Sacramento daily record-union. [volume], September 19, 1881, Image 1

About Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891

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DAILY r\'lON' SEHIES-TOt. IVI.-SO. S3*o.
DAILY RECORD SEUIES-VOI.XXIV.~XO. 4.-.10.
HE WAS MURDERED
Tiie Mystery of a Missing
Man Cleared Up.
A Grave Qtsp' Twenty Fast Deep
Eeveals a Muitier.
The Body of James Singleton Pound
at the Bottom of a Well Near j '
Lincoln, Placer County,
I
The Arrest of His Murderer, A.
S. Niles, Near Wheatland.
The Coroner's Inquest- Coroner's
Jury Charge A. S. Nilei;:;;
• With Murder, 'ffi
Intense Excitement at Lincoln
and Wheatland.
Interview with A. S. Niles in Auburn
Jail by a Special Reporter of
the "Record-Union."
ff- Sometime in the month of November, 1870,
James Singleton, a ■well-known citizen of
Lincoln, Placer county, suddenly disappeared.
• The mystery surrounding this disappearance
appeared unfathomable." The publications of
the time note the circumstance at first under
startling head-lines, which diminish gradually
as time wears on, and with a final obscure
paragraph to the effect that nothing more
concerning the matter is ever likely to be
known, the matter is lost to view. It was
but one of the many hnndred cases of " a
missing man " which attract the attention in
head-lines in turning the files of a daily paper,
and as such the waters of silence and forgetful
ness had apparently closed over it forever.
But all these years justice and judgment
were waiting the startling revelations of
truth,' as it was slowly but surely working its
way from the profound depths of a dark mys
tery into the avenging light. All these years
the corpse ef James Singleton lay buried in a
grave twenty feet deep, where his murderer
had hid it from view, vainly hoping that the
earth would keep his dread secret safe. All
there years the murderer of James Singleton
has looked into the faces of the searchers for
the missing man, with the bloody secret of
Lis fate buried deep in hid guilty heart. But
the deepest grave cannot hide the truth from
avenging justice. At last the earth has told
its secret, and the mystery surrounding the
disappearance of J amas Singleton stands re
vealed as one of the foulest murders in all the
criminal annals. of this State. For several
days the Record-Union has been : in posses
sion of the suspicions and facts, but has re
f:_>iced from publlciti on of them ia the in
terest of justice. On yesterday the murderer
.of : .Tames Singleton was arrested, and the
thrilling chapter of horror may now be laid
before the pablic The special reporter of
! the Record-Union, who was detailed to work
up this case, returned from Lincoln yester
day, bringing tho . full detailed accounts of
the finding of the body of James Singleton,
the steps in progress for the arrest of A, S.
Niles, the murderer, and the full transcrip
tion of the testimony taken before the Cor
' oner.! inquest, which follow.
THE TERRIBLE DETAILS.
The facts in relation to this terrible affair,
and the parties unfortunately connected with
it, are as follows : In the year 1881 or 1802
Ambrose S. Niles and James Singleton, then
friends and neighbors in Wisconsin, came
overland across the continent together, mak
ing the trip with teams, at that time tha only
method of overland travel. Having arrived
upon this coast, they soon after located near
each other ia the vicinity of Lincoln and con
tinued fast friends. . Kites here pre-empted
a piece of land abcut four miles west of Lin
coln, and settled upon it, while Singleton, to
remain near by and onioy tha associations of
his old neighbor, entered as a farm-hand
in the earploy of Hollis Newton, who owned
and resided upon the lining ranch.
They lived side by side until about
18C4, when Singleton, wishing to see more of
the coast a-.d faster increase his fortune, took
a trip, during which he went to Nevada.
He returned, however, a few months subse
quently, and after visiting his , old friend
Niks, again went to work for Mr. Newton
and remained with him about three years.
Meantime, Singleton, by industry and from
being a man of good and economical habit?,
had saved up quite : a snug little sum ;of
money, ail of which, at Niles' request, was
loaned by Singleton to him. To this was
added his subsequent earnings, until he held
the obligations of Niles for a sum between
two and three thousand dollars, but the exact
amount of which is not thus far known.
Singleton subsequently came to Sacramento,
and was employed at Tolls' livery stable, on
X street, between Sixth and Seventh, two or
three yean^and was afterward* connected
with one or two other livery stables in the
city. . From this time to the fatal occurrence
in 1876, his place of residence was divided be
tween Sacramento and Oakland, occasionally
goirg to Lincoln and remaining a few weeks
at a time/' stopping with Newton, Niles, and
with other acquaintances! ;
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
Of Singleton "occurred [in i 1876. ; For some
little time previous it was . known by several
of Singleton's friends that he had asked NBm
for the money due from [ him, and felt some
what uneasy about its security. He had writ
ten to parties to ascertain the condition of
Niles' affairs, [and conversed [with others.
Finally in the latter part of November, 1876,
he went to Lincoln" to collect the money, and
so informed two or three of his more intimate
friends upon reaching [there. , : He arrived at
Lincoln by the ' afternoon train from Sacra
mento, and took dinner in town with an old
friend, promising . to " return 5 and ; see them
again in two cr three days.' After conversing
with other parties, and '- remaining ■ in . town
two or three hour?,; he went to Niles' place,
riding with a party who lived ia the neighbor
hood. He was invited that afternoon to visit
at two or three :cf the neighbors during his
stay," and promised [ appointments to do so,
setting the times two or : three 1 days ' subse
quent. He was to join* in a Thanksgiving
' dinner, which occasion was near at hand, with
the family of Mr.' Reeves, a near neighbor of
Niles' and arranged to board there in case he
was delayed in ■ obtaining .:' his [ mosey from
Niles. Singleton ; , not ; answering to any of
these engagements, and ; not [being [seen any
where, . the] query - was i raised ? among the
neighbors within torse. or four days in rela
'■ tion to his whereabouts. It was known that
SACRAMENTO DAILY RECORD-UNION.
a day or two : after he had reached there he
had gone with Niles to Sheridan, which was
the last day he was in the ; neighborhood.
Niles soon after, in answer to inquiries, stated
that Singleton when at Sheridan. ■■... fi
JUMPED UPON THE CABS
And started for Marysvilie. ■'■'■. It was soon
after ascertained that David Long, who re
sided near Sheridan, saw. Singleton in the
wagon with Niles when' on the way
home from ' Sheridan on the evening of
the time referred . to. Interviewed ; sgain,'
Niles repeated the statement that Singleton
did not return with him from Sheridan, and
explained his goicg to Marysvilie by Baying
that Singleton had got into complications
about « married woman below, and that he
didn't know what to do with himself, and was
about bait crazy. The train, of course,
did not stop at Sheridan but two or three
minutes, but it . took Niles over; twenty
minutes to relate what Singleton said to him
after the arrival of the train and before he
left upon it. During that time Niles said he
told him where all his things could be found
in case he was never , seen again. [ Suspicions
were now more strongly aroused, and it was
remembered that on the day following the
trip to Sheridan Niles had had his hired man,
Mr. Ropp, fill up an I abandoned well on his
premises, although is was stated that it was'
simply done to prevent ; stock from falling
into it; and 'Ropp,' in answer to inquiries,
said there was nothing in the bottom of the
well when he filled it up, as he could plainly
see over the bottom, and Ropp was entirely
above being suspected. .On ', the '[. morning
after the trip to . Sheridan Ropp noticed that
the wagon Niles went with was badly broken
up, but Niles explained it by Baying that
while on the way home he ran over the side
of Coon creek bridge, about four miles away,
and made a bad smash up. . As Ropp was
' FILLING UP THE will
On that day he noticed a - wagon
track near the side of the
well, . which t . he thought - somewhat
strange, and when he had 'completed the fill
ing he followed the track. After going forty
or fifty rods he came to a windmill at which
Niles was at work repairing, and then saw
that the wagon of which he was following
the track had been smashed up by running
against the corner of the windmill frame.
