Napa County
Death Records
HOMICIDES
Killing of Peter Guadalupe
Killing of Peter Guadalupe (Indian)—He was shot and killed by Jesse Walters in Pope Valley, May 21, 1871. Walters was arrested and brought before Justice L. N. Duvall for preliminary examination, when the following testimony was adduced:---James Ingels, sworn: "Have heard threats; the Indian told me about three or four months ago that Jesse Walters had to leave the country or he would kill him; also told me about four weeks ago that he intended to kill him, and showed me the pistol that he was going to do it with; Pete, the Indian, said that he would kill him on sight." William Clark Ralston, sworn: "I was present and saw a part of the shooting; there were three shots fired; at the time the first shot was fired the Indian was running from Jesse; at the second he was still running; at the third the Indian was on his knees, when he fell and shortly after expired; * * * about two weeks ago the same Indian came down to the store and wanted to fight Jesse, who did not want to have anything to do with him; the Indian was then armed with two pistols and Jesse had none." A true bill was found against Walters by the Grand Jury, June 21, 1871, and the case came up for trial October 4th of that year. The following named gentlemen were on the trial jury: J. A. Johnson, D. O. Hunt, Wm. Owsley, N. E. Stewart, A. Stafford, D. C. Squibb, E. True, J. N. Bennett, S. W. Jacks, Alex. Korns, S. Winter and J. McCoombs. They returned a verdict of not guilty.
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), page 151.
Killing of John B. See
Killing of John B. See—On Wednesday, May 1, 1872, at 4 P. M., at Monticello, Berryessa Valley, John B. See was killed under the following circumstances: The See brothers, three in number, were standing in the street at Monticello, when Le Grande Thompson passed by. Some hard words passed between them, growing out of an old feud, when they agreed to fight it out there and then. Thompson and John B. See clinched, and after scuffling for awhile Thompson drew a dirk knife and cut See twice with it. Just then Granville Thompson, a brother of the one in the fight, rushed up and drew a pistol and shot, the ball taking effect in See's breast. See only lived a short time.
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), page 152.
Killing of John Thomas
Killing of John Thomas—He was killed by Edward Day, at the Meyers Hotel in Napa City, November 15, 1873, under the following circumstances: The two men were engaged in a game of cards in the bar-room of the hotel, when Day took seven cards when he dealt instead of six. Thomas accused him of cheating and they began to wrangle over it and Day called Thomas some very hard names. They finally quieted down and went and drank together. Day then went across the street to Clifford's livery stable and began afresh to abuse Thomas and to use vile epithets. Thomas then went across the street and asked him to desist, when Day attacked him with a knife. Thomas retreated, but when about midway across the street Day overtook him and cut him across the abdomen, from the effects of which Thomas soon after died. The Grand Jury found a true bill against Day December 1, 1873. The trial was deferred until June, 1875, when the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree, and he was sentenced to the State Prison for life.
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), page 152.
Killing of Major Harry Larkyns
Killing of Major Harry Larkyns—This occurred at the Yellow Jacket Mine, about seven miles from Calistoga, October 18, 1874. Neither party was a resident of Napa County, but as the shooting occurred within its limits the matter came up for trial in its Courts. Muybridge was an artist or photographer in San Francisco; Larkyns was an adventurer, of English birth and Australian education. He came to San Francisco and there met with the usual ups and downs of men of his ilk, but in some unlucky hour formed the acquaintance of Mrs. Muybridge. He was dashing, suave and captivating, and formed quite a contrast with her steady going, industrious, business-like husband, and she soon became infatuated with the gallant Major. As a result of this Muybridge sent his wife to Portland, Oregon, to her mother, thinking that thus he could break the spell of the charmer. In this he was mistaken, for she soon began to write to an intimate friend in the city inclosing [sic] letters to Larkyns. These were shown to Muybridge by the lady. Larkyns had conceived the idea, or was perhaps employed to make a map of the Calistoga Mining District, and was engaged upon this work at this time. When Muybridge saw the letter from his wife to Larkyns, he became very much enraged; and, after brooding over the matter for a couple of weeks, another letter arrived from her through the same channel. This was too much for him. He took the train for Calistoga and there got a team and was driven out to the Yellow Jacket Mine, arriving after dark. He proceeded to the hotel and called for Larkyns, remaining just outside the door. Larkyns came into the hallway and advanced towards the front door, and when within a few feet of it Muybridge stepped into the full light and said, "I have brought a message from my wife, take it," and at the same time fired. The wounds proved fatal almost instantly. Muybridge was arrested and lodged in jail, and December 8, 1874, the Grand Jury found a true bill against him. His case came up for hearing February 5, 1875, and the jury, after being out thirteen hours, returned a verdict of not guilty.
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), pages 152-153.
Killing of Alexander McDonald
Killing of Alexander McDonald—Silverado, the scene of this homicide, was the name of the silver mine on St. Helena Mountain. Franklin Headley, of that place, missed a bottle of whiskey, and suspected that McDonald, commonly known as "Scotty," had stolen it. On the morning of November 11, 1874, quite early, he went to the house where "Scotty" lived and called him out to shake hands with him. As they clasped hands Headley dealt him a furious blow on the head with a heavy instrument which he held concealed in his left hand, from the effects of which the man soon expired. Headley was arrested subsequently at the Mountain Mill House.
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), page 153.