Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25

ANOTHER VERsIoN.-Joshua Allen,
writing from Covelo to the Mendoc ino
Democrat gives the following account of
the Long Ridge tragedy:
Some time ago 7. w. Mcpherson, who
with his wife lived at Long Ridge, in
Trinity county, about 25 miles north of
this place, separated from his wife and
selling out his property here, left with
his two children, a boy about ii, and
girl about II, and went to HeRldsburg.
Mrs. McP after her hus sband had
left her, took up her residence with one
of her former neighbors, Paul Heryfords.
MIR. Mcpherson, apparently had left this
portion OF the country for good; but ON
Thursday the day previous to the homi
eide he was seen in our village and IN
tolmed parties in conversation, that he
was here tor the purpose of purchasing
beef cattle. On Thursday evening or
night he rode out to the hills, and nt or
about 1 O'Clock on Friday morning went
to Herytord's house, where his wife was
stopping. When Mcpherson first came
to the house he inquired where his wife
was Of Mrs. Herylord (Mr. II. being alb
sent) She informed him that she was
out; he then asked Mrs, ii. for drink OF
water, aad she left to get the water at
spring about 40 yards away. When she
returned, she saw in coming into the
house Mrs. Mcpherson and her husband
scuflling with a gun in his hands and her
trying to get the gun away from him.
Mrs. III screamed to Il hunter by the
name of Nafs (who happened to be there,
but was out when the difficulty took
place. to come to the house, that Mr.. Nc
l. l. :
IN, but just ms he got in Mrs. Mcpherson
succeeded in getting away from Mr.. McP.
who with Henry rife, deliberately shot
after life was extinct, when she lay on the
floor.
After he had killed his wife, he com
manded Nafs to pick his wiie's body up
and take her in the house and lay her on
the bed. Nafs complaining of being
weak from sickness, desired Mcpherson
to help. Mr.. Mp, setting his gun down
at handy place, took hold Of her feet
and helped Nafs pack her in. This be-
ing done, he came out took up his gun,
and said, Dead men tell no tales" and
as you will be here to testify against me
| guess | III kin you both. Nafs and Mrs
IL. begging so hard for their lives, he
seeing her little helpless children, and
having, as he said nothing especially
against them, he concluded 10 let them
live. Taking his gun, he started of, and
Nafs, as soCn as McP., was out of sight
started off also in another direction. Ma
It's having heard Mcpherson threaten the
lives of l.. B. Tuttle, j. d Wathen and
Paul Herytord, knowing Tuttle to be at
the sheep camp nearly ten miles distant
buried up in II roundabout way TO get
ahead of Mcpherson, to warn Tuttle
when he got there. Almost simutan-
eous with his arrival, messenger came
down and said that Mcpherson was up
at the cabin, 60 or 20 yards from the
shearng corral and wanted TO see Tuttle
Mt the cabin. Nahs then told the boys at
the camp ofthe homicide, and recon-
mended the arrest of Mcpherson. They
ser first the Dutchman sheep herder to
to the house for McPhersoD's gun. The
Dutehman succeeded in getting the gun
by telling Mr., Mcpherson that he wants
ed to kill deer. The boys then went to
the cabin, and upon getting near it, they
commanded Mcpherson, with presented
guns to throw up his hands. Mcpherson
ran to a white oak tree near the house
and opened fire on the boys, who in re-
turn shot him dead. Mcpherson has
generally borne good reputation here.
He LETT letter to his brother, written at
ter the murder Of his wife, in which he
told him he intended to kill futile, then
kill himself and wrote what he wished
done with his children.