Ropp at once knew it was Niles' wagon, as
bran was scattered' around on the ground
promiscuously and this was Niles' load from
Sheridan. Ropp thereupon said to Niles,
" This is a h — l of a way off from Coon creek
bridge!" Niles replied, "Now. don't you
say anything about this to a person living,'
for I want to sell my team, and if it gets out
that they run - away I can't sell them."
Ropp, however, seeing that Niles had lied
to him, told one of the neighbors of the cir
cumstance,' and this, in connection with the
filling up of the well, strongly aroused a
suspicion that Singleton had been put out
of : the way by Niles at that place.
Various other matters continued to come to
light, which increased the feeling and fears of
the neighbors, and wbich are mostly includ d
in the testimony taken at the inquest, which
is given below. Among these it was noticed
that Niles was wearing Singleton's gold
watch, but which was explained by both
Ni!e3 and his wife, saying _ it was presented
by Singleton to Niles' little boy. A short time
after, Niles presented an account of Single
ton's agent, Reeves, to the latter for pay
ment, but was refused until Sirg'.etou's order
presented. Nothing further was ever heard
of the matter. About this time, in various
conversations with different people, Niles
made
CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS
As to the whereabouts -of . Sixgleton. These
statements now become important elements of
evidence. DuriDgall this there were many
to belijva that Niles had murdered Singleton ;
but all lines of investigation had their begin
ning at the old well, and Niles owned the
land.: In the meantime the field in which
the well was located had been plowed and
sowed and harvested, and all trace of its lo
cation had been lost. The bones of Single
ton lay twenty feet deep, and no plow-share
would turn them up ; so at last Niles sold
the place, feeling sure that Lis secret was
safely hidden from man in the heart of the
earth. But about two months ago the wit
ms', Brown, bad learned of the transaction
with Stoll concerning the note. Here was
more of the property belonging to Singleton
being used and appropriated by Niles.
Brown returned to Lincoln determined to
have the old well excavated, lie impressed
his views upon some of the good pesple of
that place, who volunteered to bear the ex
pense of digging to tha bottom of the well.
fififi '. SEARCHING FOR THE REMAINS.
. Last Thursday a party consisting of L. B.
Adams, E. B. Heryeford, C. S. Hotchkiss,
John Purcell and Lather Jarris began the
work of excavation. The spot I was
fouad after some search by ' a slight
depression in the ground, and digging toon
showed that the right locality, had been
found. They continued work until Friday at
2 p. It, when they came upon beards laid
quits regularly like a rude floor. Most of the
party said, " Here is the bottom, and no
body has been found." But one of s them
thought the regularity of the [flooring a sus
picious circumstance, and persuaded his com
rades to continue the search. They proceeded
lower down, and they found two and a half
feet of earth. They then came upon boards,
sticks and tra:h irregularly thrown in. These
being removed another floor of boards was
found. In this caso one end of each board
was higher. Upon raising one of these the
legs of a human body were discovered.
THEIR SEARCH HAD BEEN REWAR^'D BY THE
discovert ; fif
Of the body of James Singleton. ' They at
once stopped the process of exhuming the
body, and notified the Coroner, Mr. J. D.
Redfern, and the District Attorney, jW. .B.
Lardner. They did not further uncover the
body, but a guard was placed over the well,
which remained ;on : duty ; all , night. . ; The
Coroner on Saturday morning took charge of
the work of exhumation," and by 9 o'clock the
remains '-„ were X brought Zto the X sui face.
The news of tha finding of the body
spread throughout the country, and the
most intense excitement -prevailed . on
Friday night A and ; ; Saturday ;■ morning.
The body ; was taken into the town ■ of~Lin
coln at 12 o'clock, and the streets of the town
were thronged with excited people. ;_ In this
connection it is noteworthy that not a word
of all " this was sent cut of the town. fi The
special repot of the Record- Union was on
the ground, - acting with , the officers. But
the : murderer . had not been arrested, and a
single word of what was going on might give
him I warning : and ! enable : him :to elude the
officers of the law. The people felt well as
sured that the Record-Union would act dis
creetly, and no one was found willing to permit
a word of information to go outside the imme
diate neighborhood. : " i^^^^^^^
THE CONDITION" .; OF THE SKELETON , REMAINS
Was in an advanced stage of decomposition.
The skull had been 1 literally mashed. But
small ' portions could - be ; found, 1 and these
showed (plainly the J forcible breaking rather
than a state '"'of decompositian. "; The frontal
upper jaw was intact and showed the places'
of the two or three remaining snags of upper
teeth, which ; produced a familiar character
istic of appearance in the deceased when liv
ing,' and afforded a strong point of identifica
tion. A heavy, snuff-covered olercoat, which
still enwrapped ". the - remains, retained ' its
SACRAMENTO, MONDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 19, 1881.
I '*w p "_KSrSws M ~ i — rrrn — nrr j i iftiiii ;
texture and color. The , undercoat and vest
of black diagonal goods were well ; preserved
and readily . identified."? The : pants, - ' of light
tweed, had almost entirely disappeared, only
a few square inches of -.the material being
found.': The boots . appeared almost ; perfect
when taken out, but after a brief exposure
opened at a seam which ran from the toe up
the center of ! the i instep, but ; otherwise re
main intact.
THE INQUEST.
An inquest was held at Lincoln on Satur
day afternoon by J. D. Redf . Coroner of
Placer ; county, ';', before ■. a jury composed
of E. Jarvis, Dr. John ; Ilea, H. C. Johnson,
John Haeney, T.H. Jeter, Elisha , Heryford
and I Newel Cites. The examination was
conducted by District Attorney W. B. Lard
ner, fof >: Placer county. : ; The testimony, ;in
response to interrogations, was as follows :
JOHN PURCELL,
The first witness, was sworn and testified as
follows : I have Been the remains in the care
of the Coroner, and have examined them and
the clothing : found ; with them. - From my
examination, and according to my judgment,
they : are the - remains of James Singleton.
