The San Francisco call., 1897-01-29
The Old Convict Guilty of
Burglary in the First
Degree.
Sensational Evidence of Two of
His Accomplices in the
Dastardly Crime.
Murder Would Have Been Committed
but for the Inter f.rence of
One of Them.

REDWOOD CITY, CAL, Jan. 2S.-After
trial lasting two days, jury late yes
terday afternoon rendered a verdict OF
guilty of burglary in the first degree
against Asa o. Boyce. During the prog
ress of the trial evidence was prod
which showed that the crime committed
was one of the most outrageous and
despicable ever committed in this county.
Though the crime for which the defendant
was tried was technically that of burglary,
yet the testimony showed it to be one OF
burglary, arson, and, but for tbs inter
ference of one of the parties implicated,
one that might have be- n murder.
Three parties were implicated in the
commission of the deed, enc of whom
turned States evidence and the other
pleaded guilty. Both of the latter took
the stand against the defendant and
min nutely described every step in the dla-
bolical plot. Boyce, who is Ga years of
age and who has served one term in San
Quentin, lives in the mountainous Alpine
District in this county, where he has a
homestead claim on 160 acres of Govern
ment land. His neighbors are few and
far between, one of whom is Frank
Shumet, an old Frenchman, who has a
claim which Immediately adjoins his own.
Another of his neighbors is one Baptista
Bordi.
On the 18th day OF Decem ber. 1896. Shu-
met was living alone in the Bordi house,
an eight-room cottage. What occurred on
that night appeared in evidence on the
trial and is best told by these two boys,
by name Green and Tam, who were i'm
plicated in the crime. Tam, who had
worked with defendant about three years
ago on the latter's pl ace, and Green came
from Boulder Creek on the 18th of Decem-
Der last to the cabin of defendant, where
they arrived about o'clock in the morn
in. Tam was greeted by the old man
with "Hello, thought you were hung
long ago." He asked the boys if they
were looking for work and told them that
if they we're he mad a job for them. The
job referred to was the com mission of this
offense for which probably all three will
spend some time in durance vile.
During the day their plans were dis.
cussed and firearms cleaned and loaded
for the work they proposed to do that
night. What those plans were is best told
by what actually took place as testified to
by the boys. Between z and s o'clock,
they testified, the three left the house and
started for the Bordi house, in which
Shemet was living, distant about mile
and half, and where they arrived between
and 10 o'clock. Tam, who had black
ened his face in order to conceal his iden-
tity, went to the door of the cottage and
knocked, while Boyce and Green concealed
themselves within sight of the door, the
former having shotgun loaded with
slugs.
Shumet, who was in bed, responded TO
the knock, and as soon as he opened the
door was confronted with a loaded re-
volver and told to throw up his hands,
which he did without further urging. He
asked what was wanted and said he did
not have much, but if money or plumber
was what was desired they were welcome
to what he had. To this Tam replied
that he was not after money, but that he
was going to burn up the house. Tam
then made the old man come ont and
call ed Green ana told him to get rope
and tie the old mans hands behind him.
After doing so and blindfolding him they
made to lie down. Taun then said to
him: "You -. l am going to kill you
and throw you in this well. Do you want
to prayP"
To this Green objected and perhaps
saved the old mans life. Boyce and
Green then went into the house and
stripped it of almost everything portable,
Wlllo Iann leu IQe FTeQCQmau away
about 200 yards, where he tied him to q
tree. After ransacking the house it was
sat on fire. They then returned to where
the old man was and removed the blind,
inviting him to enjoy the fire. Before
leaving it was suggested that they tie q
| rope around the old mans neck Just tight
enough to strangle him by slow degrees.
but here the better instincts of one Of the
trio prevailed and they merely tied him as
they supposed securely and left him.
He remained in this position some two
| hours, when he finally worked the ropes
on his arms loose and liberated himself.
Saturday morning he notified the officers
by telephone of what had taken place, and
accused these three parties of the acts.
On the following Wednesday the Sheriff
visited the Boyce cabin and made thor
ough search for the stolen goods, but none
were found. Green and Tam were on
that day arrested. On Friday the officers
again visited the place and found Boyce
at home alone. They again made search
and found in and about the cabin and
| brush Immediately surrounding the same
many articles taken from Shumet, all oi
which he positively identified as his own.
| In formations were filed against all
| three, and the result of the trial of Boyce
| has already been seen. Another and sep
| arate charge, that OF arson, still remains
| TO be disposed OF, but it is thought that on
account OF the conviction on the burglary
| charge, and considering the age Of the old
| man IL will NOT be pressed. He will