Amador ledger., 1905-03-10
THE STAPLES MURDER CASE
DR.. F. N. Staples and Mrs. Hoxie Arrive
from Mexico, in Charge of Sheriff Nor
mana Large trowd Await Their Ar
rival in Jackson Incident Of the Trip -
Fake Newspaper Accounts of the Trip.

DR.. F. N. Staples and Mrs. Emeline
Maud HoXie, in charge of Sheriff Nor
man, reached Jackson by stage on Fri
day evening of last week from En-
senada, Lower California, whittier the
accused couple had fled, as it is gen.
orally believed, to escape prosecution.
Their coming was attended by a DEM
onstration such has not been witnessed
in Jackson within our recollection. The
three left the stage at the Globe hotel,
being the nearest point to the Jail. In
anticipation of their arrival Main street
at that point was lined with people, all
curious to catch a glimpse of the noted
couple. Court street, from Main street
to the court house. was also lined with
humanity, gathered for the same pur-
pose of satisfying their curiosity. From
400 to 500 persons were drawn to the
spot. AS the manacled pair disap
peared through the doors of the Jail
yard. some of the onlookers started to
sing, 'tGood-bye."
All along the route from San Fran.
cisco the same eager interest was mani
tested. At Stockton hundreds of peo-
pie were congregated at the depot, and
the same scene on smaller scale was
enacted at lone.
AS matter of common justice to
| SbotiH
correct some of the statements which
have been sent broadcast over the
country through the columns of the
San Francisco dailies in regard to this
case. A dispatch from San Diego
stated that Sheriff Norman and the
captain of the steamer Curacao had
words because the sheriff took the
prisoners on board handcuffed; that
the captain ordered the sheriff to take
the bracelets from Mrs. Hoxie, to
which the sheriff demurred; that the
sheriff finally complied under threat
of being imprisoned in the hold him
self. This incident, we are told, oc-
Cured at Ensenada. We are informed
| by Sheriff Norman that the whole
story, from beginning to end, is fab
rication, pure and simple. 1t was con-
cocted by press reporters at San Diego.
| The steamer did not touch at San
Diego, or any where else between En-
senada and San Francisco, and there
was no means of the reporters obtain
ing any trustworthy news of occur
are these: Sheriff Norman never had
charge of the prisoners on Mexican
soil. They were delivered to him on
| board the steamer Curacao by the
Mexican authorities, and he signed the
receipt for them on the steamer. They
were not handcuffed when they ar
rived, and he made no attempt to hand
| cuff them upon their delivery to him.
No irons were placed on them during
| the whole trip to San Francisco, and
the matter was never discussed be-
tween the sheriff and captain. Not
the least misunderstanding arose be-
tween the Amador officer and the cap
tain. Indeed, the officers treated the
sheriff with every consideration, offer
ing to detail some one to assist him in
looking after the prisoners. In fact he
could not wish to be treated better.
Reaching San Francisco the vessel
authorities again offered assistance,
and placed the baggage of the officer
and his charges on the wharf They
also at the sheriff's request went for a
police officer, who brought cab on
the wharf to convey the sheriff and his
prisoners to the hall of justice. On
leaving the vessel Sheriff Norman took
the precaution to handcuff the prison
ers together. and they were so taken
to the jail and delivered to the turn
key, the latter remarked that it was
the "first time he had seen a woman
come to the jail handcuffed.'' The
observation was made in the presence
of the turnkey, the sheriff. the two
prisoners and one other person, be-
lieved to be reporter, who laid much
stress upon it in the columns of one of
the dailies next morning. But the re.
porter omitted to say that the turnkey,
on finding out that it was the sheriff
delivering extradited prisoners charged
with capital crime, afterward made
ELUSIVE apologies to Sheriff Norman
for the uncalled-for remark. He came
to him more than once. saying that he
hoped he would overlook his hasty
words, that he mistook him for one of
the local police delivering prisoners of
the misdemeanor class; that under the
circumstances he did not blame the
officer for taking every precaution to
safeguard his prisoners.
While in Norman's charge no report
ers were permitted to interview the &C
cused pair. 1t is probable that in the
custody of the San Francisco officials
they were interviewed by newspaper
men. w. J. McGee also visited DR..
Staples, having been requested by the
latter to meet him there.
The intimation in one of the inter-
views that either of the prisoners had
been subjected to harsh treatment is
without foundation. During the whole
of the voyage the couple were SEEM
ingly in excellent spirits, chatting freely