Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-06-22
flif MANI II RIFT.

he Auburn Messenger. of the first
OF November. 1870. contained the fol-
lowing paragraph:
\ few days since we called public atf.n-
ton 10 the singular conduct Of Jane, g
wilkins. Justice Of the Peace for the Cape
Horn District. in this county. Ia discharg-
ing without trial man named Parker. who
was. a, We still think. seriously implicated
IN the mysterious death of an old mau
named >ummerfield. who our reader. Will
probably remember. met % tragical an cud
on the line Of the Central Pacific Railroad
IN the month OF October Last We have
now 10 record another bold outrage on
public justice In connection with the .amc
affair. The Grand jury Of Placer county
has just adjourned. without finding any bill
against the person named above. Not only
did they refuse 10 find true bill or 10 make
any presentment, but they went one step
iuribcr towards the exoneration Of the of-
fender; they specially ignored the indic,-
ment which our District Attorney deemed
II hi duty 10 present. The main fact, In
relation TO the arrest and subsequent di,-
charge OF Parker NAV be summed up IN
few words:
II appears that. abou; the last of Octo-
nearly 20 years Of age. In company with
Parker. took passage for Chicago. Via. the
Pacific Railroad aud about the middle ~
the afternoon reached the neighborhood OF
Cape Horn. In this county. Nothing of
any special importance seem. to have at
tracted the attention OF any of the pas.cii-
ger toward these persons until few mo
menis before passing the dangerous curve
In the track overlooking the North Fork Of
The American river. at the place called
cape Horn. A. our readers are aware.
the road at this point skirts precipice with
rocky perpendicular sides extending 10 the
bed OF the stream. nearly | 200 feet below
Before pas sing the curve Parker was heard
10 comment upon the sublimity OF the
scenery they were approaching, and final
ly requested the old man to leave the car
and stand upon the open platform. in order
| To obtain a better view OF the tremendou.
chasm and the mountains just beyond
| The two men left the car. and a moment
afterwards a cry Of horror wa. heard by
all the passengers. and the old man wa.
observed 10 fall at least 600 feet upon the
| crags below. The train was stopped for a
| few moments. but, fearful of a collision il
any considerable length Of time should be
lost In an unavailing search for the man
| gled remains, II soon moved on again. and
| proceeded as swiftly a. possible 10 the ne NJ
station. There the mi.creant Parker wa-
arrested, and conveyed TO the Office of the
nearest Justice Of the Peace for exarnina-
ton. We understand that he refu sed 10
give any detailed account of the transac
uon, saying only that 1.-THE deceased either
fell or was thrown Of from the moving
train
The examination was postponed until the
arrival Of Parker's counsel. OConnell &
Fitzpatrick. Of Grass Valley. aud after they
reached Cape Horn not single word could
be extracted from the prisoner. IL j. said
that the inquisition was a mere farce
there being no witnesses present excep
one lady passenger, who with commenda
BILE spirit, volunteered to lay over one day
10 give in her testimony. We also learr
that. after the trial, the Justice, togethe
with the prisoner and his counsel. wer,
closeted in secret session for more than TIVE
hours; at the expiration Of which time th'
Judge resumed his seat upon the bench
and discharged the prisoner.
Now. We have no desire TO do injustice
towards any of the parties to this singula
transaction. much less 10 arm public senti
ment against All innocent man. But We d.
affirm that there is, there must be. som
profound mystery at the bottom OF thi
affair, and we shall do our utmost {
fathom the secret.
Yes, there is . secret and mysteI
. connected with the disappearance G
Summerield, and the sole object @
this communication is to clear it uE
and place myself right in the pnbli
estimation. But, in order TO do so.
= becomes necessary to relate all the Gil
cumstances connected with my firs
and subsequent acquaintance with Sun
merfield. To do this intelligibly,
+ shall have to go back twenty-tw
b years.
q 1t is well known amongst my int
e mate friends that resided in the la,
!, |. Republic of Texas for many years al
1 tecedent to my immigration to til
State. During the year lS47, whil
ID but boy. and residing on the ST
,r beach some three or four miles fro
the city Of Galveston, Judge Wheel
at that time Chief Justice of the $
- preme Court of Texas-paid US visi
and brought with him a gentlema
whom he had known several years pr
vious on the Sabine river, in the cas-
ern part Of that State. This gentl
ne man was introduced to us by the nau
r. of Summerfield. At the time he W
b ,. past the prime Of life. slightly gra
ns and inclined to corpulency. He W
i. Of medium height and walked proud
erect, as though conscious Of superi
e mental attainments. His face was O.
ne Of those which, once seen, can new
be forgotten. The forehead was broa
20 20 high and protuberant. 1t was, beside
deeply craven with wrinkles, a
altogether was the most intellect
!. that I had ever seen. Itbore some
semblsaCe to thatof Sir Isaac NewtC
but still more to Humboldt or Webst