Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-03-20
1As lYncHlHs OF TARPEy.
Statement Of an Eye Witness.

SALINAS CITY, March 18.-The citi-
Gems, determined that Matt. Tarpey
should receive his just deserts for the
many crimes committed BY him, and
particularly the last a%troccious act,
upon arriving at the Jail in Monterey
they demanded Of the Sheriff 1.-The
person Of Matt. Tarpey. The officer,
however, refused to accede to our re-
Quest, or TO give us any Information as
to where he had the keys Of the jail.
Mr.. Sheriff, without any further csre-
mony, was seized by some OF the cad
ing men Of jacksonville, and, despite
his protsstations, was bound hand and
foot.
With the aid Of a sledge-hammer,
the jail door was opened, BY breaking
off the fastenings, and a few moments
after gaining the inside of the jail the
cell containing Tarpey was reached,
and soon the doors were forced from
their hinges. The first expression that
fell from Tarpey's lips on seeing the
crowd before him was: "You g. OF
b. what do you want here?" But on
learning the object Of the visit he
changed his tone. and from that time
on was very quiet. On being taken
from the Jail he was seated In a wagon,
guarded by a picked set OF men, ana
escorted by q cavalcade. consisting OF
about three hundred citizens, In bug
pies and on horseback, on their way
70 Salinas City. They had gone
but a short distance when a report
was circulated that q company OF
soldiers Was on the road on the way
to assist the Sheriff to protect the jail
against any attack that might be made.
The first plan OF tho citizens was to es-
cort Tarpey to the scene o fthe tragedy
he enacted. and hang him from the
tree neal which he fired tho fatal shot
at Mrs. Nicholson. 10 prevent any
collision with the soldiers this plan
was changed; a council being held, IN
which It was determined to let their
prisoner swing at tho first convenient
spot. Three miles were travelled a
suitable place having been found, the
procession was ordered to come to a
halt, and Tarpey was informed that
his time had come. AT Tarpey's re-
quest, time wal granted him to make
his last will. While doing this he sta.
ted that some time since lie had forged
the name of Mr.. Nicholson to a note
for $500. which Nicholson had been
compelled to pay, and that he had also
cut wood of Nicholson's land to the
amount Of about 800. Now that he
was about to die he wished to "square
things" and in consideration OF the
wrongs inflicted, no would make pro.
vision in his will to pay to n. $1,000.
Tarpey's mother, wife and three chill
dren. being near at hand,i 1t was deemed
advisable that they be removed some
distance of, that they should not wit
meas the awful sight. Having com.
plsted his will. Tarpey requested time
in which to address the crowd before
him, and standing up on . box In the
wagon, proceeded to make q discoa,
nected statement, denying his inten'
tlon to kill the woman. While he was
speaking q Spaniard was standing close
to him, ready to place the rope over
his head. EXPLANATIONS being made al
various times, "Pull him up" Hang
him." After asking forgiveness, he
requested that his body be lett on the
ground, 90 that It might be taken III
charge By his family, to convey 1t to
Monterey, to be buried alongside his
child. He knelt In prayer for a few
minutes, and then requested that he be
given = little more rope. as he did no
think the fall would be sufficient. His
last request was granted, and standing
upon the dry goods box ut the end Of
tile wagon, the horses were driven
from under the tree, and Tarpey was
left swinging. his guilty soul return,
ing to Its Maker.