The San Francisco call., 1896-04-29
Captors Fled in Terror When
Bullets Whirred About
Them.
WOUNDED AND THEN HANGED.
The Accused Officer Unable to Rec.
ogniz, the Slayers Of
the Vaquero.

w EA v Il II LILLE, NAL.. ADrll ZS.-D6D-
uty Constable John Crow to-day described
in detail the lynching of "Jack" Little
field in Round Valley on September 81,
1895. 1t was a romantic tale. The man
who is accused of having assisted in hoist
ing the daring vaquero into the air at the
END of a rope pictured in studied phrase
the narrow escape himself had had from
the borderland vigilantes. He and Van
Horn, his superior officer, had been set
upon by mob while returning with their
captive. Bullets rained upon them. He
saw Littletield reel and fall after having
sprung from his horse to escape the
avengers. Then Van Horn ordered a
flight; they put spurs to their steeds and
the cowboy was left to his fate.
Darkness was settling down over the
realm of king" George White, according
to Crow when Jack" Littlefeld died with
his boots on. There were many men in the
mob-denizens of Round Valley, where he
had lived for years-but he could recog-
nize none of them in the darkness. He
had not even a faint suspicion that
siihouetted in his minds eye the form of
any of his neighbors as among those pres
ent when Littlefield was shot. If Crows 8
bullet and then hanged. 1t is the opinion
of the Lone Riders that he was hanged
and then riddled. At any rate the lynch
ing of the vaquero was not made as pleas
ant for the principal as it might have been.
When the taking OF testimony began
this forenoon, the defense led off with an
attempt to impeach the evidence of Walter
Clark, one of the strongest witnesses for
the prosecution. Clark had sworn that he
heard the shots that killed Littleield.
Only three were fired. He was at the Red
Mountain House at the time. James J.
Garner, William Bonee, J. W. Grist, P. K
O'Farrel and A. c. Perry, farmers and
stockraisers living IN or near Covelo, testi-
fed that they were well acquainted with
Clark and his reputation for truth, hon.
esty and integrity was bad.
In the ross-examination the prosecution
endeayored to bring in the White feud,
asking many questions tending to show
that these witnesses were friendly to
liking" George E. White and were not on
friendly terms with Sylvester Palmer, who
Is at the head of the anti-White faction.
Portions of Potter's testimony, taken at
the preliminary examination in December
last, WSIS OllcISO III duU tIl6 Jury
was instructed to take notice of the fact
that the sun set at $3.50 o'clock on Septem-
Der u, 1895, the day Jack" Littlefeld was
lynched.
The courtroom was thronged at the after
noon session as it was rumored around
town during the noon recess that the de-
PENDANTS were to go upon the stand. The
first witness called was John Crow. The
constable is medium-sized man, with an
intelligent face. He was questioned by
Attorney Reid. Crow said that he went to
Haydon's house on the forenoon of Sept
ember 26. He was told John NJ. Vinton
had been shot and went into the house
and offered his assistance to Vinton. The
wounded man asked him to get Officer
Bayles Van Horn as he wished to see him.
On that same night Crow rode over to Van
Horns place, distance of thirteen miles,
and acquainted Van Horn with Vinton's
request.
He returned the next day with the con-
stable to the Hayden place. They had din.
ner there and left about o'clock in the
afternoon. While there Vinton told of the
alleged meeting with Littlefield, and how
Palmer's vaquero had shot him without
giving him chance to defend his life.
Van Horn deputized Crow as his assistant
in arresting Littletield. The witness told
of the arrest of Littlefield after q struggle
and their return on their way to Van
Horns place. In the Red Mountain tim.
Der, in the dusk of the evening, they were
met by mob. Before noticing the lynch.
ers he saw Littlefeld Jump from his horse
and partly raised his gun, believing Little.
field was trying to escape.
At that moment shot was fired. Other
shots followed. He saw one man stand.
ing in front of a bush close to the trail
and six or seven men in the immediate
vicinity, while others were discernible
fnrther back. They poured in volley ot
bullets upon officers and captive. Van
Horn ordered a retreat. Crow set spurs
to his horse and rode on fast. He saw
Lttlefield clutch his breast after the first
shot was fired, and partly turning his
head as he rode by saw the vaquer1
stretched on his back on the ground, with
his arms extended by his side.
Crow testified that he had no intimatior
or knowledge of the persons who made W
the mob or who were concerned In The
lynching, and did not know who did tn,
shooting. Before detailing the meeting
of the mob the witness swore that Little
field, on setting his watch, which had rur
down. fixed the time at o'clock.
Crow said his rifle was of 40-calibe
Winchester, and he always carried it witt
him in the mountains.
Deputy Attorney-General Post begar
cross-examination OF the witness. which
had not proceeded more than five minute.
when one of the iurymen was seen to b,
in nearly fainting condition, caused by
sickness from which he had been suffer
ing for two days. A short recess wa
ordered, and the juror not improving
continuance was taken until "Wednesday
morning at 10 o'clock
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