My 'reasons for that conclusion are, from the
teeth and the boots which were ;. found npon
him and the number of them. I last saw
Mr. Singleton in , the month "of " November,
five years ago this fall, at Mr. Reeves' place,
adjoining " the ranch where the remains were
found. I cannot give the exact date, but it
was in November. I had known him three
years or more at that time. I know a man
named Ambrose S. Niles. I heard him tell
where Singleton went to from Lincoln at the
time he was last eeen here. He said he took
him from his place to Sheridan, from which
place Singleton expected to go to Sacramento;
that he left him at Sheridan, which was tbe
last he saw of " him. The Jnne following I
was working for Mr. Nibs, and he said Single
ton before leaving his house had one of Niles'
children on his lap, and the child was play
ing with Singleton's watch, when Singleton
eaid to the child,' " This was your pa's watch
once, and I will now give it to you to wear
when you become a man," and sosayirggave
it to the child. I believe Singleton had pur
chased the watch from Niles some time pre
vious. Singleton appeared to be feeling bad,
Mr. Niles said, about the time ho gave him
the watch. .This : gift of the watch to the
child, Niles said, was the day before he took
Niles to Sheridan. ■- Mr. Niles told me' sub
sequently that the la3t he heard from Single
ton was at Prescott, Arizona, to which place
he went from Sacramento. . He said Single
ton wrote that he was in poor health down
there and didn't expect to live. Mr. Niles
made this statement the June following Sin
gleton's disappearance. I ; never saw the
watch mentioned in Nilea' possession. fif- "■•_?
fffiZlyf. G. GRAY 'Yfiiif
Testified that he knew James Singleton.
I was under the impression, said he, that it
was four years ago that I last saw him here;
he then had on a black coat and vest, light
colored pants and a black hat. I had a con
versation with him, and he remarked about
A. S. Niles owing him some money, but did
not say how much ; the conversation occurred
by his asking me how,' Mr. Niles was fixed
financially. [The clothing exhume with the
deceased was here exhibited to the witness.]
He continued : These are of the same color
as those worn by Singleton at the time re
ferred to, but I could not identify them any
farther than that, except that I think if I
was locking for his overcoat I would readily
have decided upon this one ; I am satisfied
that it is the one he had upon his arm when
we had our conversation. : [The small piece
of the pints which were found with the re
mains was shown to wiliest.] This piece
is __- tha same, a light tweed goods,
as those he had on. ' I remember very
distinctly about our conversation at this time
about Niles owing him, and that he had come
to makes an effort . to get it, for Niles also
owed me between two and three hundred dol
lars, and I was anxious to make sure cf get
ting my pay, and so did not say much to Sin
gleton about how Niles' matters were, I
wanted to get my pay first. I made an ef
fort, and Niles paid me a few days after
wards. The suspicions in regard to the mat
ter of Singleton's disappearance ' has not, it
seems, been very generally . known, for I
never heard anything about it until [ this
morning, and I supposed he was still at Sac
ramento.
. if fif MRS. CA3SIDT
Was the next witness : I knew James Single
ton. .; I saw him last in November, ami I
think it was in 1870 ; . it was just before
Thanksgiving, I remember. He stopped at
our house, having just come from the cars;
he was an old friend of ours, and tock dinner
with us. _ It was the day he came to Lincoln
to go to see Mr. Niles about his money. He
had a dark, heavy overcoat oa his arm ; I
remember it distinctly, because we joked him
about having such a heavy overcoat when ii
was warm weather up here. " His pants were
light, and his coat and vest were not very
duk, so far as I can remember, but fine line
gooes, looked pretty new and* dark. He
wore small shirt-studs aud a white shirt. He
had a few days previously sent a letter to my
husband inquiring about Mr. Niles' business
affairs, and ho came up about that. Towards
night he got into Mr. \ Fuller's • wzgon at
our house ; and . drove down : : to Mr. Nile*'.
Mrs. Fuller's folks lived down beyond Nile.-.'
place. 1 Mr. Singleton at this time was wear
ing a watch and chain. He always wore a
gold watch and chain. I should say that he
was 50 or 55 years of _ age. ; His hair was
light, not very dark, and sprinkled with a
little gray. ■ His health was good, so far as I
ever knew. -. He was a single man, of good
habits, and never knew of any one eeeicg him
intoxicated. \ He bad but two or three, if any,
upper teeth, and ' his lower teeth were irregu
lar and poor. » His letters to my husband in
dicated that he was not feeling easy about
the money that Niles owed him. ' I wrote to
Mr. Singleton for my husband, in answer to
letters received from him, and told '■ him that
probably he had better come and see about it
for himself, and he came a few ; days ; after
wards. When he came up and left ;te go to
Niles' on '• the ; day . I : have --' mentioned, 1 he
said he would _ come back in a day
or two or three days and make us a visit, hut
he never returned afterwards. [The clothing
and boots of deceased were shown witness.]
That is the coat he had on at the time, and
the vest is . like ■ it. ;, That is the same over
coat, too, as near as I can tell. I think these
are the boots, fi He • always wore a fine, trim
boot. When- he 'was at our house the last
time my husband asked him why he came so
quick after we ; wrote/ and i he _ said, " Oh,'
I don't know ; I feel uneasy and not just right
about something— as if something bad was
going to' happen." ff. He \ said ; he had such a
feeling and ' could ' net throw it off. He said
he could not tell what it was, and guessed it
was his old fogyism ; but that he felt an un-
pleasant foreboding as if something told him
that something unusual was going to happen.
MICHAEL CASSIDT ; if fif
Testified : I ; knew James Singleton.'; Last
saw him at my place in Lincoln, when he was
on his way from Oakland [to see Mr. Nile?.
It [ was five i years [ago,"]: less two or three
•months, I _ thick. I asked him to stay at my
place, but '• he said -he was in ' a hurry to see
iir. Niles on business, but would b3 ; back in
a day or so, and probably stay over ; night
with me. ') I ; never," saw him "afterwards, f I
examined the remains this morning found on
Mr. Newton's -7 formerly; Niles' — place.
When I / got there ' this morning, :at about 9
o'clock, the remains were still in the bottom
of "f the ' well. 'f. I • helped yto carry , : them
on ' and examined them, ' and searched
the , pocket?. ,' I . found 'if three pieces of
small copper coin in - his ', pockets. There
was also a watch ' key and a small-sized ; pen
knife.fi These I were all ;in his . vest pocket.
In the . fine '■ earth \ which dropped from the
skeleton we found a" cuff-button and a small
shirt-stud.'!; To the best of my opinion ' the
clothes coat, vest, pants and boots— were the
same that Singleton had on when he left my
house. - I remember . the " overcoat well, as I
laughed at him about ; carrying such a heavy
one, and he said it was useful where he came
from. He had the , same ; overcoat on when
we found him this morning.". I examined the
skull after it was taken out, or the pieces that
are left of it. :_ There was a hole in one piece
of the skull, and blood upon it showed very
plain '- and • f ruth when it was first taken out
of the earth. The skull was badly fractured
and found in pieces. When ' Singleton form
erly left here he asked ! me, as a friend, to
keep ; watch , as to , Niles' financial , matters,
and if they did not ' seem all - right, or if he
was liable [to be > attached, to - telegraph or
drop him a note. Ha : subsequently wrote
me about the same subject, as my wife has
testified. X I i think : the ; remains ■ found - are
those of James - Singleton. ; He was about 5
feet 6 inches high ;'i was 48 or iSO years old,
and getting gray somewhat ; had few, if any
upper teeth in front. '■'_ He was a fine man, of
good habits, and well thought of by every
body. ._. _ - ' - :"-• ■ ,~ ''
ffi .;:,.:._'. JOHN CROOK ..
