The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-24
WHITES VAQUERO ARRESTED FOR
THREATENING TO SLAY HIS
ENEMY
MURDER OF CHARLES FELTON,
BRUTALLY SHOT Down BECAUSE
He WAS A WITNESS IN A
COMING TRIAL.

UKIAH, CAL, Oct. 23-Murder still
stalks abroad in Round Valley and the old
feuds which have been waged so bitterly
are now reopened with all their accessories
of crime and violence. Following the
murder of Charles FELTON,, another "Ves'
Palmer man, near Covelo on Sunday came
an attempt to slay Palmer himself last
evening just after he had been acquitted in
the fifth trial brought against him by the
cohorts of king" George White.
The startling intelligence of the murder
of Charles FELTON, near Covelo was con-
veyed to Ukiah by private letter to Un-
der Sheriff Handy from Sheriff Johnson,
who is at Round Valley. FELTON, had been
found dead Sunday at his place, about
twelve miles from Covelo, between that
place and Laytonville. The body was
found by Todd Hart and Charles Grevier,
two hunters from Covelo. Immediately
upon receipt of the news Deputy Coroner
II. r. Spaulding repaired to the scene, ac-
companied by DR.. B. c. Bellany and a jury
of six.
The jury, after due deliberation, found
that Charles FELTON,, a native of Essex
County, England, aged So, had come to his
death at the hands of unknown parties.
Upon examination DR.. Bellany found that
a bullet entered the head of the unfortu-
nate man at the base of the SKULL ranged
upward and forward and made its exit be-
low the right eye. Felton's team was near
where the body was found. No harm had
befallen the animals.
Sheriff Johnson is reported as having
stated that officers have a clew as to the
manner of the killing of FELTON,, but every
effort is being made to keep the affair
quiet until further inquiries have been
made.
1t is curious, and probably significant
incident, that FELTON, was one of the warm
est friends "Ves'' Palmer had in
his troubles, and that he was on
the bond of jack Littlefield arrested on a
charge of larceny and for which Littletield
would have been tried had he not been
murdered. FELTON, also at one time had
trouble with ]. NJ. Vinton, alias Clark
Melville, George E. Whites right bower.
He was the principal witness against Vim
ton and one Oliver Austin, who had been
arrested for alleged theft OF some hogs
from Mrs. Annie ]. Tanney. The charge
was dismissed.
The jury in the case of the people VS..
Alfred, better known as Jack" Little
field and Sylvester B. Palmer. known as
'Ves" Palmer, late last evening returned
a verdict OF not guilty after having deib-
Grated upon the case for about five hours.
On the first ballot taken the jury stood
nine for acquittai, three for conviction
on the second ballot ten for acquittal and
two for conviction, and on the
third and all subsequent ballots until
the final agreement was reached eleven for
acquittal and one for conviction. About
midnight the obdurate juryman was won
over and the jury in their room an
nounced the agreement with wild shout
OF Joy. Officers of the court, the defend
ant and attorneys were called, and after
the necessary preliminaries the reading of
the verdict by the foreman of the jury was
awaited with breathless interest by the
many spectators who, despite the late hour,
had waited with intense anxiety for the
verdict. 1t was received with general sat-
isfaction.
Palmer was indicted last June on a
charge of grand larceny preferred by one
+. NJ. Thomson OF Round Valley, a close
friend of Joe Gregory, who was the prin-
c:pai witness against Palmer on every
trial. Alfred Littlefeld was jointly in
dicted with Palmer, but as to him no trial
was necessary, he having been murdered
in the Red Mountain country, and his
death is now being investigated by officers
of two counties. The charge on which
Palmer was tried was the alleged stealing
of certain cow branded III. c." on right
hip and SO on left ribs, being the property OF
F. NJ. Thomson, who made the complaint
against Palmer. 1t was alleged the COW
was driven off by Palmer's vaquero, Little.
field, at Palmer's direction, at the time
when Palmer and his riders were driving
stock to the summer range at Mad River,
which drive has since become famous as
being the one out of which the ''red bald
faced steer case" arose, for stealing which
steer Palmer was arrested, tried and ac-
quilted June last.
The testimony of the prosecution in the
case just tried was, substantially, that the
COW owned by F. NJ. Thomson was seen
by witnesses who swore that she was in
the possession of Littlefield on the range.
This testimony was supported by that of
Joe Gregory, notorious ex-convict, who
stated that Palmer told him he had stolen
the cow and sold her to one George w.
Barnes. Gregory has been the main wit
ness in all prosecutions against Palmer.
Palmer is now under indictment by the
Federal Grand Jury on charge of larceny
for the alleged stealing of Government
cattle. and now that he is acquitted on the
case just tried will be taken. to San
Francisco for trial as soon as that case can
be set. A United States Deputy Marshal
will be at this place tomorrow noon to
take Palmer to San Francisco unless other
arrangements are effected. 1t is said
tonight that arrangements have been made
Tor Palmer to give bonds here before t. l..
Carothers, United States Circuit Court
commissioner. During the past year
faimer has been arrested on four charges
OF grand larceny. Two were dismissed, in
TWO ne was acquitted and the verdict in