The San Francisco call., 1896-08-26
VALLEYS TRAGEDY
Seven Men Formed the Party of
Lynchers That Hanged
Littlefeld.
How Joe Gregory's Boasts Were
Fulfilled in the Ozark, and
Bloody Ground"

WEAVERVILLE, CAL, Aug. 25.-n
Joe Gregory did not assist in the murder
of Vaquero "Jack" Littlefield, on Red
Mountain last September, he is destined to
martyrdom as victim of circumstances.
The network of evidence that is closing
about the subject of King George E.
White is one that he can scarcely break
through. Gregory, if innocent, was SO
unfortunate as to have had lynching "on
the BRAIN" and whenever he gave way to
his peculiar mania he INDUCED his COM
panions in advice as the proper manner in
which LittIefeld and Yes Palmer should
be removed from earth. Gregory was
always intent on "doing up" his enemies,
but not in fair combat, man to man.
The first witness this morning was
Henry Smith Hoaglin, who testified that
he had met Gregory in the latter part OF
June, 1895, on the road between Covelo
and the Indian reservation. Gregory pro-
posed that Hoaglin go into partnership
nth him for the purpose OF "doing up
LII ttlefeId and Yes Palmer. He wanted
some man who would stand by him ''in
case of showdown" he said. Gregory
told the witness that at the time that he
Gregory had cut Littlefield he would
have killed him but that the knife closed
on his hand.
Frank Hanover, who has been employed
since the Van Horn and Crow case in look
ing up evidence for the prosecution, de-
clared that he had heard Gregory say that
he would kill Littleield. Gregory wanted
to organize a mob to kill both Littlefeld
and Yes Palmer, and he wanted Hanover
to help.
He gave list of those who were willing
to help, saying that Baylis Van Horn,
Tom Hayden and John Crow were ready,
and adding that George White and others
would stand between him and all harm,
and that he could depend on George White
to the amount of $4,000. Gregory's step
father, Williamson. his mother and sister
had also been heard to express the opinion
that Littlefeld ought to be hanged.
On redirect examination by Deputy
Attorney-General Post, Henover related a
conversation that he had with Gregory on
the 10Th of August, 1895. He asked
Gregory why he had gone to Mad River,
and Gregory replied: II guess it amt any
"We were going to get up mob to hang
Littletield and Palmer. They are camped
on Red Mountain Creek, and 1 thought
would sound you to see how you felt about
the matter" Gregory said all he wanted
was one other man to do the shooting and
the balance to prove an allbl.
Hanover testified that he was at Tom
Haydon's house at daylight on the m morn-
ing of September q (the day of the lynch
ing) and met there Cain, Buck Lacock,
Tom Hayden, the Fleetwood boys and J.
NJ. Vinton. Laycock went after Gregory
and Radcliffe, and Hanover saw the three
returning to Haydon's house, after which
Hanover left for Bald Mountain.
The witness was questioned about the
Sherman murder at Covelo several weeks
ago, and whether or not Sherman had
been supn1oned to testify on behalf of the
people. He did not know.
DR.. Goyer was called shortly after the
opening of the court this afternoon. He
said that he had been summoned to at
tend J. NJ. Vinton on September 26, 1895.
"Bill' Espy had undertaken to escort him
to Haydon's house. where Vinton was,
but having procured bottle of whisky
Espy became intoxicated, lost the way
and fell asleep in Cricket Gulch.
Cover arrived at his destination an hour
after sunset and found Crow, Lacock,
Vinton and Cain at the house. Tom Hay
don and Gregory came about 10 o'clock.
Baylis Van Horn came later. The crowd
left the house about o'clock, armed with
Winchester rifles, and returned about 80.
Lacock returned later.
William Shores, brother of Mrs. Vim
ton, testified that as he was approaching
Haydon's house on the afternoon of Sep
tember 81, when about quarter or half a
mile from the house he observed Mrs.
Hayden out with a spyglass, looking in
the direction of WylacAle range. He also
observed seven men on horsebac riding
around hill west from Haydon's house.
He asked Mrs. Hayden what she was
looking at, and she replied that she was
looking to see if Littlefield had taken the
cattle out of the Wylackie corral Vinton
gave him the names of the seven men.
They were the Van Horn brothers, La
cock, Hayden, Gregory, Radcliffe and
Grow. Later Vinton said, when asked
why they did not get back, that "there
might be some mischief or trouble" or
something like that, and that they were
going to arrest "Jack" LlttlefieId for
shooting him. Hayden and Lacock re-
turned about dusk.
"Bill" Espy, the bacchanalian shepherd
was next called. He stated that on the
afternoon of September 81 he saw three
men on horseback travelling ct fast gait
up the Wylackie trail. He watched them
go out OF sight around the Wylackie
corral, toward the Mcpherson place. He
was in company with Frank Potter at the
time and Potter remarked that they were
travelling pretty fast for a warm dav.
Espy said he had heard Vinton say that
at the first saloon he caught LittIefield in
in Covelo he would take dcuble-barreled
shotgun and blow his brains out.
a recess until tomorrow morning was
taken. with -Esnyy- still IN tha ~