The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-19
HIDING a MURDERER,

A Story of Early DAYS in San Jose-Ead
OF a SwindIing Mexican Gambler.
my experience on one occasion in
early days in this city led me to believe
that among the rough classes they had
a very expeditions and thorough way of
disposing of murders by doing away
with the Victims" said pioneer of that
city. This method obviated the in
convenience TO which murderers are
often, in these days, subjected by rea-
son of tedious trials, and not to say any
thing of the confinement in Jail and
danger of being hanged. The incident
to which refer took place in 1850 in an
adobe Mexican gambling-house. As
near as can Judge it stood little to
the south of the site of the new post
Office building. If am not mistaken a
portion of the walls of the building
were standing not long ago.
81 had not been in the habit of fire.
quenting such places. but as 1 had a
little time l thought l would look
around and see what could find in the
way of excitement. | was rather fool
hardy those times and pushed my way
into this little adobe hut that was
crowded with drunken Mexicans, all
engaged in gambling. There were not
many white men in San Jose then, most
of them having gone to the gold mines
in FL Dorado and other northern coun-
ties, and when l made my appearance
among the crowd of dark, hard-looking
gam blers they looked at me with con-
siderable surprise.
81 made nv way to the table where
they were playing a game Of cards. I
never knew what kind of game it
was, for the instant 1 looked on the
table there happened startling Incl
dent which completely disconnected me
and made me rush from the place in
alarm. The report of a pistol rang out,
and a Mexican who was seated on a
bench next to the wall dropped dead
with a CHASTITY wound in his head. l
and a number of others scrambled out
of there Immediately, and l went and
notified the alcalde and several other
officers Of the place.
81 think the government building was
located then about where Druids' hall
is now, at the northeast corner of Mar
ket and FL Dorado streets. Several of
the officers went with me to the gam
bling house. There was considerable
delay, and it was an hour after the fatal
shot was fired before we finally reached
the gambling house The games, which
were open and did not seem TO be in
the least prohibited, were again in
progress as if nothing had happened,
and no trace of dead man was TO be
found.
Inquiries of the gamblers as to the
shooting scrape and a man being killed
were met with looks of amazement and
wonder and denials that there had been
any such occurrence. There were no
traces of blood on the wall or on the
bench where the murdered man sat,
and I found myself IN the peculiar posi-
ton of being entirely unsupported in
my story about murder. then made
a search for the body or other evidence
Of the crime. l suspected that I was
more than retarded in nv work by the
officers. | spoke Mexican very well,
having been among them several years.
Il was not satisfied, and demanded
that there must be some sort of an Off
cial inquiry into the affair. To this
the authorities acceded, and the next
day half dozen OF those that I was
sure had seen the tragedy were called
upon to testify what they knew about
il. To nv astonish ment, even under
oath, all disclaimed any knowledge of
any pistol having been fred or anyone
having been shot at the time I claimed
or al any other time that day.
1t was claimed by the witnesses
that no one was missing among their
friends or acquaintance and therefore
nobody could have been murdered. So
was the testimony against
NE that the officers began 10 turn upon
ne looks as II they suspected me Of in
sanity and | actually began myself to /
lou BIT whether or not the awful scene
had beheld was reality or 2 vision. !
The investigation came 70 nothing and !
lOthjng more was ever done about the I
natter I atterward learned IN a cor
identisl sort Of wsv that the murdered I
nan was verv hard character and /
'windler a g; cards, and therefore he had I
ong been marked out among the /
ram blers as g victim FOR s bullet.
On one occasion in question he had /
been doing some especially hiFh-handed 4
work and his end came How the BODY 1
vas ever spirited away SO neatly and I
on pleteIv in a short space OF time was
mystery that ! never could solve. I
The gamblers never showed any feel 4
ng against ne FOR my action in the .
matter. Some Of my friends told me I 4
night be n danger after that, bat al 4
hough for several months subsequent +
: I was around among the Nexicans a: .
II hours OF the day and night was f
ever harmed or even threatened. -
san jose Gal News