The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-20

back to health, and how Iittlefeld has re-
manned loyal to Palmer through every
thing ever since and has still shown dis
position to let the matter against Greg
goIy pass without prosecution-would, al
together, make another story. Here it
simply serves, as stated, to show cause.
In the great gathering of Round Valley
people now in Ukiah attending court or
attending those who are attending court
there is young woman named Mary
Cooper. She lives in the Valley, a few
miles from town and near the house of
Simmons and Yes Palmer. She has for a
lover this Joe Gregory. In his circle this
trial of Gregory has been prime topic of
conversation for long, of course. To
friend, who must be nameless now--for to
mention names is dangerous in Round
Valley-she is reported to have said some
months ago:
"Jack Littlefeld nor Yes Palmer will
ever testify in that case. Remember what
l say. Some people are going to do those
| fellows"
| A few days ago to this same friend it is
again reported this young woman said:
do you remember what 1 told you?
| They did for Littlefeld, and they in
tended to do for Palmer the next night.
l went down there myself to see the row,
but Yes was too fly for them and too
we'll ar:Aed; but they'll get him yet"
The people who link together all the cir
cumstances now known in connection with
this villainy declare it to be their belief
that whether Vinton shot himself or was
shot by some other, Littlefield Lad moth
! ing to do with it, nor did Vinton at first
associate him with it. He was an after
thought, and Vinton's wound was simply
made pretext to cover the execution of
| long premedltated plan of murder. 1t
may be, too, that some persons were led to
| join the "mob" innocent of this, or per-
haps innocent OF its purpose to shed blood.
| AT all events. it is said to be capable of
proof that LittlefelG at the time Vinton
was shot. was five miles away from the
place where he fell.
1t will be remem bered as the story first
given out concerning the shooting of Vim
ton that Littlefeld shot without provoca-
ton from behind a tree; that Vinton had
no chance. Instantly those who knew Lit
tleield best said the thing was impossible
-" it wasn't Jacks style"
Besides" they say, 'if Littlefield shot
him at all he would have shot to kill.
Vinton would never have walked away.
On the other hand, if Vinton knew that
Littlefield or any other enemy was shoot
ing at him, is it likely he would have left
his weapons behind him when he walked or
crawled away? However difficult, he would
have held to them. But it is out of the
question, it wasn't Littlefeld's way. Lit
tlefield's chief handicap was his reckless
bravery. He was SO innocent of under
hand methods that he never suspected
them IN others. He was constantly warned
against ambush, bnt he would only laugh.
He was afraid of nothing on earth. He
was king among vaqueros, would go
where other men did not dare for cattle,
was marvelously swift and sure with a
RATA, lightning and dead shot and rode
horse as though born to it. The last
time he passed through here from
Ukiah he had come the sixty miles in
seven hours without change of horses and,
scarcely stopping, went on into the
mountains. Reckless, brave, fearless, he
had heart in him as big as an OK. Many
a man in these hills owes him for his keep
through a long winter. Some of these
are suspected of having had hand in
his cowardly murder. 1t is true that at
times when he came to town after long
spell in the hills he would drink ana get
noisy, and that he only went to church for
the fun of shooting out the lights, but as
for Jack Littlefield taking a shot at an
enemy from behind a tree. it is impos-
sible."
There are many who speak so.
'I'll tell you what l saw this man dc"
said Harry Lowell. stagedriver. "a man
twice his size insulted him. He struck
the fellow, whereupon the latter backed
away, saying:
81 am not armed; l can't take this
thing up, but some other time
:. 'OhP said Littlefield, SIS it shooting
you want2 l have couple
"Out of their covers he pulled two re-
volvers, one long navy and the other