Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-19
Mu;RDER WILL OUT,

a
The murdsl,of Joseph Scott, policeman.
on Seventeenth and 1 streets, on the night If
December Z. 1873, is fresh in the minds OF
this community No trace of the murderers
could BE- ottainei Several arrests were
made, but for months the entire occurrence
was shroudei In mystery. The best detective
ability in the State was employed, and the
officers of tbs, law left no stone unturned in
trying to find who the guilty parties were. The
whole thing might have forever remained
mystery had not a convict 10 San q lentin In
moment OF rage accused one of his fellow
prisoners of the murder of Scott. This led to
an investigation, and it was ascertained that
three of the cur men who were interested In
the murder Of Scott were then in the State
Prison, each sentenced TO term of years. As
the terms of their sentences were drawing to
close. the Officers to whom the case had
been intrusted brought to this city few
weeks ago the three prisoners referred to and
lodged theoi in the city prison. Their
names are William Anderson, james OBrien
alias Finn, 9aud Thomas Hamilton. They
were locked in separate cells and not
allowed to see and communicate with one
another. Since their arrival here the detect
ives have worked upon them constantly, en-
dva 1oTiIig - get a confession, and yesterday
their efforts were crowned with success.
Yesterday James Hamilton made long,
complete and it is believed truthful statement
of the whole affair to Charles Z. Jones
and District Attorney Henry l.. Buckley,
In the presence OF Winfield j. Davis, the
official Court reporter. His statement is
lergthy, full OF small detsilr, and took him
three hours to deliver it. The statement in
regard to the murder is substantially as fol-
lows: "On the 7Lh of December, 1878,
William Ande son, james O'Briep, Ed
die Edwards and myself stole
ride on the cars from Lincoln
to Sacramento. We jumped off the cars
near Agricultural Park, and, attracted by
the light made by the burning Protestant
Orphsn Asylum, we started to go to it on
Seventeenth street. As we were travelling
together during toe day We had made up our
minds-all of us being broke-that we would
hang somebody up in the city as soon as
we reached there, and get some money to buy
food and whisky. When We reached Seven.
teenth and l streets We saw a man coming
along with lady, and we crossed the street,
intending to rob him. The man SHE'D off
from US, and, fearing that the woman would
'Equeai aud give us away, we gave it up as a
bad JOB. Shortly afterwards we saw officer
Joe Scott, although We were not aware that
he was an officer, coming up on the west side
of Seventeenth street toward l. We had a
short hurried conversation and decided TO
hang him up Edwards and Anderson
went across the street to stop and rob him,
and O'Brien and remained on the opposite
side ready TO render assistance if it was re-
quired. They stopped Scott, ordered his
hands up and demanded his money. Scott,
by his actions. manifested no inclination
hand for his pistol. Edwards, think
ing Scott intended drawing a weapon
shot him. The shot, as you well know, was
fatal one. He threw his hand to his breast.
ran few feet, reeled moaning, and fell dead.
Tie sight OF the dead. the rashness OF the act
and the thoughts of detection ali excited q
fear within US that caused US, without top.
ping to rob the dead man, to run away from
the scene OF the murder rs fast as our legs
would carry us.. We passed through the
southeastern portion OF the city, and within a
few hours ffoin the tims we had entered the
ciEy by railroad on the north side Of the city,
we had left it by the uppsr Stock
ton road On the south side. ThiS,ins that
officers might get on cur track, and that
We might be arrested and brought back to
the city, we hid ourselves during the day time
and Travelled entirely by Ms ht. We in few
days reached Stockton, but went aZound the
city instead Of going through it. Having nc
money, We committed thefts and burgiaries
Santa Rosa we were arrested and convicted
of various burglsries, and sent to the State
Prison." Last evening, about 0 o'clock, the
hour at which Scott was murdered,
the officers aud attorneys teok Hsmii-
ton in hack to Seventeenth and streets,
the scene of the murder. On his arrival
at the tragic spot be poilted out the posi-
tons occupied by the murdered man and the
murderer, and again T, psated portions Of the
confession made at the prison. Thus after
four years ara tie murderers brought back
and made to confess. One of them, in hopes
of judicial clemeIcy, makes a clean breast
and tells now his companions shot down in
cold blood one Of our best and most respected
citizens. Eddie Edwards, the one who is
said to have done the shooting, is not in Cali
foraia, bat the officers say ne is in place
where he can he got at any time. Report has
il that he is imprisoned at Sing Sing, in New
York