The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10
Shot to Death While Defending
Wells-Fargo Company's
Treasure.
ESCAPE OF HIS AsSAILANTs
The Gold They Attempted to Secure
Left by the Body of Their
Victim.

SONORA, CAL, Nov. George Morris,
the assistant Postmaster and Wells-Fargo's
agent at Chinese Camp, was murdered
shortly after midnight this morning by
two bandits while defending the express
company's treasure. He was riddled by
buckshot, and died in great agony three
hours after the affray. The men who
committed the murder escaped but it is
claimed that Just before Morris died he
recovered consciousness and informed the
officers who his assailants were. They are
said to be known to Sheriff Cunningham.
The stage from Oakdale brought to
Chinese Camp about 500 in gold with
which to pay the men at the Mammoth
mine. When it arrived Morris took the
treasure box into the Office, while tn stage
rolled on to the only hotel in the camp,
where the horses are changed. When
Morris entered his Office be left the door
open, expecting the down stage to arrive
in few minutes. The robbers had evil
IDENTIFY followed him in, but were not seen
because of an intervening pile of boxes
until they ordered the agent to throw up
his hands.
Instead of complying Morris jumped for
pistol which was lying on desk several
feet from him. He reached the desk, but
before he could raise the weapon charge
from shotgun carried by one of the out
laws struck him, shattering the top of his
skull. He fell to the floor, and his fend-
ish assailants sent another load OF shot
into his PROSTATE body. AS Morris fell
his pistol was discharged, the bullet speed
ing harmlessly over the outlaws heads.
Charles Smith, the hostIer at the hotel
stables, heard the firing and FASTENED to
the Postoffice. He called Morris by name,
and receiving no reply alarmed the neigh
borhood. Lanterns were procured, and
when the stage employees entered the room
they found Morris lying in pool of blood.
He was carried to the hotel, where he ex-
pired several hours later, having remained
unconscious until within few moments
OF his death.
After shooting Morris the outlaws beat a
hasty retreat, leaving the treasure, to Sc
cure which they had taken human life,
lH ing untouched at the feet of the victim.
Hostler Smith saw two men running down
the street after the reports of their guns,
but bastened TO the Postoffice instead of
pu}suing the fleeing murderers.
The robbers were evidently posted about
the shipment of coin from Oakdale on the
stage that had arrived in Chinese Camp
Just before the shooting occurred. Some
$1,000 had been shipped to the agent of the
Mammoth mine, and the men knew when
10 expect it, but it came in installments,
and they would have secured but 500.
Morris bore reputation for great bravery.
He had always slept in the store kept by
himself and brothers, in which the ex-
press and postoffice is located. Some time
ago one of the brothers offered to sleep
there also. "Some night robbers will land
you If you insist on staying here alone, q"
he had remarked to the agent. The latter
laughed at him, and the subject was never
preached again. Morris was a native OF
California, % years of age. He was a
member of the Foresters and the Knights
of Pythias. 1t is feared the shock will
prove fatal to his aged mother.