Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-06
Chico Butchers In Trouble -Arrested for
Stealing Cattle.

CHICO January 5sh.-Some two weeks ago
r. A. Chamberlin and his brother, j. Il.
Chanberlin. were arrested on warrant
charged with stealing two head of cattle be-
longing to Mrs. Hannah Ware, who lives
about eighteen miles from Chico, on the Dog
town road the Chamberlins gave bail for
their appearance before Justice A. allet for
examination. R. A. Chamberlin and his
brother have been butchers in Chico for
about six years. have a fine business, large
sheep range and 5000 head of Sheep about
sixteen miles from Chico on the Dogtown
ridge. The case has excited considerable in
terest among farmers, stock men and butch
ers in this section, the latter claim
Jag that the Chamberlins were uuderselling
them. Many of these had lost cattle which
never were accounted for, and they had been
watching an opportunity to catch the tnle1.
For some months they had San francisco
detective on the track, but it was left for cur
local detectives, Constables True aRd Miller,
TO start in with this case. Melvin Moe and
George Donovan were two OF this gang OF
cattle thieves, and both are now in San Quen-
Tin. SUSPICION attached to the Chsmberlin
brothers from their intimacy with Donovan
and Moe, both before and during their trial.
and the fact that the theft of the two cattle
from John Leininger by Moe few
months ago was so soon found Out,
and the hides of the slaughtered
animals found 10 Chamberlin Brothers
corral, and the Chamberlins readiness to pay
Leininger for the damage, confirmed the sus-
picion, and active measures were taken to
watch further developments. The stealing OF
the Ware cattle was known at the time, or
shortly after they were driven OFF, apo, as
the prosecution claim, were driven OH by j.
T. Chamberlin, with the assistance of
nephew named Wheeler. This the prose-
l. okl ~ hzyn
tent witnesses, who saw them at different
points on the road, and the finding of the
hides and the ears at the slaughter-house of
the Chamberlins The complaint was not
made Immediately when the theft was
discovered, as Constables Miller aud
True suggested that they be allowed
to carry out the theft to the end
by slaughteTing the animals and disposing OF
the same for their own benefit. The examI-
nation commenced this morning. and William
Ware was on the stand for several hours.
His evidence went to prove his knowledge OF
the cattle stolen, and his Identification of the
hides and ears found in the corral belonging
TO the cattle stolen from his mother. Mrs.
Hannah Ware, the owner of the cattle. de-
scsibed the cattle she owned, and also those
she had lost. James Cory was also exam
ined, and stated that be had worked for Mrs.
Ware, was well acquainted with the cattle
she owned, and aIsU thai ne h99 seen Two
head of her cattle in the possession of j. L.
Chamberlin, who was driving them on the
road on the 26th of last November. The
witnesses were subjected to rigid cross
examination by the attorneys for defense, but
their testimony was mistaken. The defense
claim that they will be able to prove that
they bought the cattle from a man named
Peg Leg johnson, of Big Meadows. AS be-
fore mentioned, the stock men have joined
together in the prosecution of this case, and
hired two extra attorneys to assist the prose-
cution, District Attorney C. G. Warren being
assisted by T. C. Lusk and Park Henshaw.
Collins AID J. L. DAILY. There are some
twenty or thirty witnesses to be examined,
and two or three days will be consumed in
the examination.