Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-07
The Mendocino Murder.

UKIAH, February 25.-On last Mon
day Deputy Sheriff l.. Stanley arrived
In this town, having in charge Mr..
Alexander and his partner, Giger, OF
Sherwood valley, under arrest for the
murder of Mrs. Strong. The body of
the unfortunate lady was found by an
Indian last Saturday. 1t was discov-
cred in deep gorge in the noun
tains, three miles from her house. In
concealing the body the murderers had
deposited it in a crevice in the bed of
stream. This stream, swollen by
the late storms, covered the body with
depth of several feet of water. The
place of concealment was also under q
fall in the creek of some fifteen feet,
so that the creek in full volume shot
clear over the body, and contributed
to hide it from view when the first
search was made. At the time of the
finding only the feet remained expos
ed, the body being weighed down
with stones. In the first search this
dark gorge was thoroughly examined,
but told no tale of the horrible deed
with which it is now so gloomily asso-
ciated, and the very spot of the find
ing was sounded with long poles.
At last the water subsidized, and q
straying Indian making his way from
the mouth of the gorge saw the ex-
posed feet, and at once knew that the
mystery of the place of concealment
was solved. The reward heretofore
offered in hopes of solving the doubt
as to murder belongs to the Indian.
Upon attempting to remove the body
it was found to be held in place by
large stones, one of which required the
united effort of two men with a crow
bar to remove it. A night-dress, a
calico wrapper, shoes and stockings
was all the apparel it had on. An eX-
animation showed that death had been
clused by gunshot wound in the
mead. The ball had entered the back
and left side of the head, passing
through and fracturing the skull over
the right eye, and remaining just I'M
der the frontal bone. Thus, after sew
eral days of expectant and excited
search by large number of people
from all parts of the country, persisted
in through storm and snow, by camp
ing out in the inhospitable mountains,
the truth is realized that cold
blOOded and atrocious murder had
been committed. The victim of this
terrible depravity and fiendish malice
was an old lady of so years, who was
taken from her bed at night, forced to
travel over the mountains through the
amid the terrors of the night and the
solitude murdered in cowardly heart
lessness, and her body hid away as de-
scribed.
From the statement of Deputy Sher-
if Stanley, it appears that the first
thing found to indicate the direction
taken by the murderers was a comb,
found near where the horse had been
shot. This gave a slight clue, but
proved to be of much service. Upon
finding the body on Saturday, as re-
lated, the Sheriff placed guard over
it, he himself remaining all night
with the suspected parties. These par
ties are the same who caused the ar
rest of Mr.. Strong last Summer on a
charge of grand larceny in stealing a
COW, and secured his conviction and
sentence to the State Prison. Suspl-
cion was also strengthened by the
rumor that in the search one of these
IHcIi, W uCu lcdI Vic opOU VI COuCedl-
ment, asked the other, "Is she still
concealed?"
Sunday morning, the Deputy Sher-
lift summoned Coroner's jury and left
to make the arrests, which he did
without difficulty. In summoning the
jury he placed the best men of the
place on the jury as q precaution
against hanging by the mob. This
was wise precaution as it proved, for
in passing Traber's mill, in Little Lake
valley, party of about twenty armed
men informed him that they wanted
these parties. Stanley don't scare
worth much and replied that they
had families and that they must take
him first. Stanley told them finally
that if they would meet him at a GER
tain spot and give the men fair trial
he would let them come up with him.
But as the horses of the pursuers were
jaded they did not afterward Overtake
them. The danger was not over, how
ever, for upon arriving here mutter-
ings and threats from the crowd made
the iron cage of our splendid Jail well
come to them. A strong guard sur
rounds the Jail at all times. Stanley
informed your correspondent that he
knew more of the details than was
prudent now to Disclose Correspond
ence Sacramento Record.