The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-19
THE MURDER OF HANS CORNELIUS.
Sheriff O'NeiI and Deputies Running
Down Suspects.
A Strong Belief That Neel and the In
dian Know More Than They
Have Told.

when ii. L. Cornelius was killed, as al.
legged, by two masked men, were both ar
rested on Saturday and are still in jail on
suspicion Of having been connected with
the tragedy.
a resident of the neighborhood arrived
at the saloon shortly after Cornelius was
killed. Neel and the Indian had already
departed, and the side of the barroom was
burning, having been set on fire by the
breaking of bracket lamp.
The visitor put out the fire and then
found Cornelius dead, with his pockets
tanned So so.
There are some circumstances con-
nected with the affair that seem to war
rant the suspicion that Cornelius was not
killed by strangers. One story is that a
short time before the tragedy the Indian
was seen by young man leaning on the
bar and having some rather hot words
with Cornelius because the latter would
not give him liquor.
1t is thought that this incident was the
beginning of an encounter between the
two, in which the lamp was knocked
down and which resulted in the Indian
shooting Cornelius. The position of the
wounds are such thatit is thought Corne-
Illus was shot outside the bar.
Neel is said to have had considerable
money in his pocket when he arrived in
the city on Friday night, which does not
tally with his statement that he also was
robbed by the masked highwaymen who
he says shot Cornelius.
Another thing that looks suspicious is
the fact that when Chief of Police Drew
visited tho saloon he found but two chairs
therein. Yet both Neel and the Indian
say that they and Cornelius were all
seated at the table playing cards when the
masked men entered the door.
1t seems hardly credible that Cornelius
would have got up from the table, as
stated by the two men under arrest, and
started for the bar when he knew the rob-
bers had "tne drop on him." No sensible
man, with his wits about him, would
have thrown away his life so recklessly
as to try and save the few dollars in the
till.
OFFICER TALBOT HAS A THEORY.
There is another circumstance in con-
nection with the affair that makes it look
suspicious for the men now in Jail. Both
Neel and the Indian had been refused
liquor at the saloon that evening, yet it
appears they met one another mile this
side of the soloon and after q consulta-
ton returned TO the saloon, where they
say they were playing cards with Corne-
Illus when the masked robbers entered.
Now, if Cornelius had refused both the
men liquor and had had high words with
them over the matter, it is hardly likely
he would have sat down to a friendly
game of cards with them after they went
back there.
ANOTHER POINTER.
In an interview with Indian Jake YES
terday Officer Talbot got from him the
admission that he went to work for Mrs.
Guth, on her ranch on the A1arysvile
road. about week after old man Grad
dock was murdered in his saloon, near
there, last July. He also admitted hav-
ing purchased pistol prior 10 that, and
says it was a 44-caliber weapon and had
but one cartridge III il.
The man who murdered Craddock had
previously shot his harkeeper, Thomas
Slack, with 44-caliber pistol, and then
beat Craddock to death with The weapon,
which was partially wrecked in the act,
some OF the pieces having been found by
Sheriff ONeil in the barroom of the
hotel. The other victim, the Chinese
gardener, was also dubbed to death.
Slack says the man who shot him
through the cheek was of very dark COM
plexion, and he thought he may have
been an Italian. Talbot thinks it possible
that there may be something in this that
may throw some light on the mystery OF
that triple tragedy.
The fact that Slack alone was shot and
Craddock and the Chinaman were beaten
10 death might be accounted for by the
fact that the murderer had but one cart
ridge in his pistol.
Ii the Indian tor half-breed) went to
work on the Guth ranch week later
which can be aScertained, of course-it is
possible he may have been hanging
about the Craddock place at the time OF
the murder.
Another circumstance that Talbot men
tons in connection with the matter is
that the Craddock murder and the Cor
MENUS murder have strikingly similar
features. In neither case was the saloon
robbed, showing that the murderer was
apparently IN search of liquor only. At
all events, there seems to be chain of
suspicious circumstances connecting the
two murders which 1t would be well to
investigate thoroughly.
DIR. White performed an autopsy on
Cornelius on Saturday afternoon He
found that one bullet struck the lett arm
between the elbow and wrist. The other
struck the right arm between the elbow
and shoulder and passed into the BODY
about three inches below the arnpit 1t
broke short rib and passed through the
right lung, the spinal column and the left
lung, and lodged against the ribs on the
left side.
The body was taken out to Cornelius,
home Tor burial. The deceased was
welI-to-do farmer in that locality, where
he leaves wife, two sons and two daugh-
tiers, VINO are grief-stricken over the re-
suit OF the terrible tragedy. He was a
member of Florin Lodge, L. o. O. F.. and
was man greatly esteemed by his neigh
bors.
The Coroner's inquest into tho affair
Will he held tomorrow evening.
RUNNING DOWN CLEws.
Sheriff O'Neil and Deputy Ben O'Neil
ascertaiued that two suspicious characters
were living in cabin near Nyiliov
Slough, and went out there about o,clocls
yesterday morning and arrested them.
They proved to be white man and a
negro, but did not answer the description
given OF the.murderers, both being below
medium hight.
Although nothing was found to crimi
nate them in this case, the officers found
in their possession a brass beer faueet
the projecting portion of which was well
wrapped with rags, SO that although il
would stun or even kill man, it would
probably leave no mark. 1t is evident
that the men are desperate characters and
prepared TOR robbery and murder.
Yesterday morning q telephone mas
sage was received at the Sheritf,s office
that two men had been seen at Wen,elI
Il earth's place, near Benson's Ferry.
They spoke to man who had known !
them in Oregon and knew them To mo
hard cases. They wanted to go TO Stock
ton. and admitted that they were avoid
ing the railroad because they wished To
get there quietly.
Deputies johnson and Mcdonald i'm.
medialely boarded u freight train, aud.
going 10 Gait, procured horse and
buggy, and intercepted them at New
Hope. A message was received last night
that they had arrested the men, but no
particulars were given. 1t is evident
from the action of the men that lhey gro