The morning call., 1893-06-16
HIS FATAL AIM.
Express Messenger Killed
by a Highwayman.
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
The lone Stage Attacked by Robber,
Who Failed to Secure the
Treasure Box.
Special to THE MosNINe CALL.

JACKSON, June 15.-The mail stage on
the way from lone to Jackson was at
tempted to be robbed by lone highway
man at the foot of narrow grade about
four miles from here about o'clock this
evening. The stage had four passengers
inside, two of whom were ladies' and one
on the outside, besides the driver, Clint
Radcliffe. and Well Fargo's guard, Michael
Tovey, who sat on the boot by the driver.
The point selected for the crime was the
Identical spot where some five months ago
the same guard, then walking ahead of the
stage, found the way barricaded by a
strand of barbed wire cut from alongside
the road and stretched across the roadway.
On the present occasion the ro bier was
concealed behind some rocks on tn Q right
side of the road. He wore no mask, ex-
cept that his face was blackened. The
driver says no word to halt was given.
Some of the passengers say they heard
call. When opposite the place of conceal
ment. without the least intimation of the
bloody work about to be cOnsummated,
the discharge of weapon was heard, and
rovey instantly fell forward off his seat.
Radcliffe grasped him by one hand as he
was falling, and guided him to the boot,
thereby saving him from falling into the
roadway. The ball struck Tovey behind
the right shoulder. and is supposed to
have pierced his heart.
Six horses were attached to the stage
and the crack of the rifle frightened them
into gallop. The robber, seeing that he
was likely to be foiled in his design to cap
ture the booty. fired again. This time the
ball grazed Radcliffe's back. producing a
slight flesh wound. The horses still con-
tinued to run and the highwayman, now
standing in full view In the road, fired
twice again at the horses, wounding one
each time. The stage was swept along by
the impetus of the uninjured horses for
two or three hundred yards, wnen the
driver halted and turned the Two injured
animals into field and came on. bringing
the body of the murdered messenger to
Jackson. reaching here about o'clock.
The robber made no effort to follow the
stage to its halting place. The double
barreled shotgun belonging to the mes
senger was kept on board, and this fact
probably deferred the assassin from fol-
lowing up his scheme. Besides this the
firing was heard by several farmers work
ing in bayfield, near by. and they came
running to ascertain its cause. The rob-
ber escaped into the thick brush on the
south side of the road, making toward
Sunny Greek. He is described as short
man, about 51a feet tall.
There was treasure on board the stage,
both for Amador City and Jackson. 1t is
remembered that when the wire was
strung across the road on the previous oc-
casion referred to there was considerable
coin on board bound for Amador City to
pay off employees of a mine there.
Tovey, the victim of the tragedy, Is a
single man between 40 and so years Of age
He has been a messenger for Wells-Fargo
for twenty years and has been wounded
three times before by road agents. he
has been a messenger on the lone road for
six years. There is much excitement over
the affair. Sheriff Gregory and posse
started at once in pursuit on hearing of
the tragedy.
LATFR.-In dressing the body it was
found that Tovey was shot twice. The
first shot went clean through his body,
passing through his heart. Another ball
entered the right side below the armpit
and lodged back of the left shoulder,
whence the ball, a 44-caliber Winchester,
fell out while dressing the body.