Was the next witness,' and tes'.ified : as fol
lows : I knew James Singleton ; list saw him
about five years ago ; saw him in Lincoln and
talked with him. He had an overcoat on his
arm ;;' I remember J that, as it was warm
weather; it was a kind of brown overcoat;
did not pay any attention tuhis other clothes.
The overcoat : , taken out with i the ; remains
looks like the same one. - I never saw Single
ton afterwards, and supposed he was in Ari
zona until this morning ; I had got that im
pression from remarks that have been made.
fi O. D. ALDRICII ,: :
Sworn : I knew Jas. Singleton, Don't think I
saw him when he last visited Lincoln, about
five years ago. He was a small man ; I knew
him intimately and met him very frequently
when I would go to Sacramento"; he was at
Toll's livery (table, near the Capitol ' Hotel,
on X street, between Sixth and Seventh, in
that city. The la3t two or three talks we
had our general conversation would ba upon
tha financial standing in the neighborhood of
Niles, Newton and Reeve-". . He expressed to
me, as I recollect it, that ha had 53,000 or
upwards loaned out in that neighborhood.
He spoke of v Mr. . \ Niles :. as , having
considerable or nearly all of his money,
-and as if dissatisfied about it. V Ha expressed
no concern about 'what he had loaned out
there, except what Mr. Niles had, and, from
his talk, should ; infer . that Niles had the
greater portion of it. : He declared his inten
ts l of getting his pay from Nile 3as soon as he
could. Singleton was an excellent man, so far
a > I knew him, and of good and sober habits. I
think I had a conversation with him in Sic
ramento but a short time before he came 'to
Lincoln '■■ the last time, and he then said he*
was geing to get his pay from Niles _ and put
it where it _ was safer. V, I saw the remains
when examined this mornir g, aid those clothe i
seem very bright to my recollection. . I think'
the remains are . those of Mr. Singleton.; I
think so from the absence of upper teeth, the
arrangement of tho lower ones and size of the
body. ' I examined the skull when the ex
humation was made. ' It was . completely
broken up, and looked as if itwasstovet.i pieces
by some heavy instrument. There was nothing
in the well which would have produced this
effect if he had fallen in there, and my opin
ion is that it was dono and [ the body thrown
in afterwards. - The i body I should say was
found about eighteen feet ; below the surface
of the ground, 'in the well which hr.s just been
reopened.: This well was on the promises
formerly owned by Mr. Nile". The owner
ship r.f the place changed hands about ten or
twelve months ago, Mr. Niles Belling to Mr.
Newton. I have heard this matty talked of
quietly for the last four years, and have ad
vised with others ' about it during that time.
I understand that A. S. Niles had the well
filled up by one of his hired men. During
the four years or more when this mi-.tter has
been talked of and considered by the neigh
bors, all the circumstances put 7 : together
pointed, it was thought, to tin belief that
Niles Lad put him out of the way.
. r • .... J :.:,;:.
UOLLI3 NEWTON ff
Testified : I was well acquainted' with
James Singleton. [I became acquainted with
him about the year 13G2, when he firet arrived
in the . country. After he ' had been here
awhile he, went to: work for mo, and after
working _ about one year went : to Virginia,
City, Nevada, and remained there about nine
months,";; Ha then came back aud worked for
me abeut three years. After knocking about
awhile he went to work at Toll's livery stable,
in Sacramento. He worked there two years
or . more i and : then f went ! to another livery
stable in Sacramento and [ worked a year cr
so, and then went down to Oakland and into
the lower counties, sort of resting up. V After
that he was at Lincoln, off and on. He was
an Irishman by birth. [: He and Mr.' Niles
came frsm Wisconsin, overland, together, in
about ISGI or ISG2. They ware neighbors there
before • they came to this coast. , Sitgleti n
was 50 to. 55: years of age. ; ; He was 'about
five feet six inches in hight, hair light-brown
and whiskers sandy. He wore a number six
boot, generally of fine quality. ? I have pur
chased boots for him and know about the
size. .He wore a number seven coa! se boot.
As I went to where: they. were, digging 'out
the well yesterday they said : they bad struck
the leg of a man." I said right away,;.*' If it's
Jim Singleton you will find he had very poor
teeth, with one or two old snags in front in
the upper jaw ; and,'.' said I, '"he wears a No.
6 boot if it's him." ; When dug up we found it
as I have said. The well where he was had
been caved in and was abandoned. _ It caved
in '■, two or three \ times, aud j Niles [ tried { to
fix" it, and _ when <it [caved : in * the : last ■ time
he abandoned ;; it. " Singleton -was - after
wards [ placed in the well, audit : was : filled
up. . I am satisfied that he was placed there,
and that he did : not : fall ; in. He laid on his
left side, with his feet drawn up somewhat.
His left arm; was under him as far as to the
elbow, and then extended ; in": front, ; acd his
right arm was evidently left lying : along ,on
top of the • body. The remains were about
twenty ; feet ' belew the : top of the :' ground
and ;- were f covered ; : with .[ boards. V The
boards ; were laid Abo that ;,. when the
earth was cleared off and the boards taken
up the body was % left f fully exposed f and
looked just as if he had been laid there. X Mr.
Niles purchased J this [ place •in part by pre-[
emption from the Government and the rest
from s Mr. Sewell. J He | had this well [ dug
same twelve [or fifteen ) years ago. :■ It was in
use several years, - and finally bothered him
by 'caving 1 in.'f Had ; a windmill there for a
time, and finally the wed was abandoned and
another bored a short distance away. It was
filled up about', five years ago. He sent his
hired man there to fill it up. '-'fiff
-.'THE MAN WHO FILLED IT VT, f'f ffi
Was named Rapp. There used to be a pub
lic highway about 20 or 25 rods from the well, 1
but it is changed now. so that the^ell is lo
cited fir eff into the field. I purchased Mr.
Nileb'farm, upon which the well was situated,'
, ast September— one year age. I never asked
him about Singleton, but my wife often aeked
him where Mr. Singleton could be, and ' he
seemed to avoid the subject, . but would say ,
" He's"; in Arizona,". or something 'of ; that
kind, and that he would come around ; again
all right after a while. I never had any con
versation ; > with Singleton about how much
money Niles had of him. [f He told ike he had !
