Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-11
THE DUMB WITNESS.

Ahe hNtoHes OF ialIoruin chronicle
briefly, IA the sections devoted to T.ol
Angeles county. tho murder In 1871 Of
one Nicholas Finch, a German. Bui
naugh; say those chronicles concerning
certain curious details connected will
that crime, known 70 those vcned In IN,
unwriiten history OF southern California
and these matters are set forth a. fol
lows;
Fronting the old parish church ol
Nucstra Sonora Ia Reina dc Los Angelo.
,till stands today long. old fashioned
building Of two stories. with dormei
Widowed roof, once the Toidence ol
bis reverence the bishop Of this diocese.
This cditee Il now the focus-tho thea.
ter. believe.-of tho Chincse quarter,
and the cross that topped IL. 40 long n.
iniliar to the eyes Of Angclonos, has
bcon supplanied by the great swinging
s,niorns u laoqucrcd wool aud brilliant
hnsd paper.
Ere this house came 20 be used IA the
episcopal abode, Nicholas Finck kept
within 1t little shop where he sold
liquors, groceries and other miscellane-
Gus wares. From time 10 time he 70.
pleniahed his stock from tho vessels
which touched at San Pedro. and whom
he went down TO that port to make hi.
purchases, he was wont 90 leave his door
key with his friends. Charles Barrie and
his wife Sophie, French people living
across the plaza, close by the church.
about where is now the siic oi a modest
Photograph gallery.
One day Nine. DArio discovered that
her compadros door was not opened, and
she tnarvoled somewhat theruat, know.
Ing, first, that no trading vessel was
anchored nj fan Pedro, and. moreover.
that'Finck always, a. has been said,
brought his key 10 her when going afold.
Aud her wonder became alarm when
three days passed, and the door remained
closed, and there was no sign Of her
friend and neighbor. SO tho little
fronchwoman crossed tho plaza, her
husband having been for some days alb
sent from tho pueblo, aud she knocked
at tho door Of Nicholas Finck, and. got.
ting no answer, she put fst her eve,
then her ear and then her nose TO tho
keyholo. The eye saw utter darkness,
tbs ear heard no sovnd from within, IN
10 her nostrils came an odor at once foul
aud forbiddinK that made her limbs TO
quake, her hair 10 creep. her gorge 10
rise and hcr blood to curdle. And she
fastened away with fear aud trembling
aud told her misgivings TO Manuel Re.
quena, who. In those days. was tho al.
cnilr.
Then Don Manuel. seeing that tho
case indeed, wore an ominous aspect,
called on Don Ygnacio Coronel, who
held an Office corresponding 10 our pres.
ent clerlsship Of tho courts, and they
went to the house OF Einck, with three
stout alguaciles (constablea or bailiiis).
who broke open the door. after tho al.
cslde had thrice Summoned and received
no answer. When the nauseous stencil
that came forth had boon In some meas.
ilro weakened by the thrush OF frosh air.
they stspped within and at once saw, in
side the narrow room. tho body OF tho
ourman, lying near tho counter,
stretched In a pool OF blood, stlffencd
aud iccomposing. His head was beaten
q pieces. and the barrel Of gun, that
had been hammered somewhat toward
the FORM OF bludgoon. showed the
means OF his murder.
lhe officers proceeded TO examine the
premises, whose conditioA told. no, too
obseurcly, the story OF tho crime. Some
small wares on the counter and a magni.
Tying glass olutched In tho fingers OF tho
dead man indicated that he had been en-.
gagged In a dealing Of business when lac
was stricken down. That the as.aasins
bad riiied tho little shop was manifest by
the state of the effects, some scattered.
eomo evidently missing, that they had
escaped by the tear was doubly proved
by tho barring inside Of the street door
and by the leading 10 tho inner rooms Of
bloody footprints whose number and
variety OF shape showed that four or FIVE
nasSilAnt bad been present. The living
rooms, behind the shop had been plum.
dercd, but tine outer door. leading into
the usual corridor and thence to n low
walled corral, had been shut, and even
locked, FROM the outside. The soarohers
opcned this door and stepped into the
yard.
They have killed his dog alsoi" cried
Don Hgnacio Coronel, at sight OF a great
stretched on his eide upon the
earthon door OF tho corridor. But oven
n' he spoke the creature stirred, alightly
lifted his head, glanced toward them,
and feehly waggod his tail. When thoy
went 10 hia they found that he waa
tethcrod by fast chain, and was gaunt,
weak and almost furnished, having been
without food or water since the day be-
fore his master was murdered.
I'VE mnst succor this poor creature,
not only from humanity, but also as a
said Don Ygnacio; che
might possibly prove to be a valuable
witness"
The alcalde looked sharply at the other.
NJ II 10 see IL he were iesting, and tho
alrua@ilss grinned broadly. But Don
Nsnacio's face was serious oven to 30.
lrmnity, M beiitted the occasion, aud
one Of the inen was promptly dispatched
for food and water, which was admins
tored To the dog.
The discovery Of this murder was fol-
lowed by wild excitement in the pueblo.
The resident ioroIgnen--that Is, not
spanish-Amerlcans-Hs usual, acted IA IL
The crime We're q result Of race nntngon-
Ism rather than personal motive, aud
they called lsudly for vengeance, and
wore not far from creating nm incendiary
uprising. Guards WAN. ,,nata1 o.. ,,,,t.h