Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-04
FOULLY MURDERED.
John Lowelps Body Found Rolled Up in
Canvas.

canvas.
The dead body of John Lowell was found
on his ranch about seven miles from Fol
som, in Ell Dorado county, on Saturday
afternoon. He had been missing for The
past three months. A couple of weeks age
the REcoRD-UNI mentioned the fact thai
there was some suspicion that he had beer
foully dealt with. Lowell lived most o.
the time on small place which he owned
just east of the city, and about three
months ago he started from there in 6
wagon with the intention of visiting his
place above Folsom. Though he did not re-
turn 1t does not appear that any search was
made for him until about two weeks ago
when his SOD, William Lowell, formerly {
policeman in this city, went up to the
ranch to see if he could learn anything o.
his whereabouts. On his return he stated
that he had found the wagon in which hi:
father went up to the ranch, but no ons
had seen anything of the missing man
Kumors were then afioat that the old mar
had been put out of the way by certain
parties who owned adjoining lands, and
Win whom he was having some difficulty
over division fence.
On Saturday William Wubbena and bis
father went to the ranch to remove an old
wlndlass from a well on the place
The well stood near the site of 8
house which was burned down some seven
or eight months ago. They noticed very
disagreeable odor arising from the cellar
and upon investigation as to the cause
found Lowell's body buried in the rubbish
in the cellar. II had been rolled up in a
piece of canvas, and was in an advanced
state CT decomposition.
Yesterday morning Coroner Frank Clark
County Physician White, District Attorney
Bruner, Trustee Wolf and William Lowell
(son of the deceased) went up 10 Folsom
the former expecting to hold an inquest
On their arrival at Folsom they ascertained
that the body was found three miles be.
yond the line of FL Dorado county, and
that the officers of Sacramento county had
no jurisdiction in the matter. The officials
therefore returned to the city last night.
Lowell is the man who shot and
killed Joseph Powers on the road between
this city and Brighton about three years
ago and was acquitted on the ground that
the killing was done in self defense.
A reporter of the RECORD. UNION went to
the scene of the murder yesterday after
noon and late last night sent in the follow.
ing
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Considerable excitement was occasioned
at this place yesterday by the discovery OF
the remains of John Lowell on his ranch
near Negro Hill, in Ell Dorado county
seven miles northeast of Folsom. Word
was telegraphed to his son William, in
Sacramento. He came up this morning,
accompanied by the Coroner and District
Attorney of Sacramento county. On their
arrival here the Sacramento officials, ascer-
toll i'm, ha fap tlaf hol j:
ton, returned.
William Lowell took a fresh team and
accompanied by DR.. Seabright, started for
the Lowell ranch. Shortly after their ar
rival at the scene of the homicide Coroner
Spencer, of Placerville, put in an appear
auce. The body, which was in an ad-
vanced state of decomposition, was ex-
humed. Although almost beyond recogni-
ton, William Lowell positively identified
the remains as those of his father. The
clothing and boots were his beyond doubt
He was buried in an old cellar which was
under building that burned some eight
months ago.
William Wubbena testified that he was
acquainted with deceased in his lifetime.
The last time be saw him alive was on the
2lst Of March, on the road leading to Fol
som, with load of wood. Yesterday |
father to get q windlass that belonged to
us. After the windlass had been taken of
the well l went to look for something to
cover the well up with, and in looking
around l discovered an old barn door in the
cellar. and when 1 went to move it /
smelled decaying flesh. The stencil was so
strong that | left the door alone. | was
suspicious that something was wrong and
went to my brothers place and told him,
and he came back with me; and then he
went 10 inform the Justice. l saw the
body after il was exhumed to-day, and
| recognize it as being that of John Lowell.
Nichola W'ubbena said that he saw de-
ceased last some time in the latter part OF
March at his ranch near Negro Hill. Saw
him in company with three men. They
were walking through the ranch. Lowell
was the only one of the party | recognized.
Heard he was talking of selling his place
Did not see MIN again until to-day, when
he was uncovered in the cellar on his ranch.
Yesterday my brother told me of his suspi
cions, and went over with him. | had
read in the RECoRD-UNIoN that Mr.. Lowell
was missing, and | expected my brother
was right in his suspicious. l notified the
Justice, Mr.. Orr, at Salmon Falls, and be
instructed me to so ahead and exhume
him. l started back and met Mr.. Murry
and Mr.. Hawk and they told me they had
made the examination and found it was
Mr.. Lowell. | noticed his wounds at the
examination. There was a mark on the
right side of the face and jaw, and the up
per part of he jaw was broken and the
back part of the skull smashed in. The
body was wrapped up III a wagon sheet,
covered with several pieces of old stove
iron and dirt on top of them. a few pieces
of old boards were laying on top of the
dirt and the old door was thrown over the
top of all. The body was about six inches
under the ground. The air was not shut
ont, so the body decayed rapidly. The
hair all come of of the head, and of some
portions OF the body mere skeleton re-
manned.
]. c. Murry said he was acquainted with
deceased. Saw him last about the middle
of March. Did not see him again until to-
day. | was yesterday in company with
Levi Darlington Mr.. Hawk and Mr.. Wub-
bena. We took a pitchfork and poked
away the debris that was on the head and
satisfied ourselves that human body was
buried there, but did not know positively
it was deceased until TO day. l noticed
some time ago that six head of his best
horses and his buggy were gone. l sup
posed ali along that he bad taken the
horses away with him to his ranch in Ssc,
ramento county, and supposed all the time
until / read in the RECORD. UNION that be
was missing, that he was On his Sacra.
mento ranch. He had been talking of sell
ing his place here and had heard parties
bad been there looking at it. Saw him in
company with three men on his ranch one
day early in March.
Lowell was native of Ireland, and came
to California in early days. He was 60
years of age, and has two sons living. Or.
Seabright examined the wounds, and said
deceased had come to his death by being
struck on the head with some blunt instru-
ment The right side of the face and skull
were badly crushed. At 6 o'clock the Cor.
oner continued the inquest until 10 O'Clock
tomorrow.
There is no clue to the murderers. From
the fact that the stock is gone, he is sup.
posed to have been murdered to get posses
sion of it.
The Unreasonable Rain.
The average Signal Service temperature
on Saturday was Go, being 80 cooler
than the normal for that day The