Year: 1877

| COMMISSION OF THE CRIME


! On the first day of May, 1876, Col Broad.


head, United States paymaster, accompanied


by his clerk, Louis Il. Spencer, and two other


men, left Arcata, California, for Camp Gas


ton, situated IN the northern part OF that


state, for the purpose OF paving the soldiers


stationed at that garrison. When the party


were going down the hill about mile from


Redwood creek, moving slowly forward in
| single file, they were fired upon from the
| brush near the trail The first shot was fired
at a pack mule that was in the van, on which
was strapped pair Of saddlebags supposed
to contain large amount of currency. The
ball, which was a large one, struck the mule
in the left flank and passed almost through
the animals body. No one in the party was
| armed, and of conrse the fire was not return
ed The mule, on receiving the shot. started
to run and the party followed. Closely fol-
lowing the first shot came second, which
took effect in Spencer's arm, Just below the
shoulder. The wound was made by three
small bullets, or buckshot, one of which
broke the arm and the other two entered his
side Spencer fell Immediately and erawled
into the brush for concealment. The rest Of
the party ran down the hill They were fol-
lowed by masked man on foot At the foot
of the hill the mule gave out and was left by
the party. The highwayman came running
down, and shooting the animal again, dis
patched it. The party went on some dis
tance, but returned In about two hours to
look for Spencer, but could not find him.
After receiving the shot, Spencer craWled
away because of the extreme pain he was
suffering and endeavored to find house.
Soon after he was fortunate enough to be
found by an Indian boy and taken to house
some distance away, where he met Colonel
Broadhead and the rest of the party. Spen-
Ger was taken to San Francisco. where he
subsequently died from the effects of the
wound His remains were sent to Hartford,
Conn, at which place his mother lived


The highwayman got away with about
$1,000. Efforts were n .de at once by the
authorities to discover the perpetrator OF the
robbery and murder, but without success
until 4 few weeks ago.


About the first of the present month the
sheriff of Nez Perce county, Idaho, had some
reason to suspect Frenchman named Bos-
qui of being the guilty party. This Bosqui
-came 10 Lewiston short time since and was
acting in the capacity of government packer.
The sheriff being apprised OF all the clrcum-
stances connected with the robbery and muir
der, began to quietly make inquiries con-
cerning the antecedents of the packer Bos
aui. From information thus obtained the
officers suspicious were confirmed, and he
was more strongly convinced than ever that
he had the right man. and he determined to
apprehend him for the dual crime. Bosqui,
not suspecting that he was under the espion-
age of the sheriff, was induced 20 enter a
trap laid for him, and was at once arrested
and taken TO Lewiston. He protested his
innoccnse OF the crime on being apprehended-
Only a few days after his arrest Col Whip
pies company came to Lewiston Fortu-
nately, IN the interest Of justice, there we're
two men belonging to that company who
had known Bosqui in California, he being a
discharged soldier These men were brought
to the Jail by the sheriff to identity the priS-
oner. No sooner had Bosqui set his eyes on
the men than he exclaimed, ..Well, it is no
use for me to deny 1t any longer, and his
coolness and composure at once fOrsOOk him.
From all the circumstances Bosqui seems to
be tie guilty party, and there viii probably
be 10 difficulty In fastening the grave crime
on him. He Is at present confined at Lewis
ton, where he will be kept until the arrival
of reQuisition from the governor OF Call-
fornia, for which document the sheriff made
application soon after the arrest Justice may
siumber, but she never dies, and criminals
live to find it Out-Oreg0nidR