Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-26
THE DRY CREEK .sERROR.
DESPERATE JOHN KESsLER ARRESTED
FOR HORsE-sTEALING.
He Killed His Father, and Had a Pro-
longed "Picnic" at San
Quentin Prison.

me sLocK owned by him IS pair oil
matched iron-gray horses, each OF which
! is valued at $3.50. A few weeks ago Mr.
Quiggle turned these horses out to pasture
on his ranch on the Sacramento side of the
county line, to let them reoUperate after q
season Of hard service.
On Tuesday last he visited the ranch for
| the purpose of looking after his stock, and
found that one of the horses was missing.
Inquiry at the house of the family living
on the place revealed the fact that wild
looking youth, named John Kesaler, who
had done some odd jobs of work for Quig-
gle, had called at the ranch on Saturday
last, saying the latter had sent him there
to get one of the horses, and also with q
request that saddle and bride be len!
him with which to ride the animal back to
| Quiggle's house. There was DO saddle to
be had, but he WAS given bride, and the
horse was caught and Given into his pos
session.
PURSUIT OF THE THIEF.
This information satisfied Qaiggle that
his horse had been stolen. So he at once
procured the services of Deputy Sheriff
John Miller, OF Amador-who had earned
good reputation as e trailer of horse
| thieves-and they started off on Wednes-
day in pursuit of the thief. Kessler has a
sister living at Hope Valley FL Dorado
comfy, near the summit of the Sierra Ne
vada, and the pursuers concluded that he
had gone in that direction. They soon
learned that they were on the right trail.
and about daylight on Thursday morning
they reached & wild canyon in the vicinity
of Indian Diggings, in which they were
satisfied the horsethief had taken refuge
the preceding evening.
They soon came 10 the lend of nayigs-
tlon" for their vehicle, and entered the
canyon on foot. They followed a trail for
some distance, when they came upon
THE STOLEN HORSE
away was the abandoned cabin of one of
the argonauts, and they knew they had
run their game to cover.
Just as the sun had begun to dispel the
gloom from the canyon, the men crept up
to the cabin, approaching it from opposite
sides. As they each turned corner 10 en-
ter the door, out walked kessler, carving
vessel of water for his morning ablutions
preparatory 10 Tesuming his journey. As
soon as he saw Quiggle he dropped the
water and started back for the door for the
purpose of securing his gun" but in an
instant officer Miller, whom he had not
seen, sprang upon him from behind and
held him until Quiggle reached them.
kessler is
A POWERFULLY BUILT FELLOW,
Upward of six feet in hight, and straight
and sinewy as Sioux warrior. He is.
moreover, desperate man, who has little
more regard for human life than savage,
and had he shown fight, or attempted TO
use his great strength, his pursuers would
not have been able to capture him without
the aid of their weapons. But. strange to
say, he submitted rather quietly TO being
arrested.
He admitted having stolen the horse.
and boldly informed Quiggle that be would
have taken others but for the fact that
there was but one that he was able to
catch.
The stolen animal was found by its
owner to be in a pitiable plight. The in
human brute, Kessler, had ridden the
horse all day and night without giving it a
mouthful of food, while its back was raw.
and its hoofs worn down to the quick, so
that every step caused intense pain.
Kessler asked, for some reason, not to be
taken to Placerville, so his captors visited
several places in search of magistrate
from whom to procure commitment but
could find none. Then they headed for
Clay Station, near Quiggle's home. and be-
ing again disappointed, concluded to take
their prisoner direct to this city.
HELD TO ANSWER
The party arrived here yesterday after
noon on the ESQ train and Kessler was
taken before Justice Henry on g complaint
sworn to by Quiggle before the District At
oh n, l.
kessier listened to the testimony against
him, but declined to interrogate the wit
nesses or make any statement. He was
held to answer before the Superior Court,
with bail fixed at So 900.
HE SLEW HIS FATHER.
In conversation with a RECORD UNION
reporter, Mr.. Quiggle related some facts
concerning Kessler, which show him to be
one OF the worst desperadoes in this part
of the country. In 1885, when this Young
giant was but 10 years of age, he lived with
his parents in Amador county, near the
scene of his recent exploit, where he had
grown up with no more restraint than a
young Indian. One day his father had
| occasion to punish him, but he never re-
reated the operation. The young savage
ran into the house, grabbed the family
| shotgun, and poured the contents
INTO THE BODY OF HIS FATHER,
Killing him instantly. For this fearful
crime he was convicted, but owing to his
youth and ignorance he received a sen
tence of but few years in San Quegtin,
which he served out.
When his term expired he returned to
his old haunts, where be has since led a
wild rowing life, working occasionally for
the farmers in the neighborhood, but gen.
orally living of the community by steal.
! ing. Mr.. Qniggle states that Kessler has
been in the habit of showing up at his
place quite frequently, and that he always
in money, simply
TO RETAIN HIS GOOD WILL,
As the fellow would not hesitate to come
in the dead of night and burn down the
house and barns of any person against
whom he might entertain grudge, put the
torch to their grainfields, kill or main their
live stock, or resort to any kind of vio-
lence or brutality to svenge himself
Why said Mr.. Quiggle, that fellow
has killed dozens of my calves, taken such
portions as he wanted to eat, and buried
the carcasses. have known of his depre.
dations ali the time bat I'd rather have
| lost all the calves ! had than to have in.
CURED his displeasure, as neither my life
nor property would have been safe in such
case. Why, what sort of proposition dc
you suppose he made to US while we were
bringing him here?r
The reporter said he was prepared TO hear
almost anything.
| Well" continued Quiggle, she wanted
us TO given him chance, before going to
| Jail, to go to the ranch of Chris. Mejss. on
Dry Creek, that he might kill the old -
- -w
PICNIC" AT SAN QUENTIN.
Kessler told Quiggle that he hoped the
Judge who sentenced him would give him
not less than fifteen years, as he never had
such good living as while he was seryino
out his term at San Quentin for killing his