The Weekly Colusa Sun
Saturday, 9 March 1878

John T. Arnold was killed Monday, March 4, by a pistol shot in the hands of Dudley Shepardson. We publish the facts in the case elsewhere, and we do not wish to comment on the feud existing between he and Shepardson, as the courts will have to pass on them.

We wish to add, however, our testimony to his efficiency and zeal as an officer. No town in the United States ever had an officer who would at all times and under all circumstances, do his duty so fearlessly as he.

His death is a public calamity, and is so recognized by all our citizens. Everybody felt in him a guardian of his person and his property. His great fault was the reckless exposure of his person to danger.

Notwithstanding the rain on Wednesday, almost the entire town turned out at his funeral, and every available vehicle, public and private, followed his remains to the grave.

We can do no more than to add the appropriate remarks made by Reverend T.H.B. Anderson at the funeral:

“John T. Arnold was born, February 9, 1848, in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. He was baptized in infancy into the Presbyterian Church, his parents being members of that denomination.

Shortly after this event, his parents went from Paris to Louisville; returned again to Paris; and removed from there to Superior City, Wisconsin. They then returned to Kentucky, and settled at Covington, where his father died.

Then his widowed mother went to Lexington; from there to Harroldsburg, where John entered college and finished his school days. He then went to Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, looking for business – a permanent home.

While in Arkansas he served a position in the U.S. Revenue Department, being at the time very young. After this he returned to Kentucky, when he was appointed under Colonel R.M. Kelly, United States storekeeper, which is a responsible position he filled with entire satisfaction to his employer.

From there he came to Colusa in company with his sister, Mrs. Mollie Singleton; they arrived here September 28, 1869. He at once went to work on his brother’s farm, and remained with him that winter. He was then appointed Deputy Sheriff of Colusa County, by J.B. Stanton, which office he resigned; then appointed Town Marshal of the Town of Colusa, which position he has filled by appointment and election ever since.

You will see he has been in this office continuously for more than six years. It is rather remarkable that he should have held it so long, as it exposes one to the rougher, coarser elements of society; but in that office he was known to be brave and unswerving. Mr. Arnold was not perfect – no official in this or any other state is; but after his election good men and women slept sounder; felt that their lives and property were safe, and that the peace and dignity of their little city would be maintained.

The best of men make mistakes; show me one that does not, and I will show you one that belongs to another race. No, my friends, our dead marshal was one of us; he had his imperfections – were he alive, he would want me to say so, but when we consider the difficulties that surround that office, and the length of time he filled it, and the forces he had to contend against, the wonder is that this house and yard are filled with brave, honest men and women to weep over him.

The hundreds present today to sympathize with his wife, children and relatives – to pay the last tribute of affection to him – are so many proofs of the high esteem in which he was held. I think I can look into your faces, today, and say that in the death of John T. Arnold you have lost a friend, a benefactor, a protector, a man who was ready to lay down his life in the performance of duty.

Mr. Arnold was a man of few words, not given to much talk. His plans and purposes were well studied and matured before acting; then he went forward, regardless of consequences.

He had what you might call strong character, liked or disliked intensely; but after all, these are men that assume responsible stations and hold them, he was not a member of any church, but a friend to the cause of religion.

He attended church occasionally – as often, he claimed, as his duties would permit. The pastor of the Methodist Church feels grateful today, for favors bestowed upon himself and family by our deceased friend. Poor man.

He was hurried out of this world into the presence of his maker. No time to think, pray, or believe with the heart; no time to adjust relationships. Let us leave him with God, who does right – who does all things well.

Our friend was not hardened by contact with the world. I have seen him weep. I shall not forget soon a conversation I had with him three months ago. His frame shook; his eyes were suffused with tears; his early training by a good mother came up from the grave of years – in a word, he seemed to live over his life again. O, our friend had a high soul; and but for the iron that was in him, would have been with us today.

