Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-10
THE DUMB WITNESS.

briefly, in the sections devoted to Los
Angeles county, the murder in 1S41 OF
one Nicholas Finch, German. But
naught say these chronicles concerning
certain curious details connected with
that crime, known to those versed in the
unwritten history of southern California,
and these matters are set forth as fol-
lows:
| Fronting the old parish church of
Nuestra Sonora la Reina de Los Angeles
still stands today long, old fashioned
building of two stories, with dormer
windowed roof, once the residence of
ssis reverence the bishop of this diocese.
This edifice is now the focus-the thea
ter, believe-of the Chinese quarter,
sind the cross that topped it, SO long ia
vs1iliar to the eyes of Angelonos, has
been supplanted by the great swinging
lanterns of lacquered wood and brilliant
haed paper.
Ere this house came to be used as the
episcopal abode, Nicholas F'inck kept
within it little shop, where he sold
liquors, groceries and other miscellane-
GUS wares. From time to time he re-
plenished his stock from the vessels
(which touched at San Pedro, and when
Rfe went down to that port to make his
purchases, he was wont to leave his door
hey with his friends, Charles Barrie and
his wife Sophie, French people living
across the plaza, close by the church,
about where is now the site of modest
photograph gallery.
One day Nine. Barrie discovered that
her cempadres door was not opened, and
efle marveled somewhat thereat, know
Eng, first, that no trading vessel was
anchored at San Pedro, and, moreover,
that Einck always, as has been said,
Brought his key to her when going afield.
And her wonder became alarm when
three days passed, and the door remained
CLOSED, and there was no sign CT her
Griend and neighbor. So the little
Erenchwoman crossed the plaza, her
husband having been for some days alb
sent from the pueblo, and she knocked
ct the door of Nicholas Finck, and, get
Siug no answer, she put first her eye,
6hen her ear and then her nose to the
heyfsoie. The eye saw utter darkness,
the ear heard no sound from within, but
TO her nostrils came an odor at once foul
ssnd &orbidding that made her limbs to
quake, her hair to creep, her gorge to
rise and her blood to curdle. And she
hasteAed away with fear and trembling
and told her misgivings to Manuel Re
Guena, who, in those days, was the al
es2iae.
Then Don Manuel, seeing that the
case. indeed, wore an ominous aspect,
called on Don Ygnacie Coronel, who
held an office corresponding to our pres
ent clerkship of the courts, and they
went to the house of Finck, with three
STOUT alguaciles (constables OF bailiffs),
s1fas broke open the door, after the al
caide had thrice summoned and received
mo answer When the nauseous stencil
that came forth had been in some meas
tare weakened by the thrush of fresh air.
they stepped within and at once saw, in
side the narrow room, the body of the
German, lying near the counter,
stretched in pool of blood, stiffened
and decomposing. His head was beaten
10 pieces, and the barrel of gun, that
had been hammered somewhat toward
the form of bludgeon, showed the
aflesils of his murder.
! Tde officers proceeded to examine the
premises, whose condition told, not too
Gs1scurely, the story of the crime. Some
gznall wares on the counter and magni-
flying glass clutched in the fingers of the
dead man indicated that he had been en-
5x0o da11iprr of l.,
WAS stricken down. That the assassins
Fad rified the little shop was manifest by
the state of the effects, some scattered,
GGn2e evidently missing; that they had
escaped by the rear was doubly proved
by fire barring inside of the street door
ssnd by the leading to the inner rooms'of
bloody footprints whose number and
variety of shape showed that four or five
assailants had been present. The living
xrsonas, behind the shop, had been plum
dered, but the outer door, leading into
the usual corridor and thence to a low
sHalled corral, had been shut, and even
hacked. from the outside. The searchers
opened this door and stepped into the
yard.
s'They have killed his dog also!" cried
Don Ygnacio Coronel, at sight of a great
aMastiH stretched on his side upon the
ssg-fhen floor Of the corridor. But even
as he spoke the creature stirred, slightly
Fitted his head, glanced toward them,
and feebly wagged his tail. When they
went to him they found that he was
fefhered by fast chain, and was gaunt,
~oeak and almost famished, having been
without food or water since the day be-
fore his master was murdered.
1--WE must succor this poor creature,
a0t only from humanity, but also as a
Erecaution." said Don Ygnacio; che
aiaight possibly prove to be valuable
witness"
The alcalde looked sharply at the other,
as IL to see if he were jesting, and the
a1guaciles grinned broadly. But Don
Ygnacio's face was serious even to So
sesnnity, as beftted the occasion, and
<.ue of the men was promptly dispatched
far food and water. which was admins
xered to the dog.
The discovery of this murder was fol-
s<swed by wild excitement in the pueblo.
YFre resident foreigners-that is, not
SSUsnish- Americans--a usual, acted as if
4lse crime were result of race antagon-
Ssu,. rather than personal motive, and
ezsey called loudly for vengeance. and
ss,y.re not far from creating an incendiary