The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-10-25
THE REMAINS OF GEORGE CROOKS
FOCND-CORONER INQUEST.


We have heretofore alluded to the fact
that George Crooks, of McCloud river, had
disappeared and that it was generally be
lieved that he had been murdered by Indians
and bis body thrown into the river. Ills
disappearance was noted on or about the
26th Of September, and parties from Dog
rreek and Copper City, who were deter
mined to fud out what had become of him,
were constantly searching with that object
in view until the Goth instant. On that
day an Indian who had previously been ar
rested aud held in custody by the search
ing party, confessed that he bad put Crooks
ont of the way, and said that the indians
would show where his remains were con-
ceaIed On the strength of this confession
word was sent to shasta requesting the
Coroner and an arresiing officer to come up
to McCloud and take such action as the
affair required Accordingly on Monday
evening Justice Knox, aud Deputy Sheriff
Whiting, left town and arrived at McCloud
Tuesday forenoon On their arrival they
learned, through information given by In
dians. that Crooks body had foated down
ream some distance from the point where
be was murdered, lodged against Digger
fish dam, and had been taken out Of the
river by squaws and buried A coroner's
jury was empanell.d aud guided to the
locality where Crooks was buried. When
the precise spot where the remains were
deposited was pointed out, thesuperficial OBJ
server could see no oindications that earth
had been disturbed. The body had been
deposited in a hole dug on the hillside, ul-
der a clump OF manzanita bushes, the earth
carefully leveled and leaves scattered over
the surface as though they bad naturally
fallen there. An excavation two feet deep
was made, when the ends of freshly cut
grape vine was disclosed On pulling
this grape vine the body of Crooks was
brought to light. The vine was around the
neck of the corpse and had been used to
drag it from the river to the place of de-
post. The remains were much decompos-
ell, but examination showed that bullet
had entered the back of the head and pass
cd out of the chin The body was again
covered over with earth and left in the
rude grave where found.
The following is substantially the pro-
ceedings ct the inquest
Theodore NJ. Popejoy, being sworn, says !:
live at Copper City, yesterday, Oct. goth,
an Indian by the name OF Pete told me that
an Indian called Tipisock came to him
and requested INN to 90 aud kill George
Crooks and give him part Of the money
which Crooks had. Pete asked Tipisock
what he wanted Crooks killed for, and the
reply Was that Crooks was living upon the
land on which he (Tipisock) was born and
raisod Pete admitted that he then went
up to Crooks place, murdered him, and
took from his pocketa five dollar gold piece
and two and half dollars 10 silver Pete
said that be went Up to Crooks, knocked
him down with rock and then took his
Crooks gum and shot him with it and
threw the body into the river. The killing
took pace about three weeks ago last Fri
day. Pete said that he gave6ve dol ars of
the money to Tipisock and kept two and
half himself. The Indians showed me
yesterday where Crooks body was found =
This all happened on the McCloud river
about three miles above Aliens station
Tipsiock belongs to the McCloud tribe. |
do not know where he i3 now but have
heard that he was on the Sacramento river
| d. not know where Pete is
5. Spery being sworu, said: [ reside
at Dog Creek. Was present when Indian
Pete made his statement to Theodore Pope
joy. | fully corroborate what Popejoy has
fled to.
The verdict of the jury was in accord
ance with the boye facts.