The record-union., 1893-06-17

|
berry of the stage from lone to Jackson
last evening occurred near the top of the
Morrow grade, not more than half mile
east of the Mountain Spring House, and
| three-quarters of a mile west of the point
where the barbed wire strand was placed
across the road several months ago. The
spot was peculiarly selected for such q
crime-about the least likely along the
route for the bandits purpose. For all
this, its selection showed great determi-
nation on the part of the robber, and pos
sibly, in view of all circumstances, of
shrewdness aud deliberation.
There is a gateway where the robber
stood, on either side of which is stone
fence. Just inside of the fence is a buck
eye bush which, together with the wall,
served as cover for the murderer. He
had evidently been waiting some little
time. He had taken the precaution to
! burn the grass around where he stood,
perhaps to prevent his footprints being
discernible.
| The field in which ne stood belongs to
Fred Werner, butcher of Suffer Creek.
Less than half mile south is dwelling
house, where man named Stevens, who
attends to Werner's ranch, lives. Half
mile or so southwest p. Gibbert's farm
house is III full view.
! ION the opposite side of the road, in
Norrow's field Griesbach, Morrow and
one or two others were working, har-
vesting hay. They were not only within
hearing, but it is said within view Of the
scene of operations. For nearly half
mile in every direction the country is an
open stubble field, which the robber had
to cross before reaching the cover of
heavy brushwood. The stubble field
yielded no impression of foot tracks, so
that the officers were completely baffled
as to traces.
! 1t is strange that as shrewd and cool
road agent as this villain doubtless was
should pick out such an exposed place
| for robbery or murder. One fact may
throw light on this. Tovey, the muir
dered guard, was in the habit of carrying
his gun unloaded over those portions OF
| the route which were considered the least
| likely for highwayman's work. After
| passing the brushy and uninhabited
stretches he would take the shells from
his gun and put them in his pocket 1t
is said he adopted this plan partly to
guard against mishap to passengers by
the accidental discharge of his gun. Also,
his idea was on sighting a suspicious
person to descend from the stage, get on
the off side and fight from the cover of the
coach. At any rate, the point where he
| fell was regarded as one of the least dam
ger and his gun was empty when he met
his death.
The passengers in the stage were as fol-
lows: Inside, John Frey, of West Berke-
| ley, on his way to Volcano; Mrs. Quilici
and son of San Francisco, Mrs. Ginocchio
of San Francisco, bound for Jackson.
Outside were Clint Radcliffe, driving, and
! NJ. Tovey, the guard, sitting on the left of
the driver, on the same seat. w. NJ.
! Shallenberger of Sacramento, on his way
to Jackson, was the sole occupant of the
outside seat above the driver
Driver Radcliffe was the only one on
| the coach to notice the robber before the
| shot was fired. He caught sight of him
with his weapon pointed before he had
time to speak,
The crack of the rifle told of murder on
the wing. Tovey pitched forward dead.
This ball, as was afterwards shown by
the autopsy held by DR.. B. II. Schacht.
entered the right side between the eighth
and ninth ribs, fract1ung the upper Dor
der of the ninth rib, ranging upward,
rupturing the aorta, and passing out to
the left of the left nipple. Not a sound
escaped him. Not a movement was
made. Life was extinguished as quick
as the bullet plowed its way through his
body. Radcliffe and Shallenberger both
grasped HIM as he was falling, and gently
guided the body to the boot.
The second shot was probably aimed at
the driver. 1t struck the seat and passed
through the cushion on which sat Shall
lenberger, and then struck Tovey, as he
was falling, under the left shoulder-blade
in the back, fracturing the scalpula and
ranging downward into the thoraclc cav
ity. EITHER shot would have caused in
slant death. The second ball passed
through Radcliffe's coat and grazed the
back of his shoulder.
Two more shots, each crippling a horse
in the leg, finished the robbers daring
work. Not shot was fired by those
from the stage.
After stopping the stage some 800 yards
from the scene, the robber was seen still
standing behind the BUSH He stooped
down, as if picking up something in the
grass, supposed to be the DISCHARGED
shells. He waited until the men from
Marrow's field reached the stage and as
sisted in lifting the body inside, and then
ran along the division fence in south-
erly direction.
The passengers inside were terribly
frightened. One of the ladies tainted on
Tovey's body being lifted inside. The
victim was brought TO Jackson by the
stage.
There were fully two hours of daylight
but no telegraph Office nearer than Jack
son, so that it was at least one hour be-
fore the officers could be Notified. Con-
stable Kelly and W. Love, both of jack
son, were first on the spot Not trace
could be found. Nothing was left by
the robber. Tovey's hat was picked up
near by.
"A Chinese peddler was passing the spot
when the shooting was going on and had
to wait until it was over. and had the best
means of observing the robber. Sheriff
Gregory proceeded to lone to see him.
and if possible to get full description.
The bandit is described as five feet six