He was married to Miss Lizzie Robinson, at the residence of her brother, Dr. L. Robinson, January 8, 1873. His wife and two sweet children survive him; she to remember that on the morning of the 4th of March, 1878, he arose, dressed himself, sat down with his wife and children to breakfast, full of hope, full of life, and looking ahead with no dim prospect of years of happiness with them.

He left soon after, the picture of health and manhood; in the afternoon, was carried home a corpse. How inscrutable are the ways of providence. In less than one minute a wife is robbed of a kind, generous, husband, and the little ones a father. We claim the privilege of mingling our tears with theirs; and invoking upon them the blessings of the widow, Elizabeth Robinson Arnold, and orphan, Phillip Arnold. God, may all temporal and spiritual good be given them.

The circumstances of his death are so fresh in our minds; I need not rehearse them here. He leaves behind three brothers, two in Cincinnati, Ohio and one here, Mr. D.H. Arnold; one sister, Mrs. Mollie Singleton, who lives in Missouri; besides a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

This is the end. We can all say farewell husband, father, brother, neighbor, friend. Days of peril and nights of watching are over. In the grave thy slumber will be undisturbed – long and solitary will be thy repose.

But at home there will be a vacant chairs; a voice husband; and they name always be spoken with mingled feelings of sadness and joy – sadness at they tragic end; joy at the fact that you died doing duty.

We shall miss you upon our streets; in the social circle, and in the happy throng. We, in parting with you, promise to throw around you the broad mantle of charity – forget your foibles, but imitate your virtues.

May the sweetest flowers bloom upon your grave; and, above all, may your name be embalmed in the memories of your friends. Requiescat in pace.

Constable Metler was killed serving an arrest warrant for murder on Francisco Gomez in Havilah. Gomez shot Metler.

Township Constable Charles F. Lehman was elected to as Anaheim’s Town Marshal in May of 1872, however his victory was short lived.

On July 21, 1872, two months after assuming office, Charles Lehman was called to a disturbance at the Anaheim Brewery on Center Street involving two men arguing about a card game.  One of the men was Deputy City Marshal David Davies, the other man was known only as “Horton.”

As Lehman arrived on scene and tried to intervene to settle the quarrel, a gunfight erupted between Davies and Horton.  Marshal Lehman was caught in the crossfire and shot.  On July 23, 1872 at 7:30 p.m., Marshal Charles F. Lehman died at the age of 44, becoming the first Anaheim Law Enforcement Officer to die in the line of duty.

Reprinted from the Weekly Colusa Sun

On the 17th of September, instant, about 8 o’clock a.m., a terrible tragedy occurred at the residence of William H. Hamilton, in Antelope Valley, about 27 miles northwest of Colusa, in which three good citizens, John A. McClain, E.P. Wells and Alonzo Stewart, were shot down in a most terrible manner.

The particulars of the terrible affair are as follows:

Hamilton had taken up a quarter section of land claimed by Alonzo Stewart, and the claims of the parties were brought before the County Court on the 1st of August and decided in favor of Stewart.

Hamilton, refusing to vacate the premises, a writ of restitution was placed in the hands of the Sheriff, and on the day of the tragedy, Deputy Sheriff McClain, accompanied by E.P. Wells, Alonzo Stewart and James Gongwer, proceeded to the house of Hamilton for the purpose of serving the writ and placing Stewart in possession of the premises.

Upon arriving, McClain and Wells entered he house, leaving their arms in the wagon, while Stewart and Gongwer remained on the outside.

Sheriff McClain stated that he had visited the house the day before, and that Hamilton was not at home, and that he must obtain permission of the premises, or something to that effect.

Mrs. Hamilton was lying in bed, and Robert Hamilton, brother of William, remarked that the wife of his brother could not be removed, as she was sick.

Something was said about removing the furniture, Mrs. Maun, who was officiating as nurse, endeavored to persuade McClain to step into the kitchen, but he refused.

McClain then said, “Disarm that man,” alluding to Robert Hamilton.

