The morning call., 1891-01-02
AN OLD ROMANCE.
ihe Mystery of a Handcuffed
Skeleton in Shaft.
A Betrayed Husband and a Runaway Wife
The Capture in the Mountains on the
Road to Murphys Camp.

On the 18th inst. the Stockton independent
published an account of the finding of a
skeleton in the bottom of shaft at Muir
phys, Calaveras County, the forearIns of
which bore handouts aud the connecting
CHAIN. The discovery was said to have
caused good deal Of speculation at Muir
pnys' nut no one could make good guess
az me iuehtity OF the relies. The Stockton
hecoro OIL Saturday publishes the following
examination from man in San Jose, who
Claims 10 De one OF the party who knows all
about 1t, and the only one who is likely to
tell. As it Involves romance of San lose
1t IS herewith reproduced:
There are but three persons living who
can explain the mystery attached to the
handcuffed skeleton recently found at Muir
phys in Calaveras County. Two of the
three will assuredly never do so, therefore.
10 order, II possible. to relieve my mind of
the burden of years, | will relate some Of
the facts connected herewith
In 1850 gentleman and his wife pur-
chased handsome residence on Santa Clara
street in the city of San Jose. They had
piehty OF means and moved in the best So
clety. The eentleman's business called him
10 San FRANCISCO quite often. There lived
mex ne1t door to their residence a policeman.
1he gentleman and wife seemed
HAPPY AND COMMENTED,
a.
eneu the sunshine of their household On
monday morning, after the gentleman had
taken his departure for San Francisco, the
policenan saw Well-known gambler talk
,np 70 tue WlIe at the rear gate, and was
much surprised. Tuesday evening the gen.
tlsman returned from San Francisco and
found his home deserted, and a note from
his vile stating that she had left him for
ever. For some hours the husband was
completely Frustrated. Next morning he
slgnaled the policeman to come to him
and asked whether he could and would
keep secret. On receiving the assur-
ance OF the policeman the husband told
his trouble, and was directed by the
o1lcef TO keep quiet and to remain inside the
mouse. the policeman went and hunted for
the gambler, but he was nowhere to be
found. After quietly making inquiry in
places Which the gambler frequented, he
learned that he had hired horse and
buggy, stating that he would be gone some
Gays. The policeman returned and told the .
gent eman what he had learned and what
he thought of the matter. The gentleman
went ana saw his wife's brother, who lived
not lar from his residence. and told him all.
They soon decided what TO do aud with a
trusted friend and policeman were soon
well mounted aud on their way toward
LlyeImore Valley. At Washington Corners
TREY learned that gentleman and boy
mad passed there in buggy very early that
morning. 1t was then late in the evening,
and as neither of them knew
THE ROAD TO IIyERMoRE,
They went to farmhouse and passed the
night. Early next morning they started
through the mountains, and arriving at Liv-
ermore learned. that the couple mad been
seen there. The pursuing party pushed on
across the mountains into the San Joaquin
Valley, aud learned that they had crossed
the ferry on the san joaquin River Here
they lost track Of The buggy; but about noon
next day leurnei that such couple had
IA
lost as little lime as possible IN reaching
Harrington, and there learned that tho man
inquired the way to Sonora. But the party
could not find the buggy tracks on the So
nora road, and did not think the gambler
would tell his destination, ard 50 they took
the road to Angel Camp, and after going ten
or twelve miles met traveller who teld them
he had met such an outfit. The party SpuTred
on their horses, but took to road to Hawk
eye, and there were put on the road 10 Angels.
On reaching that place they learned that the
couple were but an hour ahead of them
They hired fresh horses at the Angels liv-
cry stable and hastened the pursuit. Just
as darkness was setting in, and Murphys i'll
sight, four horsemen dashed up to the
buggy, and with drawn revolYers COM
mandea halt. The gambler was told to
&c! out Of the buggy the policeman placed
proved to be the fleeing wife
IN MALE ATTIRE;.
The brother got into the buggy with his ses-
ter; the policeman walked down the road a
short distance toward Angels, leading the
horses, and the buggy followed. In about
an hour the husband and friend returned,
but no one asked what had become of the
gambler The pursuing party, increased by
tue addition OF the woman in male attire
arrived late at Angels and stopped over
night at the hotel, all registering under ic-
tltious names. A few days thereafter they
all returned to San Jose. The husband
went to San Francisco and thence East,
where he died in less than year.
Everything had been planned and carried
out SO quietly that no one in San Jose, out
side of the parties interested, knew any,
thing of the flight and return of the faith
less wife. 1t was the wonder of the Garden
CITY and created great deal of talk why
Mr.. W had deserted his beautiful wife
About two years thereafter the wife was
courted by an Ex-Governor, but later on
married a wealthy baker of San Francisco,
and today is one of the most attractive
Women of her age in the city.
This brief sketch will, in a measure, solve
mystery which it would be neither wise
nor polite to fully disclose by giving further
particulars and names, as all the respon-
sible parties but two-the nandcuffed skele-
ton and the betrayed husband-are still
alive, respected and well-known citizens of
Central California N fNI-u ~ t,rrx