The herald., 1895-04-11
KILLED HIN WITH A CLUB
A Brutal Murder at Niger
Slough
MARITIME TOLEDO DID 1T
he Slew Juan Guesamburo, a Sheep
Herder
There Had Been Feud Between the Men
for Some Months Over Que stion
of Position

Juan Guesamburo, a sheep herder on
the Dominguez ranch, was beaten to
death by MARITIME Toledo, thief oreman. at
Niger slough, on Tuesday evening
Toledo is still at large but the police and
sheriff's deputies are in hope of effect
ing his capture before very long.
The murder was witnessed by young
Basque, also in the employ of the ranch,
and from his story as given to Coroner
Campbell and Deputy Sheriff Augirre. the
crime was most brutal one.
At Niger slough there is a cabin used
by the herders as cooking place. Tues
day evening about o'clock MARITIME To-
ledo went there for the purpose of getting
his dinner. After he had seated himself
at the table he and Guesamburo began to
quarrel. The Basque refuses to say what
they were talking about. Suddenly both
jumped to their feet Toledo, who is 4
great, powerful fellow, seized the smaller
man by the throat, and glaring at him,
calculated: Damn yon; I'm not afraid
of you." Guesamburo replied that he
bad no fear of Toledo. There they stood
glowering at each other for short time.
Then Guesamburo broke away and ran
out the door, Toledo after him. In the
corner of the cabin was Il pile OF wood.
and Toledo seized heavy stick as he ran.
With this he beat Juan to death. The
latter saw the club upraised and put up
his hands to protect himself. But the
heavy billet was sent crashing down on
his head. breaking his knuckles and
crushing the frontal bone and the base
of the skull
When Coroner Campbell found the body
it was lying Oh quilt in the yard. There
were marks on the abdomen where the
club had struck him and blood was every
where.
Toledo said nothing after he saw that
Guesamburo moved no more. but went
straight to the ranch house, about six
miles away. There he told someone to
ssend a man over to Niger slough to take
care OF the sheep, because he said he was
going away. Then he went to the stable.
saddled horse and rode away. 1t is be-
lieved that he came to this city.
The two men. it seems, have been quar-
reling for some time. Last summer Tole.
do, who for nine years off and ON has
been foreman OF the ranch came to Los
Angeles and had Il severe attack of ty-
phoid fever. While he was i'll. Guesam-
buro was appointed to his place. When
Toledo went back to the ranch Manager
Carson gave him his place back which,
of course, resulted in the removal of
Guesamburo. This caused some hard
feelings on the part of the latter, who
acted very sulkily toward his superior.
Besides this Toledo had borrowed $50
from Guesamburo. and there was some
quarreling over the debt.
Not very long ago Toledo went to Su-
perintendent Carson and asked him to
place 800 OF the amount that was coming
to him to the credit of Guesamburo,
which theilatter did. paying Toledo the
balance due him, which was about S35.
No later than Monday Mr. Carson told
Toledo to instruct Guesamburo to place
some poison in the gopher holes on the
sheep range. Toledo answered that he
had better give the instructions to Juan
personally. Carson demanded to know
why he, rs foreman, objected to issuing
orders to his memo se' at
well, YOU know" answered Martin,
and then ceased speaking. sees
This shows the motive for the crime
Coroner Campbell and Deputy Sheriff
Martin Aguirre, who made the investiga-
ton, say that there is not the slightest
defense that Toledo can make. There
was absolutely no attempt at self defense.
Guesamburo knife was found closed in
his pocket, showing that he had made no
effort to use it. 1.st
The body was brought to this city and
this morning an inquest will be held at
kregelo Bresee S undertaking estab-
lishment, where the body now is.