The morning call., 1891-03-25
THE RICHIE MURDER CASE.


The most sensational criminal case ever
tried in Northern California has just come
to close by the conviction of c. E. Black
burn of murder in the second degree, and by
the dismissal, on motion Of the District At
torney, of the indictments found against six
of his accomplices. The case is known as
1.-THE whitecap murder case"
It was the old story of vengeance by a
gang of miners upon man who had in
Cured their dislike. One j. w. Richie kept
a tavern near the Bradford mine in Lake
County. 1t was frequented by the miners
and was often the scene of quarres and
fights among the rough element of the
neighborhood. Richie was fighter and a
man OF great muscular strength. he had
ON many occasions thrashea miners who
had provoked him to fight, and a party of
these discounted pugilists resolved on re-
yenge. They met together and laid plans,
as they say. to ar and feather Richie aud
drive him out of the county. Accordingly,
on the 10Th of October, some time after
nightiall, eleven of them. well armed aud
with their faces covered with gunny sacks,
attacked the tavern and broke in. Mrs.
Richie tore the gunny sack from the face Of
one Of the ASSISTANTS. whereupon she was
knocked down and held by one of the gang,
while another Of them fred several shots
into her breast, killing her Instantly. Her
husband opened fire on the assalants ami
killed one of them, but he was soon shot
himself, and died shortly afterward. A
hired man named Bennett contrived TO
make his escape through a back window.
The trouble for The prosecuting officials
was TO get evidence that would convict. The
conspiratorS stuck together, and the only
persons who witnessed the melee besides
them were both dead. Before dying, how
ever, Richie testified that he had recognized
the face of the man whom Mrs. Richie hal
unmasked as that Of Henry Arkarro. He
was promptly arrested, and, on pressure,
he revealed the names of his fellOw-c0nspir-
ators. When they were arrested three OF
them Francis, 0sg0od and Evans - con-
fessed, and the prosecution felt emboldened
to put one OF the murderers, Staley, on his
trial When the case opened Francis and
OsgOod refused TO repeat in the witness
box the testimony they had privately given ;
but Arkarro, Evans, Archer and Birchard
told their story frankly, and under the skill
full management of Clay Taylor, who was
retained to assist the prosecution, a convic-
ton OF murder in the second degree was
secured.
Then the District Alto rney took ND the
case of Blackburn, who was known to have
been one of the leaders in the affair, His
trial was long aud fercely contested. But
the prosecution was able to get in evidence
which satisfied ten OF the twelve jurymen
that he had committed murder in the first
degree. The other two jurymen R. NJ
Beattie and E. G. Stickle-insisted that the
killing of Richie and his wife was only
manslaaghter, and to reach a conclusion the
ten had to compromise on a verdict of muir
der in the second degree. The people of
Lake County think Blackburn should be
hanged, aud outsiders rather agree with
them, but verdict of murder in the second
degree is better than an acquittal or a dis
agreement.
The result of the trial broke down the
other prisoners. Two of them withdrew
their plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty
of murder in the second degree. Two were
allowed to go free, the District Attorney
being satisfied that he could not secure evil
denee to convict. In the case of four others,