The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-02-04
A TALE OF JUDGE LYNCH.
Thrilling Story Of the Early History of
California.

| California.
The friends of Royal haywood,
says the Philadelphia Times, will
learn with regret of his death, which
occurred in Paris on November Sd. of
this year. He had strange, event.
full career. Philadsl phIa was his
birth place, and in 1850, at the age
of 20, he left home tor California.
His life henceforLh was associated
With all that was wild and curious in
the sAeiety OF the early miners.
In 1852 the mining camps on the
Sacramento were filed with lawless
characters, and Haywood organized
and headed the first vigilance COM
mittee on the coast. He was elected
sheriff af Calvaras county and was the
principal actor in the trial of Tom
Brannon, a curious espiode IN the
early history of California.
In 1854 haywood and party of
friends were prospecting in a gulch
running down to the Sacramento river
and made rich find. In two weeks
camp was organized with some tour
hundred miners and the gulch for
twenty miles laid oft in claims. Among
the newcomers was an Irishman
named Tom Brannon, and with him
wiie-the first woman that had
come to any camp east of San Fran
cisco. The couple were made welcome
and all hands went to work and built
them log mouse.
Brannon opened a saloon and pros
pered. He was a jovial landlord
whoes custom it was to give every
one of his patrons his morning cock
tail for nothing, and he became quite
popular. His wife had but little 20
say, but it was known that her temper
was awful and she drank much.
A MURDERER IN CAMP.
Some of the men speedily accumu'
lated little fortunes in dust-a
ccotchman named Motif had made
up his mind to start to the coast with
his pile, valued at $4,000. The day
before he was to leave hunter found
his dead body not 400 yards away
from the cabin, and his dust was gone.
There Was a terrible excitement: a
murderer in comp, and no ones lie
was safe.
One morning, about three weeks
later a man came to the camp and
announced thar DIR. Heilburn was
missing. and that there were blood
stains on his cabin floor. The doctor
was learned German of middle age,
who was not only the sole physician
with hundred miles, but skilled
assayer and a man of good character
and much respected.
haywood was asked to take charge
OF the case. He chose a shrewd Yau
kee named Peek, brother of the now
Governor of Wisconsin, and an old
mountain hunter named Myers, who
had Ute Indian follower. At the
doctors cabin they found that body
had been dragged cut through the
door, as there was blood on the
threshold. Inside there was every
evidence of robberJ having been com
mitted.
Myers and his Indian quickly struck
the trail. The broken brush showed
that the body had been dragged, and
the Ute pointed out, on a bank of |
clay, the tracks of two persons. Then
IA discovery was made. Myers measured
the tracks and said: Look yer, men. |
one Of the fellows has no toes on one
foot" They pushed ahead and found |
the body IN sink-hole covered by a
large rock which had been rolled on
ii.
The body was brought to the sar-
face. 1t was crushed and mangled |
beyond recognition. Peek at once
startled the others by saying; "That
isn't the doctor it is taller man
and his dress is differeut.' The ma
joritY thought Peek was wrong
haywood and his posse examined the
ground. The tracks showed that it
was the left foot that likd ethe toes
and strip of red wooden, evidently
part of a shawl, was found cir. ling to
a bush. All signs ceased when they
reached the road.
THE DOCTOR TURNS UP.
While looking around horses gall
lop was heard, and in a few minutes
DIR. heilburn rode up.
"Why, doctor, we were just trail
ing your murderer" tsaid one of the
startled men, ana they told him their
story.
"My God! 1t is my brother they
have killed. He crossed the range
yesterday and found his way to my
cabin, while l have been to Sacra
mento to meet him. We both look alike
but he is taller than l." 1t was at
once resolved to say nothing, so as
to throw the murderers off their