The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-23
HANGING THE WRONG MAN.

Henry Thurber, in 1857, was the possessor
of very handsome rancho among the foot
hills of Placer county, California, which is
one of the choicest portions of that state He
was an old bachelor, whose household, except
upon special occasions, consisted of only
Dick Tremain--a hired man who assisted in
taking care of his several thousand sheep
aud Sing 10y, his Chinese cook.
One morning in February in the year men.
toned two neghborlng ranchGrs, DESTROYS of
purchasing some bloodcd meriho sheep from
Thurber, called at his place, and to their hor.
ror were confronted with the evidence OF an
appalling crime. Thurber had been killed
in his sleep. The assassin had evidently
stunned him with terrible blow on the
head, and then, TO make the deadly work
doubly sure had cut his throat from car to
car. Dick Tremaiu's skull had also been
battered in, and his throat had been fearfully
gashed but the assasslns knife had missed
the iugular vein, and Dick, although there
was scarcely any hope of his recovery, was
still alive, Sing 10y could not be found, and
his absence, together with the fact that the
deadly assault had been made at night, when
il was to be supposed that strangers could not
have entered without alarming the occupants
of the house, cast upon him suspicion OF hav,
ing been the assassin.
gence abroad to every rancho within a radius
of several miles, and before noon score of
hardy, determined men were gathered at the
scene of the murder, 10 investigate and avcnge
its preparation. A doctor. hastily summoned,
closed the CHASTITY wound in Dicks throat
from which his lte-blOOd was slowly but
surely ebblng away, and by Il skilliu opera.
ton raised the battered pieces of skull from
his brain. While this Work was being done
Dick seemed entirely unconscious of every.
thing, even Of the intense pain which il, must
have given him, but continued to whisper
"Sing Loy Sing 10y"
"Hes got sense enough left to tell who did
il, anyway was the unanimous comment OF
the eager listeners.
Eyes, il is probable that the Chinaman was
recognized by him the instant of his being
struck down, and that mental impression is
the only one he has retained" was the doc
tors Judgment
Parties we're promptly formed 10 scour the
country for Sing 10y.
Six OF his pursuers took the right direction
They went tO a little Chinese mining camp
on Little Laurel creek, about thirty miles
from Thurbers rancho. Here they judged
Sing 10y would be apt to scel, shelter will
his countrymen, ana in his possession they
did not doubt they would find the money
which they supposed had tempted him to the
commission of the crime.
Night had fallen when they reached the
camp where dozen OF the patient, almoned.
eyed Mongolians had found enough profit in
the infinitesimal gleanings Of golden parti
cles, after which miners had already once
washed the earth, TO repay their ardUuus toll
But no washing for gold was going on now
Even had not the winter violence OF the little
stream pu; a temporary stop TO their opera
tons, this would have been season Of res
for them. for IL was the Chinese new year
At that time, for a week or more, If his mean,
will permit, no Chinaman will work wht
possibly can escape doing SO. He devote
himself TO firing of crackers apd bombs
burning red paper aud joss sticks before hi
idols, drinking great numbers of very minute
cups 81 tea, and occasionally very small guam
titles of "NTelicsn wiskee," eating swee,
meats, playing outlandlsh gambling games
and, above all, listening to the stranges'
most dolorous, squeakiest, and most monol
onous sounds in the world, which he dlgniic
BIZ the name Of music. Ia blissrul abandon
ment TO such supreme joys were Sing Lol
add his friends when the six terrible Ameri
cans. with revolyers 10 their hands, dashed Ia
upon them in their humble cabin. Their onll
mode Of egress cut of, and paralyzed b.
fear. they sat silently awaiting the dreadful
pleasure Of their terrifying visitors, who, a
they well knew, could be expected TO hav'
little liberation or mercy Tor them. Bat Tn
Americans were 10 too solemn ana ueadl!