Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-05
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
Shot in the Back and Left on the Rail
road Track.


creek bridge. The man, according to th'
dispatch, had evidently been shot and theI
laid on the track, in order that the bod,
might be mangled by passing tram ant
the murder remain undiscovered M
Coroner, accompanied by Chief OF Pohc
Jackson and Under Sheriff Coons. left TO
the scene of the murder by the freight tran
shortly after 8 o'clock. Arriving there
they found that
THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
As far as known were as follows Abou
$50, when it was getting quite dark, an ole
man named Thomas Downward. formerly
street-car driver in Sacramento, who wa
engaged in coal-burning near the station
heard five pistol shots-three in rapid sue
cession, as though fired from q selt-cocker
| and two a few seconds later-the sound ap
/ pearing to come from a locality about lU'
yards distant Accompanying the last two
I shots he heard a mans cries, seeming hk'
means. Starting toward the place wher
the sound of the shots came from, he hat
not gone far when he saw a man comm!
| toward him on fast Walk-almost a run
The man jumped over the fence, and as n
approached close Downward saw that h
carried
BLACK COAT ON HIS ARM.
In answer to question as to g What's tn
matter down there" the stranger replict
that two men were shooting at each other
and one was badly hurt. He did not stop
| but kept on in a direction that would atte
a while strike the road leading to Mr.. Hag
gins ranch. Downward, much frightened
ran to the cabin of the section foreman
| John J. Silva, and found that Mr.. Silva anC
his wife had heard the shots and the man,
cries. Silva attempted to get the section
Cinnamon to go with him to see whether
any one had been killed or injured, but fol
some time they refused. After while they
| agreed to go. and the whole party, armed
with two guns, went down the track, and
at the west end Of the bridge,
LYING ON THE TREsTLEwoRK,
Found man lifeless. The Chinaman
would not take hold of the body to remove
| it, and Silva was forced to get red lamp
and signal the express train when it came
along 1t stopped and the body was re,
moved to the roadside. When the train
reached Roseville word was sent TO the
| city. When the Coroner and officers ex-
amined the body they found three bullet
! holes i'll the back, close together, and there
may be other wounds, as the remains We're
not carefully examined. 1t was apparent
| that the deceased was either shot where he
| fell or had ran there afterwards as il was
not probable. or scarcely possible, that any,
one would have carried him out upon the
trestle, and, in fact, there was not time tC
do SO, if the man with the coat was tho
murderer.
THE DEAD MAN
Was about five feet six inches in hight
and would weigh $50 pounds. He was O
! fair complexion, blue eyes, sandy mus
tache and chin whiskers, hair and whisker>
| tinged with gray, and might be 40 years Of
age. He wore a dark suit, the pants nearly
new shoes fastened with buckles, pretty
well worn and half-soled; clean red stock,
ings, soft hands, but not clean, the finger
nails showing that he did not take mucl
care of them. His pockets contained {
| Mexican dollar, with hole in the center
! which had been plugged. The general APP
| pearance was that of Il gentee tramp. The
| officers heard that some one had reported
the appearance of
TWO MEN Vt THE HAGGIN RANCH
After the shooting, and that they would bC
| looked after. 1t was concluded best Il
! bring the body to the city by the frcigh
train that would reach Sacramento at 1920
A. NJ. and then the officers could procure
vehicle and return for a thorough search
! Accordingly the party came in on the train
and Jackson and COons left for the Grant
so as to reach Mr.. Mackey's headquarters
before daylight.
THE TWO MEN.
While the Coroner and the officers were
en- route for Arcade, Superintendent Mac
| key, having heard Of the murder, con
Guided that the men who had come to the
! ns1-.l
| bear watching, more especially as one O.
| them had 4 black coat on his arm when he
arrived, and he accordingly told his EN-,
| ployes 10 keep them in sight, and dis
| patched a messenger to the city to inform
! the police concerning them. his messenger
arriving ri the Station-house about 1870
| having left the ranch as the train by Whcl
| the otficerSwcre passengers arrived at Arcade
! The messenger reported that the men APP
peared at the ranch in company, and were
wet to the knees having missed the ROAD
and waded across the creek. They came
from the direction of the locality where the
shooting was done. One OF them seemed
to be insane. Mr. Mackay, it was under
stood from the message sent, would hay,
them watched until the officers arrived
and, if they did leave the ranch buildings
| being on foot. they could soon be caught
| If they are not the guilty parties, it is prob
| able that the right man viii be found be
| fore he travels far.
,f,-,,.,-,, ,.-oc-.r-n- A., in+ouioon
o,,1 100, I'll ,,,l;l,,., ,..a,,,I,1o.l -,
'''''' . '.'''''' ~ "''
ness me proceedings OF the Museum Asso
/ citation last night. The exhibition of tn
/ Lubin collection of coins. and the explana
/ tory remarks by Judge Armstrong. awak
| ened much interest The pathological dis
! cuSsion also engaged the attention of tn,
auditors to late hour T. W MaSiin Il
/ NJ Ciarken, Mrs. joseph StefJcns, Mrs J
| 4. Woodson, Rev A. c. Herrick. s. :
/ Lubin Mrs !. W. Armstrong, Mrs. :. :
Southworth and John T. Lucey wert
| elected members. MesSrs. Green Feltcl
taniS;effens were appointed 20 secure per
| uanent place of meeting. Chris. Greer
gave notice OF an amendment TO the law:
/ 10 admit of life membership. and u specia
meeting for Saturday night next was or
! dercd to consider it and other genera
/ business. Judge Armstrong was appointed
- pi,,e 'iig .,,go 3''''i& ; PaPt'%' -
DE other progressive business was done
and the proposed loan exhibition discusse,
ana letters offering loans were read
| 4 DESERVED Co,IPIT,rENr-lu speakins
49,, .;.-,,,l s-.,.;. ,,,.,.+,,- ,l,. Co. VII,
=" ''''' SCI ''' wv ,''S my
| I'd"'9S OF saturday says Alter TO-DAY
| we expect to get weather reports from the
| signal service Office at san Francisco. Tina
officer Will hereafter handle all weather
i F,,,- W.. l,,..