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

! Shot in the Back ana Leu oh '"S i
road Track.
Coroner Clark received a telephone
message from the railroad office last even
ing, stating that the express tram whlch
left here at 7:30 for the East was tagged by
the section man at Arcade, in consequence
of the body of man being found lying
across the rails at the west end OF Arcade
creek bridge. The man, according to the
dispatch. had evidently been shot and then
laid on the track in order that the body
might be mangled by passing train and
the murder remain undiscovered. The
| Coroner, accompanied by Chief OF Ponce
Jackson and Under Sheriff CoOns, lett Tor
the scene of the murder by the freight train
shortly after 9 O'clock. Arriving there,
they found that
THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
As far as known, were as follows About
$50, when it was getting quite dark, an old
man named Thomas Downward, formerly
street-car driver in Sacramento, who was
engaged in coal-burning near the station,
| heard five pistol shots-three IN rapid sue
cession, as though fired from a self-cocker,
and two few seconds later-the sound ap-
+ pearing to come from q locality about 100
yards distant. Accompanying the last two
shots he heard a mans cries, seeming like
means. Starting toward the place where
| the sound of the shots came FROM he had
not gone far when he saw man coming
toward him on fast walk-almOst run.
! The man jumped over the fence, and as lie
approached close Downward saw that he
carried a
BLACK COAT on HIS ARM.
In answer to question as to " What's the
matter down there? the stranger replied
that two men were shooting at each other,
and one was badly hurt He did not stop,
! but kept on in q direction that would after
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 and
his wife had heard the shots and the mans
| cries Silva attempted to get the section
| Cinnamon to go with him to see whether
any one had been killed or injured, but for
some time they refused. After while they
agreed to 90 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 a 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 were
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 10
do so, if the man with the coat was the
murderer.
THE DEAD MAN
Was about five feet six inches in hight,
and would weigh $50 pounds. He was of
fair complexion, blue eyes, sandy mus
tache and chin whiskers, hair and whislers
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 much
care of them. His pockets contained
Mexican dollar, with a hole in the center
which had been plugged. The general APP
pearance was that of 4 genteel 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 be
looked after. 1t was concluded best to
bring the body to the city by the freight
train that would reach Sacramento at 1920
A. NJ, and then the officers could procure q
vehicle and return for 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 Mae
KEY, having heard of the murder, con-
Guided that the men who had come to the
ranch and asked to stay over night, would
bear watching, more especially as one of
them had black coat on his arm when he
arrived. and he accordingly told his en-
ploycs to keep them in sight, and dis
patched a messenger to the city to inform
! the police concerning them. his messenger
arriving ii the station house about 1880
having left the ranch rs the train by which
the offCerSWCTe ngerSarrived 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 wadcd across the creek. They came
from the direction of the locality where the
shooting was done One OF them seemed
to be insane. Mr.. MacAay. it was under
stood from the message sent, would have
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 will be found be-
fore he travels far.