most of his money. X. I asked him, once when ]
I f was in Sacramento, for the loan '■■ of ; $200,
and ha said he did not have it, but would get
it from Niles. ' He afterwards reported to me
that he could not get the money, from : Niles
at present. 1 ; lam satisfied that the skull _of
the s remains exhumed was , broken ' in by
a. blow .from - some ' heavy " weapon,
which broke the skull in many pieces. There
were blood : stains easily to ,be seen among
the hair, on the pieces of skull,' when we
took it out. v I. am "■■ fully satisfied these ' re
mains are thosa of James Singleton, and do
not think . I can he ; mistaken. Mr. Niles
brought an open-faced : gold watch with him
across the plains, and ha afterwards sold it to
Singleton about the tima he , was at work for
me. . I could swear to the watch now. j lt was
an ." old-fashioned ' bull's-eye/ : V After? the
disappearance of Singleton, Nile 3 wore the
watch, or at least my wife saw, him with it
on, and he remarked to Mrs. Nswton that
when Singleton was at his house one time be
fore he went away, be «f» i» the watch to I 1 1
(Niles') little ; boy. _ I first learned of the
disappearance of .: -Singleton two , and
a half fi. years ago. Mr. Adams . men
tioned the suspicion. .. When he >X gave
his reasons for ; suspicions --, entertained
I saw that matters looked very dark. The
matter was quietly discussed, and the suspi
cions have grown until one day last winter
Mr. Beeves came along near . this old well
and remarked, " I would give SCO to know
what's in the bottom of that well." Ha said
he believed Singleton was in it as much as
that he existed, and told all about his suspi
cions. Ha finally said, "If you ar? willing,
and the neighbors feel like it, we will some
time dig down and investigate that well." I
answered that I was perfectly willing. About
two weeks ago Mr. Hotchkiss, the Constable,
mentioned the subject egiia and asked if I
was willing that they should go there and dig
the wall open, and I answered yes. 'He
stated . that he had communicated
with District Attorney Lwdner, and
they thought of digging it out. The fact is,
it was tho general balief among the neighbors
that Singleton was in it, and that he was put
there by Mr, Niles, so thesa men went to
work, and their search resulted in exhuming
the body and unearthing the crime.
L. B. ADAMS
Sworn : He related a conversation of Mr.
Niles, as follows : I asked Mr. Niles about
four years ago where Singleton was, and he
said he took him . over to Sheridan, where he
got on to the cars and went to Marysvilie.
He afterwards told me that Singleton had
gone from there to Oakland. Sometime after
wards I had another conversation with Niles,
and he told me Singleton bad gone to Ari
zona, z The next time we met he told ma that
Singleton had started for the . States in very
poor health, and he did not think that
he would ever live to get there. After
wards he told me that ha thought
he had died ,on the road, as ;he
had heard nothing abont him since. He said
he had been hurt by a runaway team a few
years before, and he thought that the cause
of his si.-kness. At one time he said that
Singleton told him at Sheridan, that time
when he left, where he would find his trunk
and papers in case he never heard from
hun, _,' He did not say whether he had got
Upon. .-..He told me this about his pipers and
trunk at our first conversation, I think, after
Singleton's disappearance. ' Mr. Beeves' told
me about the well _ being filled up, and other
circumstances, and those led me to inquire of
Mr. Niles as to Singleton's whereabouts. .
G. W. FULLER
Testified : I think I la'it saw Mr. Singleton
in November, 1870; I met him on the street
herein town ; he asked me if he could ride
down to Niles' with me, and I told him he
could he rode with me, and got , out at the
gate leading to Mr. Niles' house', he had an
overcoat with him, I remember, as he re
marked, when he got out, that he would take
it off, as he would keep warm walking ; "' his
under coat and vest were dark, and pants
light. IMy mother invited him to come and
see us, and he said he would be down right
after breakfast next morning. He didn't
come, but we did not think anything of it at
the time, but two or three days afterward we
began , to . wonder where, he was, and as he
finally failed to appear we very soon had our
suspicion that fee never left Niles' ranch, and
held to that belief more or less firmly until
the present unraveling of the mystery.
DR. G. L. WADLEY
Was called and examined the fragments of
skull from the exhumed remains, after which
he testified ai follows : It is the skull of a
human being. A bead buried - five ! years
would not decay so that the skull would fall
to pieces a3 this one has, but would remain
intact.' The skull must have been broken in
pieces by some heavy deadly weapon. Some
portions ar 3 separated naturally and others
aro fractures. I consider the fractures suffi
cient to have caused death.
: THOMAS BROWN
Sworn: I was* well acquainted with
James Singleton.' ' The last' time I saw
him, I - believe, was when he rode with
* - .... c . , ■ , .^ _^?__.^.wl__.
Mr. '-: Fuller ; d>wn from ; Lincoln to . near
Niles' place, the time he arrived " here 1 just
before his disappearance. ;' He then had on,
in my opinion, the overcoat and j black coat
which has been exhibited here, ;as exhumed
with the remains. '< I frequently, after; Sin
gleton's disappearance, " questioned "[ Nilea as
to where he was. At first he told me he had
, been at Sacramento and 'searched, but could
not find him. He next told me that he had
gone' to Arizona ; that he (Singleton) had lost
all his money in Sacramento,' and ; had gone
to Arizona to make a raise. I replied that I
thought it singular ha should go to Arizona
to make a raise, as old as : he was. [ He then
said Singleton had got into . trouble ■ about a
woman ; f that' her husband . found them' to
gether,' and, drawing Ja' revolver, demanded
bis (Singleton's) bank-book, and that [ he lost
all he had, and the man threatened to shoot
him if he ever saw him ; with his wife again.
I had some dickering with Niles, and fin the
transaction he was to get me. two
horse-collars fi like "Borne '■.' ha had got
far himself from Sacramento. He ; said he
wrote ;. for „ thsci. > I [subsequently spoke ;to
him about them, and he ■ said the man was
busy and could [ not . fill '■ the order promptly
I went to Sacramento subsequently, aid saw
some collars [at [J. T. Stoll's. ; I recognized
them as j. being I the ; sams man's -. make that
Niles had, and the Rame that he had ordered
for me. I questioned Mr. Stoll, ard he said,
after some hesitation, j he ] knew such ! man
as Niles and had . traded with him. I asked
him if he had orders from - Niles for colUre,
and he replied no. H^^f-^^ijw^s^ept
a.; stock < of then* -'on l-iisd, and conld" at
any [' time fiUj|ord€r3 * promptly. I was
satisfied fi this wsJ^the . place fvUkie Nile*
claimed to hava ordered the' c(<U^;!.."sor me,
and with other |circraai_ances/I was snspi
cians, and offered, now two years ago, to give
520 towards having . this well dug out to see
if Singleton was cot in' it. I (went to S-icra
mento about two months ago and made some
investigations. I found that a note of Single
-1 i on's, made by Al.' Woods, payable to Single
ton,' had _ been . negotiated - by Niles,' with J.
T. Stoll, which note was ■ for §100, or therea
bouts, f Niles received harness, etc., for _ the
note, -f I also f found parties , there who knew
Singleton well, and- : denied that he had had
any such trouble fat ', Sacramento . about a*
woman, as stated by. Niles, or had been re
quired to pay a dollar in any such manner.^ I
can identify the remains found in the well as
those of Singleton. I know them by the
teeth. ; -"'".'■■■ '-fff 'iff
f ZZ. ... "fi. THE VERDICT. , : ,
,iAt _ the conclusion of the testimony the
jury reviewed : the case, and two or three of
them who , were ; intimately acquainted with
the long-missed man were" positive that they
themselves identified . the remains from the
clothing and in various ways as those of Sin
gleton. Thereupon the following verdict was
rendered : ;
In the matter of the inquisition upon the
body of James Singleton, deceased, we the
undersigned jurors summoned to appear be
fore J. D. Redfern,' Coroner of the county of
Placer, at Lincoln, on the 17th day of Sep
tember, '■; 1881, ■: to . inquire into the cause of
death, and having been sworn according to
law, and made such inquisition, after inspect
ing the body and j hearing the testimony ad
duced, upon our oaths, each and all do say,
that we find the deceased was named James
Singleton, a native of Ireland, * aged ' about
50 years ; that he came to his death about the
middle of November, 1376, by the blow of a
deadly weapon on his bead, inflicted by the.
hand of one A. ; S. Nile», according to our best
information and 1 -lief, and which waa dona
about four miles' west of Lincoln, 'on the
premises at that time owned by said A. S.
