Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-05-17
Headless skeletons In california;.

A few days ago the fact was briefly
mentioned in the CAL that the body, or
rather the remains of the body, of a
man had been found in the brush about
two miles from Belmont Some China
men discovered them while engaged in
clearingthe brushaway. They frstfound
a skull, and then found, lying in
hammock of blankets suspended from
the bushes, a Wondering skeleton that
had once been a man. The discovery
was at once reported to the authorities,
and an investigation was instituted.
1t was noticed that the spot was the
most secluded that could have been
found in that part of the country, and,
from appearances, it had been used as
camping-ground by one or two men.
The skeleton was found to be clothed
in q superior manner, the under gar
ments being of good quality, and the
other apparel consisting of light cassi-
mere pants, a light checked pattern
vest, light cloth coat and heavy
beaver overcoat. The pants were COW
cred with waterproof overalls, and an
overcoet of the same material was
spread over the body as it lay in the
hammock. Among the bushes near at
hand were found a revolver, an UNI
brella, and q leather valise. The last
named contained a quantity of fine
clothing, some new and other that had
been worn. Between the canvas lining
and the top of the valise was found a
fragment of the Morning CAL, of the
date of February II, 1872; and in a
rats nest few yards from the valise
were a soda bottle filled with laudanum,
and a silver watch. The watch was ex-
hibited at the police Office. tits of SUI
perior manufacture, is a stem-winder,
enameled back, and bears the name of
"Roscoe," manufacturer. On the in
side edges of the case, at the back,
these numerals are cut in different
places: "XVII," "VII," GIL" A
silver chain is attached to it. When
the skeleton was lifted from the ham
| luOCh IL was lOJul bllttO IuS DObGOul VI
the hammock had been soaked with
blood, and the garments in the neigh
borhood of the loins were also heavily
stained from the same cause. Beneath
the body were also found number OF
pads and bandages, made of strips torn
from some linen garment. They had
apparently been used to stop a flow OF
blood. The skull was found about fifty
feet from the hammock, having fallen
from the body and rolled down a de.
clivity Another skeleton was found
about four months ago, half q mile
from the spot where the last skeleton
was found. A pistol was also found
near this skeleton, and hole in the
skull showed that death had been caused
by gun or pistol shot. Scraps of g
newspaper found near the skeleton il
the former instance correspond in dates
indicated with that found in the ham
mock, and the circumstances seem tC
point to some connection between the
deaths of the two men, which mus
have occurred near the same time
about year ago. The first skeleton
was found at the foot of thickly wood
ed gulch, leading directly to the LOCALITY
of the hammock. Mr.. Phelps an(
other parties interested in investigating
the affair, believe that the men wer,
malefactors of some description hiding
from justice, or that they were fugitive
from the city. Some quarrel sprung
up between them, and the difficult,
was settled by pistol combat at tn
foot of the gulch. One of the com
batants met his death instantly by
bullet sent into his brain, and fel
where his skeleton was discovered man
months afterward. The other, MORTAL
wounded in the lower part of the body
succeeded in regaining his camping
place, and after Intellectual attempts t
stay the ebbing current of life, FINAL
died unseen and unattended.