DEATH OF F. J. BROWN
After an illness of but short duration, Mr. Frances J. Brown who for many
years resided with his family on the Bench, succumbed to that dread disease,
pneumonia and his spirit took flight last Saturday forenoon at 10 o’clock,
leaving behind him to mourn his death, a loving wife and five children, Mrs.
F. M. Gassaway, Mrs. C. A. Paulk, Bessie, Frankie and Minnie Brown, also a
sister, Mrs. Henry Harden.
Deceased was born in Kentucky Dec. 13, 1822 and came to California in 1874,
moving to this county in 1883, where he has since resided.
The remains were interred in the Pine Grove Cemetery, near Pittville,
Monday, and were followed to their last resting-place by a large concourse
of neighbors and friends. The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of
the community in their hour of sorrow. (5:2)
DIED
GASSAWAY – At juniper, Cal., Jan 16, 1902, Stephen Gassaway, a native of
California aged 25 years, 3 months and 15 days.
BROWN – At Juniper, Cal., Jan 18, 1902, Frank J. Brown, a native of Kentucky
aged 79 years, 1 month and 5 days.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1902
M. Auble has bought out the store of O. A. Trowbridge at this place and took
charge of the business last Thursday.
Mrs. Maude Coy, daughter of Mrs. W. D. Morris of Lookout, arrived here last
Wednesday evening on a visit to her mother.
TRIAL OF J. W. BROWN
First witness put on stand by defense was C. H. Towle, a civil engineer and
surveyor, who had made drawing of Myers Hotel at Lookout. His testimony
went merely to describing and explaining diagram.
Mrs. Ollie Gibbins, daughter of J. R. Myers, was next witness. Stated that
she slept up stairs on the night of the 31st of May; was aroused by noise
down stairs and went out into the hall and there saw Sam Parks coming out of
his befroom. Parks was putting on his coat and getting dressed. This is in
direct contradiction of Hutton and Morris, they both having testified that
Parks was a member of the mob and that he was at the schoolhouse at 11 o’
clock.
Cross-examination was merely relative to her meeting Sam Parks and to
seeing Brown and Goyette on hotel porch. Was examined in detail relative to
her own action on that night and answered clearly and positively. Was
questioned as to a conversation she had with Mrs. Bassett in which she is
supposed to have said if her sister had not been so nervous, she would have
gone down and seen the lynching. Witness stated that she had never talked
to Mrs. Bassett at all in regard to this lynching. Told her folks next
morning about seeing San Parks in the hall and also told Mrs. Nichols.
J. R. Myers was next called to the stand. Defense attempted to introduce a
search warrant in evidence and Court sustained an objection and in the
wrangle, which followed Raker was committed to jail for contempt until
following morning.
Justice Myers continued on witness stand. Defense asked to put in evidence
the testimony of J. r. Myers before the grand jury in June. Harrington
refused to admit it. Defense then attempted to put in evidence three
volumes of transcript taken before the grand jury on ground that one or more
of these witnesses were now dead. All were denied. The witness
specifically referred to as dead was Robert Dunlap.
Bert Samuels, the Bieber stage driver was next witness. He testified as to
Morris leaving stage about 3 miles below town when on his way to Alturas,
but was not allowed to testify relative to any conversation he had with
Morris on that trip.
Mr. Myers was again put on stand and defense tried to impeach the testimony
of Robert Courtright by Mr. Myers, but each question was objected to by
prosecution and sustained. Mr. Myers stated that he did not at any time or
in any part of the store of E. S. Trowbridge or any other place tie or
handle in any way any ropes, as testified by Hutton and Courtright and
further stated that he was not in Trowbridge’s store on Monday, May 27th, at
all, which is the day on which those witnesses testified he was tying ropes.
Mr. Myers testified that Mrs. Simmons wanted him to state that he had
helped tie those ropes and that Simmons told him from being prosecuted.
Most of the cross-examination of Myers was relative to his seeing Sam Parks
at the hotel and in the barroom during the time of the lynching. Spokes,
which were used as clubs were identified by Myers, who stated that he
brought them to town and delivered them to County Clerk Smith.
Witnesses were next put on the stand to prove the character of Robert
Courtright, who has been one of the strong witnesses for the prosecution.
Joe Wilson and Park Johnson testified that they had known Courtright for 25
years and would not believe him under oath. S. H. Paulk also testified to
about the same thing. Milton Watson knew most of the defendants and that
their reputation in Big Valley was good. B. F. Studley testified to about
the same facts. John M. Walker testified that Courtright’s reputation is
bad, also that he knew each defendant charged with murder of Calvin Hall and
others and that their reputation for peace and quiet is good, as is also
their general reputation for truth, honesty and integrity. G. F. H. Rice
and his son, Charles Rice, both testified to same facts, as did also C. W.
Rice, L. C. Carpenter, George Howell and James Howell. James Crowley, a
rancher living in the vicinity of Lookout for 18 years, did not know that
Robert Courtright had lived near Lookout this summer, and Court would not
allow him to testify as to the character of Courtright on the ground that he
was not a competent witness, though he stated that he knew character and
reputation of Courtright. He was allowed to testify as to character of the
defendants and stated that it was good and was so considered in the
neighborhood. He stated that he had heard the defendants talked about many
times and they were always well spoken of. Mr. Crowley is related to Mr.
Myers and Joe Leventon. Thomas McClure also testified to the good character
of defendants.
C. J. Gooch testified that he was in Lookout Thursday afternoon, May 30th
and did not see either Fred Roberts or Jim Brown there at that time.
Sam Parks was next witness. Many of the questions, put to him by defense
were objected to by prosecution and objections were sustained by Court. He
was asked several questioned the answers to which, if allowed would have
contradicted the testimony of Hutton and Morris. The cross-examination of
Parks by prosecution resulted in nothing new being brought out. His answers
often were not responsive to questions and were stricken out at request of
prosecution. The witness seemed angry on the stand, but gave his answers
clearly.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
One day last week, one of the dusky native daughters of this neighborhood,
called Ida, the wife of Indian Bush, attempted to commit suicide by shooting
herself in the breast with a 22 caliber rifle. The bullet lodged against
the breastbone and the Mahala was not seriously hurt.
Tony Rodgers, an inmate of the Lassen County Hospital, has been adjudged
insane and was committed to an asylum last week.
Joe Gordon who had been charged with selling whiskey to Indians had his
hearing before Justice Spargur at Alturas last week and the charge against
him was dismissed.
BORN
TROWBRIDGE – In Lookout, Cal., Jan 25, 1902, to the wife of O. A.
Trowbridge, a son
WARD – In Susanville, Cal., Jan 18, 1902, to the wife of F. M. Ward, a son
MARRIED
WILLARD – STILES – In Susanville, Cal., Jan 22, 1902, Hillman Willard of Red
Bluff and Miss Laura Stiles, Rev. T. Taylor, officiating.
Season's Greetings
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
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