Niles, in this county ;_ all of which we certify
to by this inquisition in writing, by us signed
this 17ch day of September A.D. 1881.
Iff _ THE MURDERER AND HIS VICTIM.',
Ambrose S. Niles, commonly known as
Jack Niies, is a man of fine physique, 5 feet
11 inches or C' feet high, weighs about 200
pounds, dark complexion, dark-brown hair
and same-colored chin-whit leers, dark eyes
and of ; good personal appearance. While
living at , Lincoln he was ■a . prominent
citizen, and was regarded , until the
present lime, by all except the few who
had suspicions of ,thia affair, as an honest,
trustworthy and quiet gentleman. He web
of temp orate habit?, and associated with the
better class of society only. Singleton was
also very highly respected, and enjoyed the
esteem of all who knew : bim. He was a
bachelor, and is not known to have had any
relatives upon the coast. .
SOME THEORIES iOF HOW THE MURDER WAS
f-fif-; "fZ. COMMITTED.
L3t it now be recalled that the track of the
wagon ran close by the well ; that from that
point the horses started to run away ; that
they ran against the windmill, breaking the
wagon. f Let it also be remembered that Niles
and Singleton were together in Sheridan on
the day when the latter was last Been. David
Long testifies that he saw them in the wagon
together going home from Sheridan. It
should also be remembered that the body of
Singleton had on two coats, showing reason
ably that he was murdered in the night-time
or in cold . weather. It j qgpears reason
able that Niles murdered him on the way
home and with the body in the wagon drove
at once to tha abandoned well. : While he
was engaged in depositing the body in the
well, the horses, having been kept out all
day, were restless and started to the stable.
Finding themselves unguided, a runaway en
sued. All this agrees with the fact of ' the
track of the wagon near the well. The case,
however, assumes another aspect in theory.
Niles may have first killed Singleton and af
terwards conceived the idea of -making the
horses run away, so as to attribute the death
to accident from the runaway. But
the death of Singleton, if .known,
would result -in ' ',- an administration
of his estate, in which event nothing would
be gained. ;. This has now the confirmation of
the partial confession of tho murderer. .He
says that he threw Singleton's body in the
well, but that he did not kill Lim ; that he
was killed by being thrown from the wagon
when the horses ran away. f This looks like
a revival of the original device in tho mind
of the murderer to conceal the crime. The
former theory, however, seems to be that en
tertained , by tho most of those who have
been on the ground.
during all the time subsequent to the dis
covery of the body, the search for Ni'es had
been moat persistent. '■ . Sheriff Boggs cams
down to Lincoln, and ; from there to Sacra
mento on Saturday morning. . When Niles
sold out one year ago he removed with his
family— a wife and '. three, children near
Elk . Grove, Sacramento ■ county. He has
been principally employed since ' peddling
spring beds, header springs and wagon
cushions for his brother, J. S. Niles,
of Sacramento, who until about two
months asro manufactured those articles
at •; Twelfth and : J " streets. Sheriff
Boggs ■_/. ' did -. not ' succeed in . finding his
man. Yesterday morning information was
received that Niles was at his farm, ten
miles from this - city, and four officers
started early to make the arrest. Meantime
it was ascertained at Lincoln that Niles had
attended the fair at Chico and had been
seen at Gridiey, on his way back. Yester
day morning the conductor of the Oregon
train informed :■ the representative '- of _ the
Record-Union that Niles had been seen at
Wheatland and that an officer had started to
follow aui arrest him. This news was tele
graphed back to i Lincoln from Roseville.
The following dispatches from Wheatland,
announcing the arrest of Niles, were received
at thi ) office ati o'clock yesterday afternoon :
ij Wheatland,'"'" September 18th.— Deputy
Sheriff Bevin and your reporter ■ have " just
returned from Lincoln, after delivering Jack
Niles to the officers of that county. . '• The ex
citement at Lincoln is intense. - The people
for miles around are in town discussing the
murder. ! On the road to Lincoln Niles mado
a confession, as follows : He says that ; about
five years ago -he and the murdered , man,
James Singleton, went to Sheridan for a load
of -, barley. : When * there they drank . some,
and on the road home they commenced ar
guing about religion. ; They had hot words,
when it came to blows. - They both fell from
the wagon and the horses ran • away. Single
ton ; : breaking '•: his ■•■ arm and \ Niles '■:. being
stunned. ■; When he ■/ (Niles) r came to, \he
hunted 'if for Singleton and ■ found r him
dead. . ':.;■ Not r.-] knowing ■ what to do,
he put him in a well in his (Nilea') field, acd
told the neighbors ' that ' Singleton ; had gone
away. Your reporter found that the story
of Niles did not hold good, for on examinirg
the remains of Singleton at Lincoln—
is only his bones— the arms are ' both : sound.
From Coroner Redfern your reporter : learns
that the skull is broken in, and it is supposed
that the cause of i death was from T a ' blow on
the r h ad \ by, Niles with some ; blunt instru
ment. Niles is a man about IS [years old, "an
American, married, and ] has a family living
in Sacramento. He was formerly, a farmer,
but for the last four years has been in the
patent bed business. There is great rejoicing
over the* speedy arrest of Nile?, and [all are
well pleased/ and hope that the mystery will
be cleared up. ...
YMfpiSf^fl^i^'TT^S' ARRESTED. ff [
Wheatland (CaL), September ; IS b.—De
puty Sheriff [ Bevin ' has ' jm>t ; arrested Jack
Nile v who is wanted at Lincoln on j a charge
of murder. 5 .* Niies passed ; through [town \ this
morning, end as s»on as Bevin heard of it he
immediately started , in | pursuit, [and made
the arrest about tiva vfiUs frcm town, on the
road *to the * foothills. ;.-; On I Bevin^ nearfrg
Niles he (Nile-) stopped his team and went
. into a* field r about - thirty feet and stopped.
( .
Bevin then ; arrested him. v Niles asked on
. ** charge, and on learning : that '-. it was
murder, he turned very pale. H. Your reporter
has interviewed Niles, but he will not talk on
the subject.; ; Deputy Sheriff Bevin will start
immediately for Lincoln and turn Niles over
to the ; : officers of 'fi Placer county. Great
credit is due Bevin for his prompt action, and
it is hoped by all that justice will be done.
? Later in the day tho arresting officer, with
his prisoner, arrived at Lincoln. > The follow
ing -special dispatches from that place give
the particulars of the events which followed :
SILES ; INTERVIEWED— PARTIAL ~ CONFESSION.
