Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-19
He WAS MURDERED
The Mystery of a kissing
Man Cleared Up.
4 Grave Over Twenty Feet Deep
Reveals a Murder.
The Body of James Singleton Found
at the Bottom of Well Near
Lincoln, Placer County,
The Arrest of His Murderer, A..
S. Niles, Near Wheatland.
Ths Coroner's Inquest-The Corouer's
Jury Charge a. s. Niles
With Murder.
Intense Excitement at Lincoln
and Whaatland.
Interview with A. s. Niles in Auburn
Jail by a Special Reporter of
the Record. Union"
The Arrest of His Murderer, A.
S. Niles, Near Wheatland.
Ths Coroner's Inquest-The Coroner's
Jury Charge A. s. Niles
With Murder.
Intense Excitement at Lincoln
and Whaatland.
Interview with A. s. Niles in Auburn
Jail by Special Reporter of
the Record. Union"

Sometime in the month of November, 1876,
James Singleton, well-known citizen Of
Lincoln, Placer county, suddenly disappeared.
The mystery surrounding this disappearance
appeared unfathomable. The publications of
the time note the circumstance at first under
startling headlines, which diminish gradually
as time wears on, and with final obscure
paragraph to the effect that nothing more
concerning the matter is ever likely to be
known, the matter is lost TO view. It was
but one Of the many hundred cases of "a
missing man " which attract the attention in
headlines in turning the files of daily paper,
and as such the waters OF silence and forgetful.
ness had apparently closed over it forever.
were waiting the startling revelations of
truth, as it was slowly but surely working its
way from the profound depths of dark mys.
terry into the aveneing light. All these years
the corpse Of James Singleton lay buried in a
rsveovertwenty feet deer, where his murl lerer
had hid it from view, vainly hoping that the
earth would keep his dread secret safe. All
these years the murderer of James Singleton
has looked into the faces of the searchers for
the missing man, with the bloody secret of
his fate buried deep in his guilty heart But
the deepest grave cannot hide the truth from
avenging justice. At last the earth has told
its secret, and the mystery surrounding the
disappearance of James Singleton stands re-
yealed as one of the foulest murders in all the
criminal annals of this State. For several
days the RECORD UNION has been in posses
sion of the suspicious and facts, but has re-
fiAiaed from publication of them in the in
terest of justice. On yesterday the murderer
of James Singleton was arrested, and the
thrilling chapter of horror may now be laid
before the public. The special reporter of
the RECORD UNION, who was detailed to work
up this case, returned from Lincoln yestsr-
day, bringing the full detailed accounts Of
the tinding OF the body of James Singleton,
the steps in progress for the arrest of A. s.
Niles, the murderer, and the full transcript
tion of the testimony taken before the Cor
oner's inquest, which follow.
THE TERRIBLE DETAILS.
The facts in relation to this terrible affair,
and the parties unfortunately connected with
it, ara as follows In the year 1851 or 1862
Ambrose S. Niles and james Singleton, then
friends and neighbors in Wisconsin, came
overland across the continent together, max
ing the trip with teams, at that time the only
method Of overland travel. Having arrived
upon this coast, they soon after located near
each ether in the vicinity of Lincoln and CON-
tinued fast friends. Niles here pre-empted
piece of land about four miles west OF Lin
coin, and settled upon it, while Singleton, to
remain near by and enjoy the associations of
his cid neighbor, entered as 9 Farmland
in the employ of Hollis Newton. who owned
and resided upon the adjoining ranch.
They lived side by side until about
1864, vhen Singleton, wishing to see more of
the coast and faster increase his fortune, took
a trip, during which he went to Nevada.
He returned, however, a few months subse-
quertly, and after visiting his old friend
Niles, again went to work for Mr.. Newton
and remained with Kim about three years.
Meantime, Singleton, by industry and from
being man Of good and economical habits,
had saved up quite a snug little sum OF
money, all Of which, at Niles request, was
loaned By Singleton to him. To this was
added his subsequent earnings, until he held
the obligations of Niles for sum between
two and thee thousand dollars, but the exact
amount of which is not thus far known.
Singleton subsequently came to Sacramento,
and was employed at Tolls livery stable, on
K street, between Sixth and Seventh, two or
three years and was afterwards connected
with one or two other livery stables in the
CITY. From this time to the fatal occurrence
in 1876, his place of residence was divided be-
tween Sacramento and Oakland, occasionally
goirg to Lincoln and remaining few weeks
at time, stopping with Newton, Niles, and
with other acquaintances.
TIE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
OF Singleton occurred in 1876. For some
little time previous it was known by several
of Sineleson's friends thst he had asked Niles
tor the money uuc run Nun, ono ASAs soinS-
what uneasy abou. its security. He had writ
ten to parties to ascertain the condition Of
Niles affairs, and conversed with others.
Finally in the latter part of November. 1876,
be yensto Lincoln to collect the money, and
so informed two or three of his more intimate
friends upon reaching there. He arrived at
Lacoln by the afternoon train from Saera-
mento, and took dinner in town with an old
friend, promising to return and see them
again in two or three days. After conversing
with other parties, and remaining in town
two or three hours, he went to Niles place,
riding with q party who lived il the neighbor-
hood. He was invited that afternoon to visit
at two or three Of the neighbors during bis
stay, and promised appointments to do so,
setting the times two or three days subse-
quent. He was to join in Thanksgiving
dinner, which occasion was near st hand, with
the family of Mr.. Reeves. near neighbor of
Niles and arranged to board there in case he
was delayed in obtaining his money from
Niles. Singleton not answering to any of
these engagements, and not being seen any
where. the query was raised among the
neighhors within thrss. or four days in rela-
ton to his whereabouts. It was known that