The record-union., 1897-12-28
4 Horrible Tragedy in the County
Jail at Quincy,
Lowell Maxwell Almost CiSemhoWeIs Him
self With a Razor.
Had Been Convicted of Burglary in
the First Degree on Two
Charges, but Ended His Life on
the Day Before Sentence Was
to Have Been Passed.

RENO (Nev.), Dec. 2I.-A special to
the Gazette from Quincy, Cal, says:
In the County Jail at this place on
Sunday morning at . o'clock one OF
the most horrible tragedies known for
years occurred. Lowell Maxwell had
been convicted of burglary in the first
degree on two charg $, one for enter
ing the express office last October and
taking an express box out and rob-
bing il of $500; the other for entering
the Welch Hotel, in Humbug Valley,
last September and taking a suit of
clothes. For the offenses Judge Nc
Laugtlin was to pass sentence to-day,
the 9th.
Yesterday morning Sheriff Bradsford
gave Maxwell his dinner as usual.
When it was finished the prisoner
asked permission to shave himself.
This ne had been accustomed to doing
since his incarceration. Not suspect
ing any rash act, Sheriff Bradsford
gave him a mug and razor. Maxwell
said he also wanted to take a bath,
and requested the Sheriff to get some
water.
When the officer stepped out for the
water the prisoner called out to f.
G. Hail, who was in the Sheriff's Of
fee in front of the Jail, and said:
"Good-by, boys; good-by.''
When Lee stepped to the door there
stood Maxwell in his cell with a fright
full cut across his abdomen below the
navel, and his intestines protruding,
spectacle most horrifying.
After the deed the prisoner stated
that he wanted to get rid of this earth,
and heaped curses upon those who
brought about his conviction. DR..
Sponagle was called, but after hasty
examination he pronounced the case
hopeless. In the afternoon DR.. McChes-
ney, County Physician, sewed up the
inteStines. Maxwell died at Ills p. m.
Not only had the razor cut a six-inch
cash in the abdomen, but the intestines
had been cut in four places. at one
point nearly in two. Maxwell said he
would have cut his throat instead if
he had not wished to see his mother
before dying. Beside his parents. he
has numerous brothers, sisters and
othe: relatives here, who are eorely
distressed by his crimes and deeds.
On Friday, by the efforts of Sheriff
Bradsford and the advice of William
H. Kellogg, his chief counsel, Max
we'll consented to reveal the hiding
place of the treasure taken from the
express box by him, on condition that
he should receive S400 Of the 25 per
cent. reward offered by Wells, Fargo &
Co. That evening, handcuffed and
shackled, Maxwell accompanied the
Sheriff, Captain Stone and Mr. kellogg
to the hiding-place. and that evening
and the next morning all of the treas
ure was recovered.
Maxwell's criminal career began in
1884, when he killed man named Rabe
in a saloon row in Greenville. For this
he was not entirely to blame, but he
was sentenced to prison for ten years.
He was subsequently pardoned, and
conducted himself we'll for a few years.
but again started on a criminal career.
The fear of going back to prison was
the cause of his suicide. The robbery,
the trial and conviction OF Maxwell
upon circumstantial evidence, his sub
sequent confession and restoration of
the treasure, followed by his tragic
deed yesterday morning, have kept the
community in a feverish state of ex-
citement.