Year: 1866

The sad intelligence of the death of John Nc
Kiernan, one of the early settlers of this coun-
ty, and for the last ten years a resident of Ind
ian creek, was received here Friday last, just
after the JOURNAL had been put to press Nc
Herman mining partner with C. NJ STRAIT
ton, ESQ.,. and the circumstances of his death,
as ascertaned from the evidence elected at the
Coroners inquest called by Justice A. R. Earl.
of Weaverville township, are substantially as
follows During Thursday, the goth, deceased,
Strattan and Dan Monnahan had been setting
sluice-boxes in the claim, which is on the south
side of Indian creek, and about half mile above
the town. About o'clock be started up the
ditch, as supposed, to obtain level to as
sst them in their labors, and did not return
As it was near quitting time nothing strange was
thought of this, they supposing that he had re-
mained for supper at some one of the cabins on
the route Bedtime came, and morning, but he
did not return. This aroused suspicion, and
Stratton and Monnahan started in search of him.
Going up to Sigafrieds cabin, they found that he
had not been there. Fearing that he might have
fallen into the reservoir, the water was turned
out of both it and the ditch, but without find
ing any trace of him. Monnahan then started
over to Hatch's place, telling Sigafried as he did
so that the last he saw of McKiernan he was 60
ing up point something over a hundred yards
from the claim. Sigafried returned to the spot,
and turning into the thick brush which borders
the trail, discovered the dead body. Evidently
he had been shot in the path and his body af-
forwards dragged to its hiding place. as the cloth
wadding from the gun was found hanging on
bush close to where he must have passed. All
| 1.afa oil roA hat
der must have been done by Indians, as McKier-
nan was not known to have enemy in the coun-
ty Following up this conjecture, an examina-
ton showed that his hat had been taken, that
one of his boots had been drawn and the leg cut
into gun-wads, and the tracks of two persons,
one wearing moccasin, and the other barefoot,
led from the spot up the mountain-side. Par
ties were left to guard the body and Justice Earl
sent for, who on arrival summoned as jury of
inquest j. Smith, Jos. Daycs, VIM. B. Stoddard,
John Douglas, Jas. G. CorbuS and R. Sillcox.-
The above facts were elected on the 2lst, when
the jury adjourned to o'clock on the following
morning to allow DR.. Todd to procure instru-
ments for post-mortem examination. At the
appointed time the examination made by
Drs. Todd and Martini when it was found that
the ball had entered at the point of the lower
jaw, breaking it, passing under the tongue and
breaking it again on the right side, thence glan-
cling up into the roof of the moath and down
again, breaking the lower jaw on the left side,
and passing along lodged the bone the


left side of the neck. The ball was completely
fattened and broken up in its course. The sup
position is that the shot must have been fred at
very close range, and that McKernan must have
raised his right hand at the moment for some
purpose, the knuckle of the middle finger was
shot away.


The jury rendered verdict that deceased was
named John McKiernan that he was native of
Ireland, about 35 years of age, and that he came
to his death on the Goth day of September by a
rife ball fired from gun in the hands of some
person unknown. The testimony showed that q
shot distinctly heard by several parties at
the hour the murder is supposed to have been
committed, but as it was not an unusual thing in
the neighborhood, no attention was paid to it.


McKernan was quiet and peaceable citizen,
and his untimely death is universally deplored.
He is known to have father and brother living
at Hudson City, N. J. Almost the entire COM
munity in which he had lived so long, followed
his remains to their last resting place in the
Catholic church yard at Weaverville. No one
doubts but that he was murdered by Indians, and
there is reason to believe by Indians who live
and are fostered within few miles of where the
deed was committed. A party composed of some
fifteen citizens of Indian creek and Douglas City
have gone in pursuit in the direction which the
numbering party is supposed to have taken. We
sincerely trust it will be successful. AS is too
often the case, good and innocent citizen has
fallen at the hands of the red marauders, and it
is impossible to tell who may be the next victim.
If the murderers are overtaken we hope they
will not be dlot, unless necessary. Let them be
be taken to 1ndian-infested districts and hung
where the penalty of their crime may be wit
messed by their brethren, and the carcasses left
to hang and rot as terror to them in the future.
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