that she had long anticipated this end;
and reused me to fury by her talk. In
my rage | struck her, and she left me.
One week after, she was the acknowledged
mistress of an American gambler, and
tt1nnfad hon Al