Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-01

waist, and those on the surface lowered
him into the shaft.
When about forty feet of rope was lie
out he called to them TO stop, and said HI
had found the body.
Lying across a set of timbers that haC
been put in to keep the side from caving
was a grinning skeleton, the clothing hav
ing nearly all rotted away and fallen tt
,, the bottom of the shaft.
Another rope was lowered, and he tied
it around the trunk Of the skeleton. He
was then pulled up, and a moment later
the skeleton was brought to the surface.
On the inside vest pocket was leather
wallet that had resisted the elements, and
when opened its contents were in fair
state of preservation. 1t contained SIPS in
currency and letters and papers. The
documents were all dated at Troy and
Albany, n. Y, and the letters were adj
dressed to "John Dalton"
This cleared up the Chinaman's story.
By this time the entire village was
alarmed The Coroner was sent for and an
inquest held, when the Chinaman and the
hotel proprietor testified as above.
The chambermaid at the hotel by this
time had put on her thinking cap" and
she remembered the couple quite well.
They appeared to be quite devoted, and
every day would stroll off for hours among
the hills in quest of curios. She remem-
bered that the last day they were there
the woman returned from her ramble
alone, and explained the absence of her
husband by saying that their destination
was Sacramento, that her husband had a
friend he desired to see in Auburn, and
had gone down on the freight train. She
would go down in the evening on the pas
senger, and would be joined by her hus-
band at Auburn station.
This reminded the hotel-keeper of the
same occurrence, he remembering quite
well of the woman settling the hotel bill.
"But where is the woman now% That
was the next question. 1t was month
since her last visit.
The ticket agent at Colfax remembered
woman of her description buying a
ticket, he thought, for Woodland. Here
was clue, and officers Immediately started
for Yolo, at the same time telegraphing to
the police for information at Troy and
Albany. The following answer was re-
ceiyed;
TROY IN. Y J, December sd.
j. Robbins, C0IfdL Cal John Dalton, real
estate agent sold out here in October, 1866, and
went west with young widow that went by
the name of Dora Harmon. He has not been
heard of since He had when he left here
about 900 in cash.
sILAs JONES, Chief OF Police
The officers found that she had stopped
for three days at an obscure hotel in
Woodland, and during her stay had Wis
tied several real estate agents and through
information received from them she was
traced to Capay valley. Here she had
purchased ranch from William B. Sill
vertou, paying him for the same $4,000.
John Carpenter and his wife were ten
ants of Silverton, and the new owner de-
sired that they should continue to live on
and care for the place.
She remained with them three days and
fixed up a three years lease. Carpenter
was to pay no rent money, but was 10 pay
the taxes, keep up the fences and set out
two acres of vineyard. She drew up two
copies of the lease, giving one to Carren-
ter and retaining one herself. She signed
herself Medora Harmon.
She did not tell them where she lived,
whether she was married or single, and
when she boarded the train at Madison
remarked that they would not hear from
her again until the expiration of their
lease, when she would return.
When size got on board the train all
trace of her was completely gone and she
is as completely lost as if the earth had
opened and swallowed her.
John Carpenter when asked if there was
anything peculiar about the coin she paid
him he said; eyes. 1t was all In $50
pieces and rusty. l remarked to her, 4
guess you have been digging up"' She
smiled and remarked, Il meant to ex1lain
that to you. Coming West l carried my
coin in hand-satchel. 1 placed some
cough syrup in with it, and the bottle
breaking, the liquor disfgured the coin Z"
The above story was written for the
REooRD-U UNION by tramp reporter who
graduated from the reportorial force Of one
of the metropolitan journals.
He 'struck" Sacramento broke and
agreed to write "frst-class sensation" and
illustrate it for half dollar. Accompany
ing his manuscript, duly signed and sworn
to before a Constable, was the following
affidavit:
1, Napoleon wilkins, do solemny swear and
affirm, that the within contained story is a fab
rieation pure and simple
SEAL. NAPOLEON WILKINS.