Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-14
LOWELL'S ASSASSINS.
JOHN HENRY MYERS SAYS HE
FIRED THE FATAL SHOT.
While the Old Man is Cooking Their
Breakfast They Deliberately
Plan His Murder.

Officer Farrell arrived from Los Angeles
at $50 last evening, having in custody John
Henry Myers. who was arrested at Tehach.
api, and who is one of the men charged with
the murder of old John Lowell at hi:
ranch in FL Dorado county, about seven
miles from Folsom The story of the old
man being missing, the finding of his body
the arrest of the three men-Wm. Drager
John Olsen and Myers-has been published
in detail in the RECORD UNION and is toe
fresh in the minds of the public to need
repetition.
The confession of Olsen, which was pub.
lished first in this paper yesterday morn
ing, created profound sensation, and the
greatest interest was manifested in what
Myers would have to say when he arrived.
He had been interviewed in Los Angeles
and had denied all knowledge of the muir
der of Lowell, even claiming that he had
not heard of it until after his arrest. He
acknowledged selling the horses, but
claimed that he sold them for Lowell, who
paid him for his services, and that he
turned over to Lowell 5000, as the proceeds
of the sales he made
ARRIVAL OF MYERS.
When the Los Angeles train arrived the
depot platform was crowded with people
who had assembled in the hope of getting
sight of the murderer. Officer Farrell
was met at the train by officers Arlington
and O'Meara, and Myers was placed in a
hack which was driven rapidly to the City
Prison. Here another large crowd was as
sembled, but they could only get glimpse
of fhar h 1-1I i
walk to Chief Lees Office. He is an insig-
nificant-looking man, about five feet seven
or eight inches in hight, with low fore
head, grayish eyes and sandy complexion
There is defect in one of his eyes, which
gives him forbidding appearance.
QUESTIONING THE PRISONER.
Myers was conducted to Chief Lees
Office, where he was questioned by the
Chief and Captain Karcher in the presence
of Mayor Gregory, ex-City Attorney Hart
and half dozen newspaper reporters.
He at first commenced to repeat the
same story that he had told in Los Angeles.
But the adroit questioning of Chief Lee
soon brought him to point where he broke
down completely and confessed that he
killed Lowell in pursuance of an agree
ment between himself. Drager and Olsen.
In answer to questions put to him, he
said that he left Sacramento about ten or
eleven weeks ago and went straight to Los
Angeles, not stopping at San Francisco
He remembered going up to Loweil's
ranch; only took one day in going.
Here Chief Lee interrupted him and in
formed him that he was not compelled to
say anything, and that whatever state
ment he made would be voluntary.
He said he went up to Lowell's ranch
with Olsen and man called Bill, a Ger
man, whose other name he did not know.
Chief Lee-Just go on and tell US all you
know about it.
Twenty-seventh street. He wanted to 90
to town, and asked me if had anything to
do. l said no, not for while; l was look
ing for work. He said he would like to
sell these horses He told me that about
couple of months before He said he
had bad name. all over, and wanted me
to sell the horses. He needed some money
and he would like to sell the Lowell ranch
because he had some neighbors over there
that had burned his house down last wear.
He said | was pretty well acquainted all
over and understood as much about horses
as he did, and he wanted me to sell the
horses for him, and said, =" All right, any
time you say will come and get them and
sell them" He said l could not do it alone,
and L said no, will bring John up and an
other fellow to help me get the horses, and
he said all right
Chief Lee-Who do you mean by John !?
Myers-John Olsen.
Chief Leland Bill Drager?
Myers-Yes. Lowell said ''all right" l
cannot remember the day we went, but |
think it was Sunday morning when we got
back to the grant. l think we left Friday.
Lowell said he heard there was pretty good
prices going at Woodland for horses, and
he thought | had better go there first. |
said "all right" Then we went first to
Woodland and l advertised them two or
three days and only sold one horse We
stopped at Chris. Sieber's. | registered all
the names. Put down my own name, and
the names the others gave me. Don't
know what names they gave, but it was not
their own names.
NEARING THE POINT.
Chief Lee-When you got up to Lowell 2
ranch did he cook breakfast for you that
morning?
Myers-Yes.
Chief Lee-Did you all breakfast together
all four of you?
Myers-Yes.
Chief Lee-That is, Drager, Olsen, Low
eli and yourself?
Myers-Yes.
Chief Lee-Then you went out to look at
the ranch?
Myers-Yes.
Chief Lee-Go on now and tell us what
occurred then.
Here the prisoner hesitated, seemed to
choke up and hung his head in silence.
Chief Lee-Now tell the truth, Myers.
hot III,
went out on the ranch with Lowell?
Myers-I have to think about it first
Chief Lee-Well, who killed Lowell .?
You might as well tell the truth, for | know
it.
Again Myers hesitated and there was a
painful silence, which was broken by Cap
tain Karcher telling the prisoner that be
had had time enough to think, and that he
had better go on and answer the question.
Still the prisoner hesitated, and the Chief
asked; Then you walked around the
ranch, didn't your"
Myers-Yes.
Chief Lee-Then who killed Lowell?
Another long wait and no answer, though
Captain Karcher urged Myers to speak
Karcher-Didn't you have Lowell's gun
with you?
Myers-Yes, guess so. L had a couple
of guns at that time.
Karcher-Did you have Lowell's gun
that you borrowed from him at the KIotz
ranch; the one that was wrapped with
wire?
Myers-Yes.
Karcher-Is that the gun you fired at
Lowell?
Myers don't know l could not tell
coNFEssEs THE SHOOTING.
Lee-Myers, wasn't you, Lowell and
Drager walking together, and wasn't Olsen
a little way ahead of you when you fired
the gun?
Myers-No.
Lee-Where was Olsen when the gun
was fired?
Myers-He was standing right along side
of me.
Lee-He was standing along side of you
when you fired the shot. Who hit him
after he fell? You might as well tell the
whole truth. l want to tell you now that