Amador ledger., 1905-09-01
COld-BlOOded Murder
in Alpine County
John PendoIa of Jackson Shot Dead
by the Notorious A. BadaracCa.

ance for body,,' or words to that
effect. There was nothing to indicate
in what manner he came to his death.
although the wording would carry
the idea that he died from natural
causes. Pendola and Tony Badarraco
went up to the Badarraca stock range
in Alpine comfy some two or three
weeks ago. They have been in the
habit of going there every year dur
ing the summer months to look after
the cattle of q. Badarraca. John
Pendola was about 40 years age.
J. O'Connell and Will Kerr reached
Jackson from Kirkwoods, and give
particulars of the most atrocious and
cold blooded murder that has occur
red for many day in the killing of
PendoIa, by the notorious Tony Bad
aracco, at the cattle ranch of Bad
aracca, two miles from Kirkwood, in
Alpine county, on Sunday, August
9th.
| Badaracca is now in the custody
of the sheriff of Alpine county, on
the charge of murder preferred as a
result of an autopsy and the verdict
of the coroner's inquisltion held
at Kirkwocd, on Tuesday, August
18th.
The deceased, John Pendola, has
been working for Badaracca for the
past two years, and few days pre-
vious to the killing had been down
to Jackson. On the way to Badar-
acca S ranch in company with Antoine
Badaracca, the latter, it is said, made
various and repeated threats that he
was taking Pendola up to the ranch
to kill him! Why he did so does not
yet appear, nor has any motive what
ever been assigned for the crime.
Various rumors have reached Jack
son, among them a report that on
the day of the killing, Pendola had
horserace with Will Kerr at Kirk
wood, Pendola riding Badaracca's
horse. Badaracca's horse was defeat
ed in the race, and Badaracca became
incensed on account of it. An alter
cation followed, and as result Pen
dola was shot by Badaracca.
1t seems that after the horse-race
on Sunday, Jack Ruttner invited
BadaIacca and Pendola up to his
place, some two miles from Kirk
wood. On the way there Badaracca
missed Pendola from the party, and
went back with Ruffner's boy, lad
about fourteen years, in search of
him. When they reached the barn at
Badaracca's they saw John Pendola
coming through the willows near by
leading his horse. Pendola got to
the door of the barn, and took the
bride off his horse, and was about
to take off the saddle when Badar-
acca drew his pistol, and shot him,
making some remark as he fell, that
he got his deserts. Ruffner's son
heard the report of Badaracca's
Leuger pistol and saw Pendola fall
dead. Next morning Badaraco paid
the boy dollar to go down and see
If he could find Pendola. The boy
obeyed and came back with the report
that Pendola was dead. Whereupon
Badaracco offered to give the boy
hundred dollars if he would keep the
murder to himself. The boy being
afraid kept his dreadful secret until
Monday afternoon, August 18th, when
he told his father, j. E. Ruffner, who
at once reported the crime to the
authorities at Markleeville. In con-
sequence of the illness of the coroner,
not reach Kirkwood until Wednesday
morning, August 80, when sheriff
Grover, the district attorney, coroner,
the physician, and deputy sheriff
arrested Tony Badaracca. At the
time of arrest Badaracca was play
ing a game of casino with John
O'Connell, the old time stage driver,
known so familiarly in this section
as "Jacko. :" The prisoner was
armed with a Lueger pistol, and
had his hand on the breech, attemp
ting to use his weapon when arrest
ed. Sheriff. Grover and his, possee
covered the prisoner with guns and
effected his arrest from behind, John
O'Connell being in front of the
| accused seated at a card table. Tbe
coroner S inquest was in accordance
with the above facts, and the autopsy
revealed a guushot wound, the ball
entering the body about half an inch
from the navel, going through the
abdomen and breaking the spinal
column, causing instant death. Bad
araca removed the rope halter from
| tht horse Pe1dola was leading at
the time of his death, and placed the
same around the neck of the deceased,
dragging his hody from the spot
where the murder occurred to the rear
of the barn. The body was found in
that condition with the face down
ward. After his arrest Badaracca
professed entire ignorance of what
he had done, and made the pretense
of inquiring why he was handcuffed,
and under arrest.
The body of John Pendola was
brought to jackson for burial on
Thursday August, 31st. The deceas
ed was brother of Mrs. Dominick