The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-23
Trapped by a Sheriff.

On the lst OF May 1879, Col. Broad
head, United States paymaster, accompanied
by his clerk, Louis r. Spencer and two
other men, left Arcata, California, for
Camp CASTOR, situated in the northern part
of that State, for the purpose of paying
the soldiers stationed at the garrison
When the party were going down hill
about mile from Redwood creek, moving
slowly forward in single file, they were fred
upon from the brush near the trail.
The first shot was fired at n pack mule
that was in the van, on which was strap
ped pair of saddle-bags supposed TO con-
tain large amount of currency. The ball,
which was large one, struck the mule in
the left flank and passed almost through
the animals body. No one in the party
was armed, and of course the fire was not
returned The mule, on receiving the shot,
started to run, and the party Followed
Closely following the first shot came sec
ond, which took effect in Spencer's arm,
Just below the shoulder. The wound was
made by three small bullets or buckshot,
one of which broke the arm and the other
two entered his side.
Spencer fell Immediately and crawled
into the brush for concealment. The rest
of the party ran down the hill. They were
followed by masked man on foot. AT
the foot of the hin the mule gave out, and
was left by the party. The highwayman
came running down, and shooting the ami
NAL again, dispatched it. The party went
on some distance, but returned in about
two hours to look for Spencer. On reach
ing the dead mule they found the saddle
bags had been cut open and the contents
abstracted.
The party searched for Spencer, but
shot, Spencer crawled away because of the
extreme pain he was suffering and endeav-
ored to find house. Soon after he was
fortunate enough to be found by an Indian
boy and taken to a house some distance
away, where he met Col. Broadhead and
the rest of the party. Spencer was taken
to San Francisco, where he subsequently
died from the effects of the wound. His
remains were sent to Hartford, Conn, at
which place his mother lived.
The highwayman got away with about
$1,000. Efforts were made at once by the
authorities to discover the perpetrator of
the robbery and murder, but without sue
cess until few weeks ago.
About the first of the present month the
sheriff of Nez Perces county, Idaho, had
some reason to suspect Frenchman nam
ed Bosqui of being the guilty party. This
Bosqui came to Lewiston short time since
and was acting in the capacity Of Govern
ment packer The sheriff, being apprised
of all the circumstances connected with the
robbery and murder, began to quietly make
inquiries concerning the antecedents Of the
packer Boseui.
From information thus obtained the
officers suspicious were confirmed, and he
was more strongly convinced than ever that
he had the right man, and he determined
to apprehend him for the dual crime. Bos-
qui, not suspecting that he was under the
espionage of the sheriff, was induced to
enter trap laid for him, and was at once
arrested and taken to Lewiston. He pro-
tested his innocence of the crime on being
apprehended. Only few days after his
arrest Captain Whipple's company came
to Lewiston. Fortunately, in the interest
Of justice, there were two men belonging
to that company who had known Bosqui in
California, he being a discharged soldier.
These men were brought to the Jail by
the sheriff to identify the prisoner. No
sooner had Bosqui set his eyes on the men
than he exclaimed, Well, it is no use for
me to deny it any longer" and his GOODNESS
and composure at once forsook him. From
all the circumstances Bosqui seems to be
the guilty party, and there will probably
be no difficulty in fastening the grave
crime on him. He is at present confined at
Lewiston, where he will be kept until the
arrival of requisition from the Governor
of California. Justice may slunber, but
she never dies, and criminals live TO find it
out.