■I'} Lincoln, " September 18tb.— A. S. Nile?/
the alleged murderer, has just been brought
here by Deputy Sheriff Bevin. of Wheatland,'
where the arrest was made. - The town is full
of people, who have been brought to i high
state of excitement by the horrid develop
ments of the past few days. These have been
increased ;by Niles : admitting , that he put
Singleton ;: in J the well where he was found,
but claims he was first killed by a runaway
team. The evidence against Niles, which at
first was wholly circumstantial, now seems to
be conclusive. ■. .:
■; Lincoln, September -18th.— A" number of
our prominent citizens went out towards
Wheatland when the news of . Niles' arrest
was received here by telegram, to meet him
and escort him to this place, fearing that he
might e<-iapo from ; the Deputy Sheriff who
had hi.n in charge, they knowing Lira to be
a powerful man, • and thinking that as he
neared the scene of ■ the awful tragedy that
he might become desperate and attempt to
escape. ' They met him :at Sheridan, ; and
there found him utterly broken in spirit and
ready to acknowledge that he buried the vic
tim in the well, but denyipg that he Blew
him ; but said that as they were riding home
they got into a dispute on religious matters,
which was followed by an altercation, in
which Singleton struck . him, and while
he wa3 .' defending himself / the horses
took fright and ' ran away, throwing
both of them out, stunning Niles, and that the
wheels passed over Singleton's head, smash
ing his skull. Niles said that after his recov
ery from the shock he examined Singleton
and found him dead, and fearing that he
would not be believed in stating the above
facts, and that it would exhaust all the means
he had to defend ' himself in any criminal
charge, which he feared might be brought
against him, he concluded to throw him into
the old well near by, and fill it up, which he
did. The prisoner seems to be completely
broken down ia spirit, and had a long talk
with E. J. Sparks, a member of the Board of
Supervisors, giving him a full and detailed
statement of the whole affair. Coroner Red
fern, who afterwards talked with Sparks,
says that the confession made to Sparks fully
corroborates all the facts developed at ths in
quest. Sheriff Boggs and Constable Hotch
kiss started for Auburn with the prisoner at
about 4:30 P. M., where he is now safely lodged
in jail, and the people are satisfied to let the
law take its course.
A special representative of . the . Record-
Union, immediately upon the arrival of Niles
at Auburn, sought an . interview with the
prisoner and transmitted the report by tele
graph at a late hour this morning.
INTERVIEW WITH A. S. NILES AT AUBURN BT
A SPECIAL REPORTER ;OK THE " RECORD
UNION."
I By Telegraph.]
Auburn, September 18:h. Your reporter
interviewed Niles in his cell this evening,
with but little success, since he had decided
to await the advice of counsel. He is a na
tive of New York, aged 52.' and weighs 190
pounds. ; He came to California from Wis
consin twenty-two years ago, in' company
with Singleton. He was married ia . Oregon
in 187.3, though he has lived most of the time
in Placer county. Being asked 'if 'it
was true, as reported, that he owed Singleton
500 at the time of the latter's disappear
ance, he eaid it . was not, but that ho owed
him £100, which was the unpaid balance of a
note of $1,000, which he had given Singleton
without security \ for borrowed : money. In
answer to the question,' '.' Have you anything
to say about the tilling of your, well ?'' he re
plied, " They know who filled it." Beyond
this he would not commit himself. lie is a
stoutish, rather ruddy cotnplexioned man of
more than average intelligence, apparently,
and his answers were given slowly and
thoughtfully. He looks like a prosperous
farmer, and there is nothing in his manner
calculated to lead one to suppose that he
was the
MURDERER OF A CLOSE FRIEND.
He appeared somewhat concerned about the
arrest coming to the knowledge of his wife.
From Sheriff Boggs it is ascertained that
Niles denies murdering Singleton, and gives
this explanation : Niles and Singleton were
coming if. from Sheridan on the former's
wagon, which was leaded with , barley. A
discussion arose about convents and their
management, . but it is not . intimated
that ary bad feeling was engendered, al
though Singleton was a Catholic. The latter,
however, for fmiic reason not explained,
turned and suddenly caught Niles by the leg,
and this movement frightened the horses, the
animals being wiihout blinkers. The two
men fell forward on the whiflletrees, while
the team continued ob. . Niks, according to
his own story, .went back to ; see to
Lis companion, and ft mid him bleeding
at the head, and at first ' thought -, he
was killed ; but he / noticed ■ tbat " the
body was warm. fi He then pursued
the team and brought them back, when be
discovered that Singleton was dead.' The
body, was but four or , five rods distant from
the well, and Niles, after some deliberation, 7
threw the body in and partly filled up the
well. Upon being questioned as to his mo
tive in ;. thus ' disposing of the body, he an
swered that by doing so he saved the county
unnecessary expense. This iB ■ Niles' expla
nation, as your • reporter, learns it from the
lips of the Sheriff."* A gold watch . and other
trinkets belonging to the murdered man are
reported to have found in Niles' possession
when arrested. V There was considerable feel
ing exhibited at Lincoln that boded no good
for Niles/ should he have I remained there till
dark. The officers say that an effort would
have been made to take and lynch him if be
bad not been brought away before n'ghfc. --'
. The Record-Union's ■ next original j story
MM vcrittcn by Junius Hani Browne off New
Yorkf It will appear in twenty inttallnuntt,'
commencing November,!; 1881. •
The hens now sit on the garden ' fences
and weep because : vegetation ; has got too
far ahead for them to damage it.—[Somer
ville Journal. ; '° ZZf-f
Z Little fishes get into. trouble. when . they
play hooky. '■- They should never run away
from their school.— [Boston Transcript.
;; The giraffe is not a large eater. X A little
goes ,: a great way _ with ' him. [Yawcob
Strauss. ■._., fX-y.fi: fi
Two Dollars a Visit, when 81 will buy
a bottie of King of the Blood. containing 40
doses or a dozen visite. '' It : was the favorite
prescription: of a". physician of thirty years'
experience. y-Afi : _ 'ifi f-.: - " '■:-"■ ■
il a««-.k's Ci" ara Bacrada Litters cures stomach
disorders, constipation, liver loraplaint, dizziness,
and purities the blood. ;-.: Hammer's Drug Store, cor;
ncr Fourth and X streets. . '? -'fifif ■'• -yfr .-":
. J Ladies' Fmpress Cream improves the complexion.'
Twenty-five and fifty cents a - bottle, at ' Hammer's,
'• Fourth and X streets. B^SSSSp^ffifeglKS^^^^i
DULY- REIOBD I'XIOJT SERIES.
VOIX.UE : XIV-.MLMBEK S-V.;-..
LAST NIGHT'S DISPATCHES
[SPECIAL TOTHE RECORD-UNION",
DOMESTIC ( SEWS.
Condition of the Prfsidenl.
f. Eleeron, ■■ September 18tk— 9 a. ' is.-— At
ths examination of the President at '8:30 a.
m. the temperature was 98. 2, respiration 18.
There was no perceptible febrile rise during
the night. The pulse ranged from 102 to 112.
The cough was less troublesomo than on pre
vious nights, and the _ expectoration was un- '
changed. He is able to ; take the nourish
ment and stimulants required without gastric
disturbance, nor has there '■ been evidence of
mental aberration during the night. '; Signed
by .bliss, Hamilton and Agnew.
. [SECOND DISPATCH.) .. . . , .
- Elberon, September '- 18th.— Presi
deut, though quite weak, has passed a very
quiet day, ■ There has been no recurrence of
chills. A slight febrile rise took place and
began to subside at 11 o'clock, at which time
the temperature was 100, pulse 116, respira
tion 20. There his been no increase cf fever
nor change in the character of the expectora
tion. .-_■--.
