John KRIGER in CA in 1862
Am not related but may be of interest to someone who is. I have no further info but additional newspaper extracts may be found atURL:
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Vern D
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Transcribed by Dee Sardoch;
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Stockton Daily Independent
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
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>>Monday, 31 Mar 1862<<
ARREST UPON a CHARGE of MURDER COMMITTED 12 YEARS AGO -- Deputy Sheriff COOK, of Yuba county, arrived in this city on Friday last from Sonora, having in custody a man by the name of John KRIGER, alias John DAVIS, whom he had arrested upon a charge of murder committed upon one John MILLS, in Marysville in 1850.
The murder was committed wholly without provocation, and upon a man whose only offense consisted in the fact that he was indebted to KRIGER in the sum of $83, which he was unable to pay. MILLS was a resident of Oroville, and being in Marysville, was met by KRIGER, who demanded of him payment, to which MILLS replied that he had used what means he could raise in purchasing a draft which he had sent to his family. Without further words, KRIGER drew his pistol and using some expression not necessary to repeat, shot MILLS dead on the spot.
There being no prison in Yuba county at that time, KRIGER was arrested, taken to Sacramento and confined in the prison brig, from which he made his escape and took up his residence in Sonora, where he has ever since lived, an
indictment by the Grand Jury of Yuba county for murder hanging over his head.
KRIGER has been known in Sonora by the name of DAVIS. He is a man of wealth, of extensive acquaintance, has a fine house and orchard, is interested in valuable mining property and has investments in houses and lands in Sonora and Columbia.
In this city, Deputy Sheriff COOK, on his way to Sonora to make the arrest, was joined by officer Bradley. They left here on Wednesday morning last. At half past 12 o'clock on the same night, they found DAVIS looking on upon a game of faro, in the 2nd story of a billiard saloon, and immediately arrested him. He said it was 'all right,' and proceeded with the officers, but had not gone far when his friends commenced to interfere with the duty of the officers.
A lawyer by name of HUNTER declared that the writ of arrest was 'not worth a d--n,' while the proprietor of the house in which DAVIS was arrested, very much excited remarked that DAVIS should not be arrested, and in this he was backed up by the friends of DAVIS who, at this time, had assembled in a crowd in his defense. Matters looked threatening and a fight appeared imminent; but the officers were determined and stated to the crowd that if no legal interference prevented they intended 'to take their man.' DAVIS was then escorted by the officers to the City Hotel, where he was ironed, in spite of the protestations of his friends.
A writ of habeas corpus was sued out by his friends, and the hearing set for the following morning at 9 o'clock. In the meantime the prisoner and the officers were locked up in jail. At the hour appointed the court met, Messrs.
BARBER and HUNTER appearing as counsel for the prisoner, and the District Attorney for the State. The court decided that the prisoner could not be discharged; and at half past 1 o'clock he left on the stage, with the officers, for this city, accompanied by HUNTER, his lawyer, who will
assist in defending his case in Marysville.
DAVIS left this city for San Francisco on Saturday evening, thence he will be taken to Marysville. It is a singular fact that on the same day DAVIS was arrested for murder, he was to have left Sonora for San Quentin in charge of 2 prisoners convicted of the same crime, being deputised for that purpose by the Sheriff.