The herald., 1898-10-13
NOT DUNnAM'S BONES
EXPLOSION OF A ROOSTER
BRAND" RECORD SCOOP
Wild and Woolly Story Told a Suscept-
tble Reporter-Ex-1arshal Gard
Proves Its Incongruity

J. A. Altamtramo. jr., vice president ana
general manager Of the San Juan Mining
company at Los Flores. Lower California
was given as authority BY an evening paper
last evening for the possible solution OF the
whereaboutA&nd fate Of James {. Dunham,
the fiend who murdered his wife, mother
in-law, father-n-law and three other peo-
pie at their. ranch near San Jose. Santa
Clara county, in May, 1895. According to
MIR. Altamirano, Dunham died Of exposure
and thirst on the desert Of Lower California
some time during the early part OF last
year. To do Mr.. Altamirano justice though
he simply tells the story as It was told to
him. He says that some time ago he had
occasion to visit the ranch OF Jose Murino,
situated near his mines. Murillo said that
IN July Of last year stranger came to his
place and aroused suspicion by his strange
manner. He wore a Prince Albert ccat, car
ried a demijchn for water, but had no fur
ther outfit. not even weapons. The stranger
seemed gloomy and apprehensive over
something, would start involuntarily at any
unexpected noise and would converse but
little. After resting, the stranger left the
ranch and bent his steps toward the Gulf
of California. Murillo noticed that the two
upper froint teeth Of the man were w.de
apart. He stood about Ave feet nine inches
Al; height, had greensh brown eyes and his
hair and beard were Of a reddish brown
man discovered the skelton of this stranger
on the desert near the ranch. Murillo had
secured a description Of Dunham and was
positive that his strange visitor had been
the murderer.
Ex-United States Marshal George e. Gard
is probably the best posted man anywhere
regarding Dun ham. as he spent over a
years hard work trying to locate the mur-
derer, heading several expeditions in search
of him. In speaking Of the Murillo story.
Mr.. Gard said last night: There 10 nothing
in the story. 1t is simply out Of the ques-
tion. In the first place, the description is
entirely wrong. Dunham stood at least five
feet eleven inches or six feet. and his eyes
were not a green.sh brown, but a steel gray.
Moreover. his hair was . darker shade of
brown than that mentioned by MurilIo. The
popularity about the front teeth would be
enough to disprove the story, for the rea
son that there was no such ctCdition no6ce-
able IN Durham. His teeth were regular,
and about the only popularity in them was
that one had been filled with gold. No. do
not believe that Dunhams skeleton will be
found so far away from his home l think
that he died IN the mountains In the vicinity
OF his crimes and some day his bones will
be found there"
In addition TO these facts, the matter Of
time is also somewhat incongruous. The
murders were committed in May of 1886,
and the murderer is alleged to have ap-
peared at Murillo's ranch in July Of the
following year. This is fol-de-rol for it was
claimed by man who knew Durham that
he saw the murderer in Hermcs.llo, old
Mexico. about a year ago, and Dunham
would certainly have had no reason for
crossing the gulf to such dreary and des-
olate section as Lower California. In ad-
d!tion, Dunham was at first thought to have
wandered through the mountains to the
Mexican line, and II he did go into Lower
California he would not have been apt to
have occupied fourteen months In reach
ing Murillo's ranch. Mur.llo ought to
change brands. That "Horn-Toad Rooster
brand" is not good as a steady smoke II
| makes one see things that never could have
happened. Mr.. Altamirano left for Sar
Francisco Tuesday night. before the publ.
cation Of the story.