WAt 5:30 p. m., the temperature was 08.1,
pulse 102, respiration 20. Signed by Bliss
and Agnew,
ffiff, [THIRD DISPATCH.I
-.. Elberon, September 18th— 7:35 p. m— A
colored waiter in the President's cottage just
reported that the President had another chill
shortly after the evening dressing. ".-. He says .
it was quite severe, and lasted about ten mm- '
utes. Drs. Bliss sod Boynton are in the cot
tage. The story cannot be verified at pres
ent. « - * — — *-
. [FOURTH DISPATCH.) '" "" "
-. Elberon, September ISth— B p. v.—At
torney-General MacVeagh has just returned
from Pranklyn Cottage. I He says that while
he did not see either of the attending sur
geons, he understands that the President had
a slight chill, which lasted about ten minutes.
[FIFTH DISPATCH I -'.
Elberon, September 18tb.— this hour
(10:25 p. si.) the President is resting quietly and
more comfortably." His pulse is 122, and his
temperature somewhat above normal. Thero
is no improvement in his general condition,
and tke gravest apprehension prevails. ."
[SIXTH DISPATCH.I
Elberon, September 18th.—Notwithstand
ing the comparatively favorable ; condition
noted in the evening bulletin, in lea than en
hour after its issuance another rig occurred,
lasting about ten minutes. In comparison
with the one yesterday it was light, though,
as Dr. li\i*a remarked to-night, it was severe
enough. _ Boynton said to-night that, com
pared with yesterday, there was a slight
improvement. The low pulse and temper
ature, sound Bleep and freedom from cough,
and expectoration were indications of a very ■
low state of vitality, and cannot be consider
ed favorable symptoms. If he grows stronger,
there will be a rise in his pulse and temper
ature, and his congh and expectoration will
return. About 11 clock there was a rise in
the temperature, and the poise reached 120. j
The cough has returned and he expectorates j
considerable quantities of pus. He also had 1
considerably perspiration. To-night at about
6 o'clock he had a chill lasting ten minutes,
the pulsa reaching 140. It is now 122. ■
. " What do you think causes the chills?"
"It is possible that they are merely a re
flex of the President's low state of vitality,
but in all probability they are tha result of
the suppuration process going on in some
part of the body. Probably there is exten
sion of the lung trouble."
" What is the nature of the abscess on the
lurgf .'.■,'.
■-. "It is what we call a secondary abscess. It '
occurs in course of blood poisoning, or rather
as a complication. It is one of the most
frequent complications of pjiemia. It be
gins as a lobular congestion. Each lobule
of the lung is about the size cf a pin's head.
A number of these lobules become congested,
and after a time suppurate and form as
many small abscesses. By and by this
congestion extends to the surrounding lobules,
which in turn suppurate, forming other small
abscesses. If tho patient lives long enough
these minute abscesses open into each other,
forming pus sacs about the size of a marble
or a hen's eg.;. That portion of the lung
containing the abscesses becomes consolid
ated," or hepatized. The poiticn cf the
President* right lung reaching, up to
the . sixth rib is now consolidated.
For several weeks the President has at times
made satisfactory improvement, but in each
instance the improvement has been foil .wed
by a rei apse, which has left him on a lower
plana of vitality than before. Tt is feature
of bis caso is peculiar to many c.w: ff
chronic pysetnia. The President haa a won
derful constitution, but it is doubtful if it is
sufficient to carry him on to recovery."
At 10 to-night Wirdece, Hunt, Kirkwood,
MacVeagh ai d Hitt called at Private Sec
retary Brown's cottage to ascertain the facts
regarding the President's condition. Bliss '
said the chill this evening was what might bo
called quite a chill. The President is suffer
ing considerably from its effects. No vomit
ing occurred, and the patient experienced a •
reaction immediately after the rigor subsided
by the appearance of fever.
The Kcport »•> .Minister Lowell. <
Elberon, September 18th.— The following
was sect to-night to Minister Lowell at
London : ' . -..-.. -.-■■-,
The President passed a comparatively put and
comfortable day, but this evening he had another
chill of less duration than that of yesterday, but
sufficient to increase the very great anxiety already
existing. He has also been slowly -,'iowii.; weaker,
and lis present condition excites the era eat appre
hension. ' ll.uvt.uai. ,
MINING MENTION.
g§ A number of rich discoveries I have re
cently been made at Dry creek, ifogoilon
district, N. M. 'ffi
To strike a vein carrying freo gold is cot
such a rare thing in New Mexico as it was
six months ago.
- : A. Cood, of Albuquerque, is going to re
commence work on the Merri;t mice, So
rocco mountains. - , ■
It is said that g tensive reduction works
will: at once be erected- in the ; Burro
mountains, N. M.
Wherever, in any part of the world,
says Fuller, in his treatise on silver miner,
silver mines have been woi ktd, . they are
worked now, unless from war, or invasion
of Indians, work has ', been interrupted.
We know of no silver regions . that have
given out. Mexican mines, worked by the
Aztecs before the conquest by Cortez, are
still worked as profitably as ever ; the old
Spanish mines opened long before Hanni
bal's time are still worked with enormous
profit ; ' the . South American • mines ': have
constantly yielded their wealth : for ; more -
than 300 years ; mines in \ Hungary that
were , worked by the ' Romans _ before : the
Savior's time, still yield abundance of ere ;
the silver mines , of burg, opened in the
eleventh century and worked continuously
ever since, yield their steady increase. 1 - So
in Norway,' Sweden and Russia, and indeed
wherever silver J mines - have i been opened,
almost without exception, '_ they continue
to be worked . to the present day, and are
generally \ more '■- productive '■' than .' at : any
time in their past history. ";[[--,-
■ The leal value of the mines of Mexico,'
and the future of ' mining, are thus spoken
of by the Indicator, which says : A mining
engineer who has made [an <• extensive ex
ploration lof i the ; leadicg - Mexican mines
says that a multitude ; "of mines that were
worked to a profit ; by ; the Mexicans havo
long " sinee fi been : deserted, ; tho . Mexicans
having no means to go below water, which
was i often fi encountered near the surface,
and like hundreds in : Sinaloa and ] Chihua
hua, . are waiting ; for ] the enterprising
foreigners ; to erect | improved | mschirery, '
purap out the water and resume operation?.]
Even now the system of j mining ;is iv the
most crude state, and instead of steam en
gines and 1 windlass ; the ore is brought np
Irom the bottom of the mines, up notches
cut for steps, on poles extending from rock
to rock," upon the : shoulders of ; men ' hired
for A the purpose. ; The '■ country, he says,
abounds in base metals 'to 'a - , great extent,"
and the day is not far distant, in his opin
ion, when the mints heretofore] neglected:
will be the most j sought after ;■__: and .with',
the aid of modern agencies of j civilisation,',
such as, the railway, the telegraph and im
proved g mining ii machfcery, that j land of
precious metals is destined to show a prog
ress unparalleled on the [continent. Z'ff
Z. Save a 'doctor's bill by keeping the system •
in order with Kidney-Wort. \lt will do it.