Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-07
THIRTY TEARS AGO.
TWO MEN CONVICTED OF M0RDER IN
THE SAME WEEK.
Row Gam Seabough Was Despoiled of
His Plug Hat-suicide of Joseph
H. Virgo.

been the Chief Engineer of San Francisco.
The above recalls little incident that
occurred during the interval referred to
that nearly got the writer into trouble. He
was the room. mate at that time Of Sam
Seabough, editor OF the UNION. The latter
was the owner OF a fine plug hat, which
had somehow come into his possession, but
which he never wore, being partial to soft
felt tiles. The plug was kept stored away
in bandbox. Early one morning, about
nineteen years ago, Sesbough's roommate
encountered q strengthening apparition
on the street, shortly after the arrival of the
boat from San Francisco. 1t proved 10 be
Dave Scaonell. 1t was in the winter,
and he was not dressed in the nobby styie
for which he was noted. Indeed, he looked
little rough, and this effect was height.
ened by huge Norwegian fur cap that ne
wore, with big flaps that csme down over
his ears.
Scanneli said he was en- route to Washoe
TO try and better his fortune He had
been out Of Office for some time, and had
concluded to try his luck in the new silver
region. But as he had 10 stay over in
Sacramento, he was ashamed Of his outfit
IL I2N bcCiA eAAehSSN Will flCT W uleSl-
ing the demands OF the wintry blasts that
swept Mt Davidson, and was not suited to
the semi. tropical climate of Sacramento.
Il would be all night" said he. If l only
had a decent hat. l met some parties
on the boat last night, who had been at
Virginia City, and they told me l would
need cap like this one, ana | snapped
my hat for it. Say, il looks pretty tough,
don't il? l want TO 60 around among the
fire. boys to-day, but this rig won't do
why, they d guy the life out of me Got a
bat, old fellow, that you can lend me?'
The Sacramentan >retlected a moment,
and then thought of Seabough's bright
new piug-just the thing to top off the old
veteran and make him look dignifed.
Seabough was INDUCING in little recre-
alton, and in his absence there would be
no trouble in securing the hat. Besides
be would never wear it, and why not give
it to the San Franciscan to take into the
sagebrush wilds, so that at some future day
it might adorn The head OF Pah- . te chief
tain? And, after all, Seahough would be
pleased TO know that the distinguished fire
laddie, Dave Seanneii, had accepted the
gift. Happy thought They went to the
room, and Scsnnell tried on the hat. IL
was Just it, and he was pleased with the
effect ss he surveyed himself in the glass
aud twisted his muStache and imperial
He said the fur cap might be of some use
to Seabough, so it was PLACED in the hat
box, and Scannell went out TO call upon
his Sacramento friends.
1t was some days before Seabough re
turned, and by that time his room mate
had quite forgotten the hat episode. II
was brought forc;bly to his mind one
morning, however, when Seabough went
as he did once in while-to take a look at
his shining silk tile to see that it was all
right. First he swore a blue streak, and
declared that he had been robbed. He had
lasly made up his mind to wear the plug
hat, and nov 1t was gone-and in lis place
he found measly thing fit only for a
Kan s2hatka Indian to wear! And he
kicked the Norwegian cap up to the ceiling.
Then a thought flashed upon him, ard
he became silent again and began to look
sheepish. He sat down and rubbed his
brow, as if trying torecall something, but
gave it up, lie then asked: Say, when
| got home few nights ago, did have
this thing OF my head2" His room mate
did not know-he wasn't in at the time.
II guess it's all right" said Seabough, re-
flactively. 81 suppose I had on my fine
plug nat, and some rascal took il and sub
stituted that thing over there. Great Scott
how l must have locked under II! | hope
jim Anthony didn't see me- but if / ever
meet the f=llow that stole nay $12 hat,
there'll be trouble"
....... William Williams vas On the 9sb
oil December convicted of the murder OF
AhemasZ Blanchard and sentenced to be
hanged on the 25.h of January. The muir
der was committed in San Joaquin town.
ship near BUckner's tavern, and the testi-
moDy showed it to have been most brUta!
Williams and himself Waylaid Blanchard
and beat him to death with clubs. Blan-
chard and Williams had had trouble, end
ing in lawsuit, and Williams lost the
case. The prosecution was conducted by
District Attorney Cole, Frank Hereford
and E. II. Heacock. n. Greene Curtis ard
G. r. Moore defended Williams. Super
visor Bates was enc of the witnesses in the
case. Williams was not executed until
two or three years sfterward, having taken
his case to the Supreme Court.
.........k street was the scene of consider
able excitement ore day in December, the
moving cause being a foot.race between
Billy Arnold, butcher and Henry Garbe,
Tenth street, and the outcome at the &C.
lnmbus Brewery on Sixteenth street
GaIbe conceded start of one block to his
opponent. The stakes were $50 and beer
| for the crowd. Ii is needless to say the
crowd was good-sized one-at the brew
cry end of the course. Garbe wasn't in
| it, at any time, Arnold increasing his ad.
vantage at every jump. No doubt many
| persons here will be able 70 recall the
affair and the fact that they had beer al
| the losers expense.
.........On the 9th of December the CITY
was shocked by the unexpected suicide Of
Joseph 81. Virgo. Tie act was committed
in his room over the old Magnolia Saloon.
on J street, between Front aud Second.
His mind had, from some cause, become
suddenly deranged, and going to his room
he cut his throat. Deceased came 10 the
State il 1919, and the following year went
into business in this city. He was q mem
Der Of Mutual Hook aud Ladder Associa-
! ton, Of the Suffer Rife Company and Pic.
neer Association. In 1854 he WIS q Cor.
stable and afterward became proprietor Of
the Orleans Hotel. At the time of bis
death he was part proprietor Of the Orleans
| Saloon.
-. ...On the 81 of December jury in
Judge Mckune's Court convicted William
Price of the murder of Robert Pool, which
crime was committed on the 14th of the
preceding August District Attorney Cor.
nelius Cole and James II. Budd of Stock.
| ton conducted the pro. ecution, and tbs
prisoner was defended by James w. Cof
froth and NJ. c. Tilden. II. S. Beals was
foreman of the jury. On the 18th Instant
Judge McKune sentenced Price to execu.
ton on the 25h of January. Price was
executed in the building now used as the
city Jail.
.........Just thirtvyears' ago, on the 9Th Of
December, Rev. W. Fl. Hill Of the Epsco.
pal Church united in marriage Joseph
Sims of the Union House to Mary L.
Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Sims still live al
their old home, where they have passed SO
many years of welded happiness, sur
rounded by their children, and loved and
respected by their neighbors and all that
know them.
$1,000. Virginia City, New, was rapidly
coming into prominence as a lawiess place
Murders and homicides finally became
snch common thing there that the local
papers kept standing headings such as
Another Man For Breakfast" The pistol
ana knife were the common arbiters OF
quarrels,
........A Coolot was then engaged in
erecting the building on ] street, between
Eighth and Ninth, where he is now doing
business, and which he has occupied fol
these past thirty years. He started with a
small stock of goods, but has built UP
large fortune since then.
Tho Southern basrt -a, 1T.