The evidence in relation to proceedings here are conflicting. Mrs. Maun stating that McClain shot first, while Gongwer, who was standing in the front door, states that Robert Hamilton was the only party who fired, and who shot McClain with a pistol, the ball taking effect in his head, and scattering his brains on the floor, killing him instantly.

Hamilton then wheeled and shot Wells, the ball piercing his heart, causing instant death. From an examination of the body of McClain, it would appear that a shotgun was brought into requisition. McClain fell lifeless near the bed occupied by Mrs. Hamilton, while Wells fell on the floor near the front door.

Upon the firing inside the house, Stewart and Gongwer fled, but were pursued by Hamilton on horseback and overtaken about 600 yards from the house.

Stewart plead for his life, but to no effect, as Hamilton shot him six times with a pistol and twice with a shotgun, each shot taking effect. Stewart fell and was not found until sometime afterwards, when he was taken to Brown’s ranch, in great misery, but conscious.

Gongwer escaped without injury, but was shot at in his retreat. Physicians were sent for, and upon the arrival of Dr. Belton and Dr. Davison, they found Stewart in the full possession of his senses, but rapidly sinking, and he expired about 5 o’clock.

Mr. McClain was an old resident of Colusa, highly respected as a gentleman and a man of honor. He leaves a wife and four children.

Mr. Stewart was an old pioneer, a resident of Colusa, and a cattle dealer who had amassed considerable fortune; was a gentleman of enterprise and whose loss will be severely felt by the people of Colusa County. He leaves a wife and child.

Mr. Wells was a single man, residing in the country, and bore an excellent reputation.

The bodies of the unfortunate men were buried in the Colusa Cemetery. The remains of Mr. Wells were followed to the grave at noon on Sunday by a large concourse of friends.

In the afternoon, the funeral of Mr. McClain took place, and he was buried with Masonic Honors, he being secretary of the Lodge. A large number of sympathizing friends joined in the procession that followed his remains to the grave.

The funeral of Mr. Stewart took place on Monday at 10 o’clock, and the attendance was large upon the solemn occasion.

On the night of the 17th, Justice Mason summoned a jury and held an inquest on the three dead bodies. The verdict of the jury was that the deceased came to their deaths by gunshot wounds, by the hands of Robert Hamilton.

Sheriff Stanton and posse started out on Saturday for the purpose of arresting the Hamilton brothers, but they could not be found, and the supposition is that they have concealed themselves in the hills of the Coast Range.

Much feeling has been exhibited in this section in regard to this sad affair, and two families have been deprived of worthy protectors, and our community has lost three good citizens, who have thus suddenly been carried off by violence.

Regarding Sheriff James Cochran of Trinity County, California who was killed while in the performance of his duties on March 17,1868.

The Trinity Journal for Saturday, March 21,1868, reported the following about the murder of Sheriff Cochran.

“James Cochran. Sheriff of Trinity County. Killed at Red Bluff March 17,1868, by an insane man whom he was conveying to Stockton.Native of Ballindrait, parish of Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland; aged about 33 years 3 months; leaves a widow and three children.” A son, James Joseph Cochran, was born Sept.30, 1868, after the death of the father.

On Tuesday, March 17,1868, Sheriff James Cochran of Trinity County was in Red Bluff, Tehama County, with James McDermitt awaiting a vessel to make the voyage to Stockton. McDermitt had been ajudged insane by the District Court and Stockton was where the State Insane Asylum was located. While awaiting the arrival of the ship, Sheriff Cochran deemed McDermitt to be reasonable enough to have the run of the town. McDermitt was well behaved until he contacted the Sheriff who was visiting with friends in a saloon about the need to go home to his wife and children. McDermitt became quite insistent and Sheriff Cochran attempted to reason with, and calm-down McDermitt. McDermitt defied the Sheriff to stop him, a scuffle broke out, McDermitt displayed a large Bowie knife and continued to grapple with the Sheriff . Others came to the Sheriff’s aid but backed away when confronted with the knife. McDermitt fled into the street with the Sheriff in pursuit. The Sheriff fell mortally wounded and died within a half-hour of a stab wound to his heart.