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KTKM.t.lX WITH A U VITK .Mnteron* Am«anII hy nn ln%nne thin*-ninit—A I ruat*«lj al Piult*UiHdnHs.K. VV. Crutcher, a largo stock ownerin tliis county, has several cattle ranches in northwestern Humboldt, at one of which, at Piute Meadows, his family resides. Some two months ago he engaged a Chinaman who had worked some time for Meacham ft Hlakeelee at the Humboldt House, and subsequently at the Sulphur mine, to cook far his family. Mr. Crutcher’s businesss»lled him away from home a good deal of the time in the Summer months, ami lie left the place in charge of ins wife, who with her children, one a hoy about Ml years of age, one a girl aged 11 years and the youngest a boy 4 years old, staved at the ranch during his absense, .and with the Chinese cook were the/•uly j»ersons living on the Mellows. Some two weeks ago, tiie family were visited by Mrs. Holloway, a relative of the family, who resided on the nearest ranch, some eighteen, miles from* 'Crutchers. Mrs. Holloway called the attention of Mrs. Crutcher to the strange conduct of the Chinaman, and remarked that she would not stay on the place with him, eajiecially during Mr Crutcher’s absence. A wok ago the oldest Crutcher lxy went home with Mrs. Holloway and was absent two days, during which time the Chinaman asked several times when he was ex|ected back. After young Coutclters return, the Chinaman frequently spoke to him about money he hod lost in the Sulphur mines, and his mother informed him that the Chinaman had been acting stranger than ever before during his absence. The family were in the habit of getting up at half past5o'clock every morning, when the Chinaman rang a bell, and Uiimliy had breakfast at fi o'clock. Last Wednesday morning no bell was rung, and about G o’clock Mrs. Ontc-her thinking the* Chinaman had overslept himself, arose,and called the other members of the family. The Chinaman was nowhere to he seen, and young Crutcher went to Ins sleeping room, but found no trace of him there, lie then set about making a tire in the kitchen stove, and had a poker in his hand raking away the ashes, when he heard his mother scream. He ran to where he heard her. and was horrified to find the Chinaman with a Henry rifle in his hand, choking his mother, who hail fainted with fright. As soon as the Chinaman saw the boy, lie let goof Mrs. Crutcher and turned on the boy who struck at him with the poker rod stunned him.Young Crutcher then grabbed at the Chinanian and tried to hold him down, and shouted to Ins sister to get a ro|K* to tie 1ms legs. The girl and her mother who had part.ally recovered, tried to get the rope on hi* legs, hut he kicked at them so violently that they could iii't Hu weed in doing so. A des-]* rate struggle cimued between young Crutcher and the Chinaman, who was the stronger ot the two, in which tin* young man’s arms were badly bitten and one of his lingers was severly bruised and lareerated by the mad man’s teeth. He told his sister to get the ax, but she could not find it as the Chinaman, as it. was afterwards ascertained, had hid it in the sago brush. He then told his mother to strike the «'hinaman with something—anything. Mis. ( rutcher liual'y got a knife and gave it to her sou who struck the Chinaman cm the neck, and cut his jugular vein, causing hiu; to bleed to death. Some men from Ikutlrtt creek, who were informed of the tragedy, went to the ranch and buried the remains. Meantime word was sent to Mr. Crutcher, and he brought his son hereto have his wounds dressed. Dr. Johnson, \. ho dressed the w ounds yesterday, says Homo of the wounds on his arms were mails by kn ie stabs, though tho young man, in his life and dentil struggle tin I not notice that the Chinaman had a knife. Fears are entertained by hr. Johnson that the bites may be IMiisonous, and that serious consequences may result from them. The oitieors wore informed of the tragedy, but it is not likely that an imprest will be held on the body of the. Chinaman. Mrs. Crutclnr say* that the Chinaman jumped at her like a wild Imast, from a corner of an adjacent room u here he lay in wait, w hen she screamed,and that she believes his intention was, \vh *n he took the gun, to murder the whole family. The rooms in which the familyslept were locked, or in alK probability the lunatic would have carried out hismurderous designs while they were asleep.To-day James G. Crutcher, the young man, who so manfully struggled with the maniac, delivered himself up to the Sheriff and asked to bo taken before a magistrate. The Sheriff took him before Justice Osborn, and in the presence of Acting District Attorney McMillan, the young man stated in substance the cause of the Chinaman's death and the circumstances attending it. The District Attorney refused to make any complaint against him, and Justice O** born, believing, from the evidence adduced, that the killing was justifiable, and done not only in self defense, but in defense of the lives of his mother and his little brother and sister, and the District Attorney being of the same opinion, the Sheriff was ordered to discharge from custody, James G. Crutcher.
Newspaper Details
Silver State
Winnemucca, Nevada, US
Mon, Jun 16, 1879
Page 3
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Clipped by
Christopher B.
USA 08 Aug 2022
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