The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-04
STORY OF A SKELETON.f
It Is All that Remains of n Bad Gambler of
San Jose.
Tstockton Record


On the 18th inst. the Stockton Independ-
ert published an account OF the finding OF
a skeleton in the bottom of g shaft at
Murphy's, Calaveras county, the foresrms
OF which bore handouts and the connect
ing chain. There are but three persons
living who can explain the mystery of the
handcuffed skeleton. Two of the three
will assuredly never do SO; therefore, in
order if possible 10 relieve my mind of the
burden of years will relate some of the
facts connected Herewith.
In 1865 a gentleman and his wife pur-
chased handsome residence on Santa
Clara-st., in the City of san Jose. They
had plenty of means and moved in the
best society. The genteman's business
called him to San Francisco quite often.
There lived next door to the residence a
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 well-known gambler
talking to the wife at the rear gate and
was much surprised. Tuesday evening
.Ee gentleman returned and found his
home deserted, and note from his wife
stating that she had left him forever.
For some hours the husband was COM
pletvly Frustrated. Next morning he sig
nailed 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 officer 10 keep
quiet and remain inside the house. The
policeman went and hunted 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 for some days. The
policeman returned and told the gentle
man what he had learned and what he
thought OF the matter. The gentleman
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 Liyermore
Valley.
At Washington Corners they learned
that a 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 couple had
been seen at Pennington. The pursuers
lost as little time as possible In reaching
Pennington, 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 destination, 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 settingin and Muir
phys in sight four horsemen dashed up
to the buggy and with drawn revolvers
commanded halt. The gambler was told
to get out of the buggy; the policeman
placed a pair of handouts on him; his
boy companion proved TO be the tickle
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 adj
dition of the woman in male attire, ar
rived late at Angels and stopped over
night at the hotel, all registering under
fictitious names. A few days thereafter
they all returned to San Jose. The hus-
band went to San Francisco, and thence
East, where he died in less than year.
About two years thereafter the wife %s5
courted by an ex-governor, but later on
married a wealthy banker of San Francis
co, 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
responsible parties but two-the hand
cuffed SHELTON and the betrayed husband
are still alive, respected and well-known
citizens of Central California.