The Press., 1891-12-31
THE DUMB WITNESS.

r 1lL bO uAD TYl11SIAJOs
 The histories of California chronicle briefly, in, the sections devoted to Los Angeles county, the murder. in 1841 of one Nicholas Finch. a 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 Ia Reina de Los Angeles still stands today 9 long. old fashioned building of two stories, with dormer widowed roof, once the residence of his reverence the bishop of this diocese. This edifice is now the focus-the thea ter, believe-of> the Chinese quarter, and the cross that topped it, so long fa- miliar to the eyes of Angelonos, has been supplanted by the great swinging lanterns of lacquered wood and brilliant hued paper.
 Ere this house came to be used as the episcopal abode, Nicholas Finck kept within it little shop, where he sold liquors, groceries and other miscellane- ous wares. From time to time he re- plenished his stock from the vessels which touched at San Pedro, and when he went down to that port to make his purchases, he was wont to leave his door key with bis friends, Charles Barrie and his wife Sophie. French people living across the plaza, close by the church, about where is now the site of a modest photograph gallery. .--..
 One day Mime. Barrie discovered that her compadre's door was not opened, and she marveled somewhat thereat, know ing, first, that no trading vessel was anchored at San Pedro, and, moreover, that Finck always, as has been said, brought his key to her when going afeld. And her wonder became alarm when three days passed, and the door remained closed, and there was no sign of her friend and neighbor. So the little Frenchwoman crossed the plaza, her husband having been for some days ab- sent from the pueblo, and she knocked at the door of Nicholas Finck, and, get ting no answer, she put first her eye, then her ear and then her nose to the keyyhole. Tde eye saw utter utter darkness, the ear heard no sOund from within, but to her nostrils came an odor at once foul and forbidding that made her limbs to quake, her hair to creep, her gorge to rise and her blood to curdle. And she hastened away with fear and trembling and told her misgivings to Manuel Re- 1ko o1 calde
 Then Don Manuel, seeing that the case. indeed, wore an ominous aspect, called on Don Ygnacio 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 or bailiffs) who broke open the door, after the al- calde had thrice summoned and received mo answer. When the nauseous stench that came forth had been in some meas ure 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 i'll a pool of blood, stihfened and decomposing. His head was beaten to pieces, and the barrel of a gun, that had been hammered somewhat toward the form of a bludgeon, showed the means of his murder.
 The officers proceeded to examine the premises, whose condition told, not too obscurely, the story of the crime. Some small wares on the counter and 8 magni- flying glass clutched in the fingers of the dead man indicated that he had been en- gagged in 8 dealing of business when he was stricken down. That the assassins had rihed the little shop was manifest by the state of the effects, some scattered, some evidently missing: that they had escaped by the rear was doubly proved by the barring inside of the street door and by the leading to the inner rooms of bloody footprints whose number . and variety ofshape showed that four or five assailants had been present. The living rooms, behind the shop, had been plum dered, but the outer door, leading into the usual corridor and thence to g. low walled corral, had been shut, and even locked, from the outside. The searchers opened this door and stepped into the yard.
 ''They have killed his dog alsol" cried Don Ygnacio Coronel, at sight of great mastiff stretched on his side upon the earthen floor of the corridor. But even as he spoke the creature stirred, slightly lifted his head, glanced toward them, and feebly wagged his tail. When they went to him they found that he was tethered by fast chain, and was gaunt, weak and almost famished, having been without food or water since the day be- fore his master was murdered.
 ''We must succor this poor creature, not only from humanity. but also as a precaution. said Don Ygnacio; .she might possibly prove to be, a valuable witness"
 The alcalde looked sharply at the other, as if to see if he were testing, and the alguaciles grinned broadly. But Don Ygnacio's face was serious even to so- lemnity, as beftted the occasion, and one of the men was promptly dispatched for food and water. which was adrninis- tered to the dog.
 The discovery of this murder was fol- lowed by wild excitement in theipueblo. The resident foreigners-that is, not Spanish -Amerfcans-a usual, acted as if s s = 2 the crime were a result of race antagon- ism, rather than personal motive. and they called loudly for vengeance, and were not far from creating an incen6ary' uprising Guards were posted to watch over the public safety, an ordinance was issued requiring citizens to be within doors by 10 o'clock at night and 8 volun- teer guard was placed over the jail, be- sides which small detachment of sol .diers were sent thither from Santa Bar bara.
 And now was set in motion all the complicated machinery of the old Span ish law, not altogether unlike the proc esses of the French criminal courts, and various vagabonds and suspicious characters were taken into custody. These prisoners were kept under guard of several soldiers. and they were con-