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RIDDLED BY BULLETS.
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A Mussel Slough Eviction Re-
sults in a Mysterious Murder.
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Edward H. McAuliffe Slain on the Cockrell
Tract -- Result of the Coroner's Inquest
--Hanford Greatly Excited.
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[SPECIAL DISPATCH
TO THE MORNING CALL.] |
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HANFORD, Nov.
6.--The late ejectment by Marshall Drew has ended in blood, as many apprehended
that it would. Hanford was thrown into a fever of excitement soon after 9
o'clock this morning, by the news brought in by Mr. Wm. Clough that Edward H
McAuliffe who, with James H. Riley, had been left by the Marshal in charge of
Cockrell's land for the new claimant, Mr. Knox of Sacramento, was found dead on
the ranch this morning. A visit to the scene of the tragedy developed the
following facts: McAuliffe's body was found about a quarter of a mile north of
the Cockrell house, thirty yards east of a dense line of willows running along
the sand slough, and two hundred yards south of the road leading to Hanford.
His powerfully built form laying on its back, one bullet-hole showing in his
clothes near the heart and another under the right arm. He had evidently fallen
there and died without a struggle. There were |
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NO TRACES NEAR HIM. |
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His hat was found
near his head and a double barreled shotgun, cocked and loaded, lay near his
right side. A faithful dog lay guarding the dead, one that belonged on the
place, having been left there by Fretwell, a brother-in-law of Cockrell, who
died on the place last summer. Proceeding at once to the Cockrell house, Riley
was found there alone, and he gave more particulars, saying that McAuliffe left
there to hunt doves about 4 P. M. yesterday. Riley tried to persuade him not to
go, as they had good food without the birds, but McAuliffe said he would take a
short hunt and return soon. About ten minutes after he left Riley heard three
shots close together from the direction where the body was found and afterwards
two shot not far off. Riley became uneasy when McAuliffe did not return by dusk
and went out after dark with a lantern calling and searching for him. At
daylight Riley rode down to Mr. Clough's and requested him to make a search for
McAuliffe. He did so and soon after six o'clock this morning |
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FOUND THE BODY |
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As stated.
McAuliffe was about 24 years old, a single man and a paper-hanger by trade. His
parents live on the corner of Twentieth and Hampshire streets, San Francisco,
and his brother, Jack McAuliffe, has a saloon on Point Lobos avenue.
At
the coroner's inquest this afternoon, six exterior bullet holes were found in
the body, two near the heart, one in his right side and three in the back,
apparently the work of at least three rifle shots. Riley says he saw no man on
or near the place yesterday or last night. This deed is involved in mystery.
There is no clew and suspicion is fastened on no one. It was clearly proved at
the coroner's inquest that Mr. Cockrell, whose land these men occupied, was in
Hanford during the afternoon and evening, and spent last night with a relative
in Hanford.
The coroner's jury consisted of S.
C. Fischer, P. Mickle, F. H. Brown, T. J. Jenkinson, G. N. Furrish, J. L.
Wasson, E. Crane and H. C. Fietler. The verdict was that Edward H. McAuliffe
came to his death by three or more gunshot wounds fired by some person or
persons unknown. The body will be kept here, till the arrival of J. J.
McAuliffe to-morrow night.
Riley attended the
coroner's inquest here this afternoon. He does not seem inclined to continue
his residence in the Mussel Slough country, as he says he does not wish to
stake his life against twenty dollar pieces. He left his wife and children in
San Francisco and prefers to return to them alive. Intense excitement
prevails. |
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THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. |
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Briefly stated, the
causes which led to the murder of McAuliffe are as follows: The land, in
question was part of the grants to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. In
1877 Cockrell filed in the land office of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
an application to purchase this land. In 1879 the land in question was patented
to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and in 1880 Mr. Cockrell, who was a
settler upon the land, was notified of that fact, and of his right to purchase
the land. He did not exercise that right, but claimed the land by an
independent title. In 1862 a judgement for the possession of the land was
entered in favor of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. In 1883 one Knox of
Sacramento purchased the land of the Southern Pacific Company, and a few days
ago the attorney of Mr. Knox, General Thomas J. Clunie, caused process to be
issued to the United States Marshal, who placed McAuliffe in possession of the
land in question. |
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The Victim's Parents. |
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Late last night a
CALL reporter visited the residence of the parents of the deceased. On last
Friday they received a letter from their son stating that he was getting along
without any trouble. Cockrell not having appeared upon the place. He further
stated that he was having a good time duck-shooting. Yesterday morning, John
McAuliffe, brother of the deceased, received a dispatch stating that Edward had
been shot. He went home and informed his father and mother, however, keeping it
from his sister, who has been recently vary ill. When McAuliffe left here he
anticipated no trouble.
The affair is a great
shock to his parents and brothers.
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