The San Joaquin Tragedy.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 19, 23 March 1870, Page 3

The San Joaquin Tragedy.

FIVE MEN MUBDEBED—GHASTLY SPECTACLE. From the Stockton Republican , of December 11, wo cull the following account of the recent tragedy in that County : About two o'clock yesterday afternoon, information was received at the office of the Sheriff and Coroner of this city, that a wholesale murder of the most horrible description had been committed on Thursday night, off the old Mokolumue road, about two and a half miles above Fanning’s, and but a short way from Douglas’ [dace, near the Calaveras river, and distant from the city about twenty miles. The butchery took place at the house of Frank Medina, an Italian, who has for some years past kept a store at the point above named. During the early part of Thursday evening persons passing the house heard considerable noise and confusion

within, but presumed it was a drunken row, and no attempt was made to enter. Later in the night all became quiet, and no fears seem to have been entertained that a horrible crime had been committed. Yesterday morning, people in the vicinity saw no one astir about Medina’s store. For a time no notice was taken of this, but as the morning wore away, and still no sign of life manifested itself about the premises, curiosity, and then suspicion, began to be felt, and at last it was resolved to visit the house, and ascertain the reason of the unusual quiet which prevailed. Beaching the house, a scene of confusion presented itself. The contents of the store lay about the floor in a damaged and disordered condition, and the whole of the room gave evidence of contention and struggle. Still, while there was every indication that the place had recently been the scene of violence and outlawry, there was no blood, or bodies, dead or living, to be found. It was not known what, or how many, persons had been in the store on the preceding evening, and a search was immediately begun, to discover, if possible, what had become of Medina and his clerk, both of whom were known to have been on the premises the evening before. A few minutes’ search sufficed, for in the gulch,

about 400 yards in the rear of the store, were found the bodies of five men piled up in a heap. They were the remains of F. Medina, the clerk, two Mexicans, and a coloured man. It is said that they had all been gagged, and had their hands tied behind them. Medina, his clerk, and the two Mexicans had been shot through the head, and the coloured man’s throat was cut from ear to ear. Soon after finding the bodies, a messenger was despatched to the city with the in formation, immediately upon the receipt of which Coroner Bond and two deputysheriffs started for the scene of blood, the Coroner to hold an inquest on the bodies, and the officers to seek some clue to the perpetrators of this bloody tragedy. There can be no reason assigned for this wholesale murder except that of robbery. Medina was robbed at the same place some years ago, and compelled by the robbers to promise not to take steps for their arrest, and it is more than probable that he has met his death at the hands of some, at least, of the same band who robbed him before. He has been engaged in trading at the scene of his death for several years, and was known to have saved a considerable sum of money. Within a fortnight, two men were murdered in the night, and the house burned, on the Seuora road, within twelve miles of the city; and now we have another tragedy, more bloody in character, but similar in execution and object. A few days since,

a man convicted of stage robbery at Dos Anglos stated that there existed an organised band of robbers, whose field of operations extended from Yreka to Sun Diego. His statement was hardly credited at the time, but the many robberies and murders occurring from one end of the State to the other would seem to imply that he was telling truth. Certainly there is evidence of system and organisation among the perpetrators of the many bloody murders which have startled the people of this county so recently. It is high time our officials were taking prompt and active measures for the capture of the red-handed fiends who are butchering citizens almost. in the very portals of the Sheriff’s office. If the officers—the sworn executors of the law—are incompetent for the task, selfprotection will compel the people to take the, law in their own bauds, and rid the country of the desperate characters who now imperil their lives and property. Frank Medina came to this county from Santa Cruz, and it is conjectured that he might have recognised some of the baud who murdered him as old offenders and members of some of the organised bands of outlaws which existed, and probably still exist, in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, and that after robbing they killed him to prevent exposure. It is also conjectured that the original intention was not to kill the five men, or any of them, and this is why they were found bound and gigged ; but that during the progress of the robbery sonv one of the victims recognised one or more of the robbers, and unfortunately made known the fact ; then, to prevent discovery, it was d jtspmnod to .'mirlorbho wbolo party, Thera ar.e ■r-n, 1 otuor theories offend, Ml of thorn more or less pro-

table, but .all wanting la evidence. The Coroner’s inquest may have developed evidence furnishing the officers with a clue by which they may pursue the perpetrators of this bloody deed, and bring upon them a speedy expiation of their crimes. The jury returned the following verdict :—“ That the deceased came to their death on the evening of Thursday, December 9, 1869, by being shot by weapons in the hands of some person or persons to'the jury unknown." The body of F. Medina was brought to this city by the Coroner on Saturday, and interred in the Rural Cemetery yesterday. The remains of the clerk were taken by the friends of the deceased to Jenny Lind for burial, and were interred in the Catholic Cemetery at that place. On Saturday, Sheriff Mills received tidings that Allard and M‘Coy were on the track of the murderers, and last evening we received further tidings directly from the party in chase of the villains, who believed they were on the right trail. That the perpetrators of this bloody outrage may be ■ speedily arrested and brought to justice is the ardent prayer of every good citizen ; and it is to be hoped that Governor Haight will offer a reward sufficiently liberal to arouse the whole detective force of the State to the utmost vigilance in arresting the career of those lawless fiends.