Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17
THE STORY OF A MANACLED SKELETON.
It IL All That Remains Of . Bed Gambler Of
San Jose.

1t IL All That Remains Of Bed Gambler Of
| San Jose.
| From the Stockton Record.
On the 18th instant the Stockton Independent
published an account Of the finding of skele-
ton In the bottom Of Q shaft at Murphy's, CAL
averas county, the forearms of which bore
handouts and the connecting chain. There
are but three persons living who can explain
the mystery attached to the handcuffed skele-
ton. Two Of the three will assuredly never do
30; therefore. in order, if possible, to relieve
my mind Of the burden Of years, will relate
some Of the facts connected Herewith.
In 1865 gentleman and his wife purchased a
handsome residence on Santa Clara street. in
the city Of San Jose. They had plenty Of means
and moved in the best society. The gentle
| mans business called him to San Francisco
| quite often. There lived next door to their
| residence policeman. The gentleman and
wife seemed happy and contented, and no
cloud was known to ever have darkened the
| sunshine Of their household. On Monday
| morning, after the gentleman had taken his
departure for San Francisco, the policeman
saw a well-known gambler talking to the wife
at the rear gate, and was much surprised.
Tuesday evening the gentleman returned and
found his home deserted, and a note from his
wife stating that she had left him forever.
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 a secret On
receiving the assurance Of the policeman the
husband told his trouble and was directed by
the ofhcer to keep quiet and remain inside the
house 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
be gone some days. The policeman returned
and told the gentleman what he had learned
and what he thought of the matter. The gen.
tleman went and saw his wife's brother, who
lived not far from his residence, and told him
all. They soon decided what to do, and with a
trusted friend and policeman were soon on
their way toward Livermore valley.
At Washington Corners they learned that
gentleman and a boy had passed there in a
buggy very early that morning. The pursuing
party pushed on across the mountains into the
San Joaquin valley and learned that they had
crossed the ferry on the San joaquin river.
Here they lost track of the buggy: but about
noon next day learned that such a couple had
been seen at Pennington. The pursuers lost
as little time as possible in reaching Farming
ton, and there learned that the man inquired
the way to Sonora But the party could not
find the buggy tracks on the Sonora road and
did not think the gambler would tell his desti-
nation, and so they took the road to Angels
Camp, where they learned that the couple were
but an hour ahead Of them. They hired fresh
horses at the Angels livery stable and fastened
the pursuit.
just as darkness was setting in and Murphy's
in sight four horsemen dashed up to the buggy
and with drawn revolvers commanded halt.
The gambler was told to ge. out of the buggy;
the policeman placed pair of handouts ON him;
his boy companion proved to be the fleeing wife
in male attire; the brother got into the buggy
with his sister: 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 the addition
OF the woman in male attire, arrived late at
Angels and stopped over night at the hotel, all
registering under fictitious names. 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.
About two years thereafter the wife was
courted by an ex-governor, but later on mar
ried wealthy banker Of San Francisco and to-
day is one Of the most attractive women of her
age in the city.
This brief sketch will. in measure. solve
mystery which it would be neither wise nor po-
lite to fully disclose by giving further par.icu-
lars and names, as all the responsible parties
but two-the handcuffed skeleton and the be-
trayed husband-are still alive respected and
well-knOwn citizens of central California