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

| 'oiJ Paie. i our reporter
has interviewed Niles, but he will Lot talk or
the subject Deputy Sheriff Bevin will start
Immediately for Lincoln and turn Niles over
to the officers of Placer county. Great
credit IS due Bevin for his prompt action. and
it is hoped by al that justice will be done
Later in the day the arresting officer. with
his prisoner, arrived at Lincoln. The follow.
ing special dispatches from that place give
the particulars of the events which followed
NILES NTERvIEwED-PARTIAL coSPFss1oy
LINCOLN, September 1Sth.-A. g. Niles.
the alleged murderer, has just been brought
here by Deputy Sheriff Bevin. of Wheatland,
where the arrest was made. The town is full
OF people, who have been brought to q high
state Of excitement by the horrid develop
ments of the past few days. These have been
increased by Niles admitting that he put
Singleton in the well where he was found.
but claims he was first killed by runaway
team. The evidence against Niles, which at
first was wholly circumstantial, now seems to
be conclusive
LINCOLN. September 1Ssh.-A number of
our prominent citizens went out towards
Wbeatland when the news of Niles arrest
was received here by telegram, to meet him
and escort him to this place, fearing that he
nigh. escape from the Deputy Sheriff who
had ham in charge, they knowing him to be
powerful man, and thinking that as he
neared the scene of the awful tragedy that
he might become desperate and attempt to
escape. They met him at Sheridan, and
there found him utterly broken in spirit and
ready to acknowledge that he buried the vic
tim in the well, but denying that he slew
him; but said that as they were riding home
they got into dispute on religious matters,
which was followed by an alteration, in
which Singleton struck him, and while
he was defending himself the horses
took fright and ran away, throwing
both of them out, stunning Niles, and that the
wheels passed over Singleton's head, smash
ing his skull. Niles said that after his recov.
cry from the shock he examined Singleton
and found him dead, and fearing that he
would not be believed in stating the above
facts, and that it would exhaust all the means
he had to defend himself in any criminal
charge, which he feared might be brought
against him, he concluded to throw him into
the old well near by, and fill it up, which he
did. The prisoner seems to be completely
broken down in spirit, and had long talk
with E. j. Sparks, member of the Board Of
Supervisors, giving him full and detailed
statement of the whole affair. Coroner Red
fern, who afterwards talked with Sparks,
says that the confession made to Sparks fully
corroborates all the facts developed at ths in.
quest. Sheriff Boggs and Constable Hotch-
kiss started for Auburn with the prisoner at
about 4:9O P. NJ, where he is now safely lodged
in Jail, and the people are satisfied to let the
law take its course.
A special representative of the RECORD
UNION, Immediately upon the arrival of Niles
at Auburn. sought an interview with the
prisoner and transmitted the report by tele-
graph at q late hour this morning.
INTERVIEW WITH A. s. NILS AT AUBURN BY
A SPECIAL REPORTER OF THE E" RECORD
UNION"
by Telegraph
AUBURN, September 1Ssh.-Your reporter
interviewed Niles in his cell this evening"
with but little success, since he had decided
to await the advice OF counsel. he is q ma.
tive of New York, aged 81, and weighs 1910
pounds. He came to California from Wis
consin twenty-five years ago, in company
with Singleton. He was married in Oregon
in 1873, though he has lived most of the time
ii Placer county. Being asked il i.
was true, as reported that he owed Singleton
81. 500 at the time of the latter's disappear
ance, he said it was not, but that he owed
him 500, which was the unpaid balance of a
note of $1,000, which he had given Singleton
without security for borrowed money. In
answer to the question, Have you anything
to say about the filling of your well 81 he re-
piled, "They know who filled it." Beyond
this he would not commit himself. He is a
stoutish, rather ruddy complexioned man of
more than average intelligence, apparently,
and his answers were given slowly and
thoughtfully. lie looks like a prosperous
farmer, and there is nothing in bis manner
calculated to lead one to suppose that he
was the
MURDERER OF CLOSE FRIEND.
He appeared somewhat concerned about the
arrest coming to the knowledge of his wife.
From Sheriff Boggs it is ascertained that
Niles denies numbering Singleton, and gives
this explanation: Niles and Singleton were
coming from Sheridan on the formers
wagon, which was loaded with barley. A
discussion arose about converts and their
management, but it is not intimated
that ary bad feeling was epgendered, al
though Singleton was Catholic. The latter,
however, for some reason not explained,
turned and suddenly caught Niles by the leg,
and this movement frightened the horses, the
animals being without blinkers. The two
men fell forward on the whifietrees, while
the team continued on. Niles, according to
his own story, went back to see to
lis companion, and found him bleeding
at the head, and at FIST thought he
WOO bus hot1OCu tua1 tuC
body was warm. He then pursued
the team and brought them back, when he
discovered that Singleton was dead. The
body was but four or five rods distant from
the well, and Niles, after some deliberation,
threw the body in and partly filled Up the
well. Upon Being questioned SIS to his mo-
tive in thus disposing of the body, he an
swered that by doing SO he saved the county
unnecessary expense. This is Niles expla
nation, as your reporter learns it from ths
lips of the Sheriff. A gold watch and othel
trinkets belonging to the murdered man ar,
reported to have found in Niles possession
when arrested. There was considerable feel
ing exhibited at Lincoln that boded no coed
for Niles, should he have remained there till
dark. The officers say that an effort would
have been made to take and lyrch him If be
had not been brought away before night.
s--=-rsz.=
The RECORD UNIoN's meet original story
acus urttten 5y Junius Renri BrorRe Of Near
York. 1t aeH appear IN tarenty instellnaeats,
commencing Norember l, 1881.