Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-04
A TRAGEDY IN CALIFORNIA.

/
: A TRAGEDY In CALIFORNIA.
| A Robbery and ITS Terrible Puniah-
meDt-FiVe Mexican Randtts TAX
en from the BHkeFAfIeld jail ana
hanged
Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.l
BAKERSFIELD, CAL, December
%. -0n December 16, after dark, a
party of eight Mexicans, two
mounted and six on foot, made a
raid on the town of Caliente, near
Santa Ana. They first proceeded
to corral near the station and cut
by force from the attendants sew
eral fine horses. The next point
Of robbery was store, in which is
located the postofice. Here they
took entire possession and appro-
priated everything that plea.ed
their fancy. In the drawer was a
small amount of coin, which they
carried off. The postmaster, with
great presence of mind, coolIy threw
a pile Of greenbacks which he held
in his hand into a waste basket be-
lore the very eyes of the robbers,
who did not detect the trick. After
taking all they desired, a rush was
made for Wells, Fargo & Co. 3 Of
fee, across the street, but the agent
had taken the alarm and locked
the money and valuables in the
safe and fled to the mountains with
the key in his possession. There
is usually a large amount of gold
dust, etc, in the express offics at
this point awaiting shipment to San
Francisco, and the timely flight of
the agent saved the company from a
heavy loss. Having obtained every
thing they could in the shape of
money, yaluables, horses, and pro-
visions, the troop started off in the
direction of Iyanpah mountains, it
was supposed, on their way to Mex,
leo, mounted.
THE CAPTURE.
Several parties we're sent out in
pursuit, and one of them, from
Bakersfield, stopped at John Mil
ler's ranch, on the Trejon trail,
twelve miles above Newhall, on.
Tuesday night. On Wednesday
morning two of the robbers came
from their camp near there to the
house to get some coffee, and were
captured. A short time after a
third came, and he was also taken
in. The Bakersfield men then left
two of their number to guard those
captured, and the balance of the
party went to the camp of the rob-
bers and captured two more. There
were six of the gang, and only one
escaped. Those captured had very
little money. 1t is supposed that
the one not captured had most of
the money with him.
LYNCHED.
Last night, between sundown
and dark, the five Mexicans were
broughtinto town by James Young,
w. L. Kennedy and Others, and
lodged in jail. The news of their
capture spread over the town at
once, and created much excitement
during the evening, 1t began to be
whispered about that violence was
anticipated, and this coming to
Under-Sheriff Lightner's ears, he
went up to the Jail, and, having
first locked all the cells and outer
doors, deposited the keys in the
safe, locked it with a combination
that no one understands but him
self, and carried the safe.key with
him. Between one and two O'clock
this Saturday. morning eight men
went up to the courthouse and de-
manded the keys of Deputy.Sheriff
Fountain. He told them they were
locked up in the vault of the safe.
and that he did not have the KEY.
They then caught him and took
from his pockets his private keys,
but, not finding the Jail keys or the
key to the vault of the safe, they
sent a committee of three after
Under-Sheriff Lightner. He was
called out of his house Just as he
was getting ready fer bed and told
that be must 60 aud open the safe,
but he declined, saying that he
would not think Of 1t, and nothing
could induce him to do it, Find
ing they could do nothing with
I "a ffft