Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-09-28
MURDER IN BUTTE COUNTY
Attempt at Vengeance by a I is
honored Husband.
THEWRoNG MAN SHOT AND KILLED
The Coroner's Statement Of
the Murderer.
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rrcoHD-uslosl

ORoEILLE, September 27th.-A terrible
murder was committed at the Espy place,
on the Forbestown road, about twelve miles
above here, last evening about o'clock. j.
B. Espy had been in town during ths day,
attending the obsequies of the President, end
on his return home was accompanied BY
James S. Andrews, young man of %,
son of james L. Andrews, living near
his place. Arriving at home, and while
they were unhitching the horses, gun was
fred. and young Andrews, exclaiming, "Oh.
my God :" fell dead. By the fash of the gun
Espy recognized 4. r. Sproul, who had been
working for him, as having fred the fatal
ahot, and believing himself to have been tie
intended victim, Immediately fed to a neigh
boris house and gave the alarm. The neigh
Dor at once came to town and procured
warrant for the arrest of Sproul, and just as
the Sheriff was ready TO start policeman
Parks arrived at the jail with Sproul, who
had come to town, and finding Parks on the
street gave himself up, saying lie had shot
and killed Espy. When told who he had
killed he staggered against the wall of the
jail, and was entirely overcome. The Cor.
oner is now out holding an inquest, and no
further particulars are yet received. Sproul
has a wife and three children. Espy is also
a man of family Andrews is q single man.
Domestic difficulty is supposed to have
prompted the shooting, though nothing is yet
definitely known.
SECOND DISPATcH.l
ORovILLE, September 27th.-The Coroner's
inquest on the boiy of James Andrews shot
by E. r. Sproul, found that he had been shot
twice with double-barreled shotgun-once
under the left arm. close up, and once in the
right side about the tenth rib-either wound
being fatal, and that the shots wers fired by
E. r. Sproul, with intent to kill j, B. Espy.
STATEMENT OF THE MURDERER.
Your correspondent had brief interview
with the prisoner this evening in the Jail, and
he expressed an entire willingness to tell the
entire story of his wrongs and the shooting.
A brief statement Of his story is that he has
been for some time in the employ of Espy
az his summer ranch at Franklin
Hall. in Plumas county that last
winter he arranged with Espy
to keep his family at the home
place, where ths shooting occurred, he to pay
monthly stipend for their keeping during
the winter, while he was away at work to
earn living for them that at this time and
place Espy succeeded .in se5ucing his wife
that last spring she returned to him tSproul)
to Franklin Hill, where they have since re-
sided that only week ago he first discov-
cred his dishonor, and that he then told Espy,
who vas then there, 10 never again speak to
him or his wife, or he would kill him on
sight; that day or SO after he discovered by
an Intercepted letter that his wife and Espy
had arranged for a correspondence under as-
sumed names that thi5 50 maddsned him that
he at once started on foot for Espy's place
about seventy miles away, with the full in,
tent to kill him on sight. He arrived ct the
place after dark, and by inquiry of neigh
Dor had learned Espy's whereabouts, and
that be was shortly expected home He
posted himself by the stable. and shortly the
wagon drove up, and the person driving got
out and unhitched the team, and then stood
waiting for some time before putting the
horses away that when he started TO do So,
he (Sproul) stepped out and fred at him
twice, and he fell, and that he then started
for town to give himself up He said he had
no idea of trying to conceal his crime that
he desired to have met and shot Epsy in
broad daylight. He is very much affected
over
HIS FATAL MISTAKE,
And breaks down in conversation when al
luding to it, It appears that Espy was
warned of his intent, and that when he and
young Andrews got within about 200 yards
of his place he got out and allowed Andrews
to dive up to the barn alone, though Espy
claims that he told Andrews why be did so,
and Andrews replied that he had no reason to
fear, as Sproul had nothing against him.
The shooting occurred about o'clock P. N.
Sproul does not attempt to deny or palliate
the offense, except to regret his terrible mis-
take in the darkness.
The prisoners preliminary examination is
set for next Thursday.
The funeral of Andrews will take place to-
There are some whisperings of lynching.
but it is not thought to be serious.