Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-19

of the well. I helped to carry them
out. and examined them, and searched
the pockets. l found three pieces Of
small copper coin in his pockets. There
was also watch key and small-sizsd pen.
knife. These were all in his vest pocket
In the fine earth which dropped from the
skeleton we found cuff button and small
shirt-stud. To the best of my opinion the
clothes-coat, vest, pants and boots-were the
same that Singleton had ON when he left my
house. l remember the overcast well, as ]
laughed at him about carrying such a heavy
one, and he said it was useful where he came
from. He had the same overcoat on when
we found him this morning. examined the
skull after it was taken out, or the pieces that
are left of it. There was hole in one piece
of the skull, and blood upon it showed very
plain and fresh when it was first taken out
Of the earth. The skull was badly fractured
and found in pieces. When Singleton form.
erly left here he asked me, as friend, to
keep watch as to Niles financial matters,
and if they did not seem all right, or if he
was liable to be attached, to telegraph or
drop him note. He subsequently wrote
me about the same subject, as my wife has
testified. think the remains found are
those of James Singleton. He was abou:
feet 6 inches high; was as or 80 years oId,
and getting gray somewhat; had few, if any
upper teeth in front. He was fine man, of
good habits, and well thought of by every
body.
JOHN CROOK
Was the next witness, and testified as fol-
lows: I knew James Singleton last saw him
about FIVE years ago saw him in Lincoln and
talked with him. He had an overcoat on his
arm; I remember that, as it was warm
weather; it was a kind of brown oyercoat ;
did not pay any attention tohis other clothes.
The overcoat taken out with the remains
looks like the same oue. never saw Single
ton afterwards, and supposed he was in Ari-
IONA until this morning; had got that i'm
preston from remarks that have been made,
C. d. ALDBICH
Sworn knew Jas. Singleton. Don't think [
saw him when he last visited Lincoln, about
five years ago. He was small man I knew
him intimately and met him very frequently
when I would go to Sacramento he was at
Tolls livery stable, near the Capitol Hotel,
on K street, between Sixth and Seventh, in
that city. The last two or three talks we
had our general conversation would be upon
the financial standing in the neighborhood of
Niles. Newton and Reeves. He expressed to
me. as recollect it, that he had 5000 or
upwards loaned out in that neighborhood.
He spoke of MIR. Niles as having
considerable or nearly all of his money,
and as if dissatisfied about it. He expressed
no concern about what he had loaned out
there, except what Mr.. Niles had. and, from
his talk, should infer that Niles had the
greater portion of it. He declared his inten-
tol of getting his pay from Niles as soon as he
could. Singleton was an excellent man, so far
a. ii knew him. and of good and sober habits.
think had conversation with him in Sac
ramento but a short time before he came to
Lincoln the last time, and he then said he
was going to get his Fay from Niles and put
it where it was safer. saw the remains
when examined this mornir e, and Those clothe
seem very bright to my recollection. think
the remains are those Of Mr.. Singleton.
think so from the absence of upper teeth, the
arrangement of the lower ones and size Of the
body. examined the skull when the ex-
humation was made It was completely
broken up, and looked asifitwasstove to pieces
by some heavy instrument. Taers was Aothiag
in the we'll which would have produced this
effect if he had fallen in there, and my opin-
ion is that it was done and the body thrown
in afterwards. Tie body I should say was
found about eighteen feet below tbs surface
of the ground,Hn the well which has just been
reopened. This we'll was on the promises
formerly owned by Mr.. Niles. The owner
ship of the place changed hands about ten OF
twelve months ago, MIR. Niles selling to Mr..
Newton. have heard this matter talked Of
quietly for the last four years, and have ad.
vissd with others about it during that time.
l understand that A. s. Niles had the well
filed up by one of his hired men. Ddfins
the four years or more when this matter has
been talked of and considered by the neigh
bors, all the circumstances put together
pointed, it was thought, to the belief that
Niles had put him out of the way.
HOLLIS NEWTON
Testified: 1 was well acquainted with
James Singleton. became acquainted with
him about the year 1862, when he first arrived
in the country. After he had been here
awhile he went to work for me, and after
working about one year went to Virginia
City, Nevada, and remained there about nine
months. He then came back and worked fo1
me about three years. After knocking about
awhile he went to work at Tolls livery stable,
in Sacramento. He worked there two years
or more and then went to another livery
stable in Sacramento and worked year CT
so, and then went down to Oakland and into
the lower counties. sort of resting up. After
that he was at Lincoln, off and on. He was
an Irishman by birth. He and Mr.. Niles
came from Wisconsin, overland, together, in
about 1861 or 1862. They were neighbors there
before they came to this coast. Sipgleter
was 80 to 55 years OF age. He was about
FIVE feet six inches in hight, hair light brown
and whiskers sandy. He wore number six
boot, generally of fiue quality. have pur.
chased boots for him and know about the
size. He wore number seven coarse boot
As went to where they were digging out
the well yesterday they said they had struck
the leg of man. said right away, " II it's
Jim Singleton you will find be had very poor
teeth, with one OF two old snass in front in
the upper jaw and, said I, he wears a No.
6 boot il it's him." When dug up we found it
as I have said. The well where he was had
been caved in and was abandoned. 1t caved
in two or three times, aud Niles tried to
FIX it, and when it caved in the last time
he abandoned it. Singleton was after
wards placed in the well, and it was filled
up. am satisfied that he was placed there,
and that he did not fall in. He laid on his
left side. with his feet drawn up somewhat
His left arm was under him rs far as to the
elbow, and then extended in front, ard his
right arm was evidently left lying along on
top of the body. The remains were about
twenty feet below the top of the ground
and were covered with boards. The
boards were laid so that when tie