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Page: of 283
NEVADA DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 21, 1857 213
that Nevilles was the man that attempted to murder Rich, but it is doubtful whether he can be convicted of
the crime. His case was investigated by the grand jury of this county at a time when Rich was lying very
low from the effects of his wounds, and he could then recollect nothing in regard to the outrage upon him.
His mind has since improved, and he now says that Nevilles was talking with him about the time he sat
down to eat his supper. But his intellect has not yet entirely recovered, and his evidence of course would
be scrutinized very closely by a jury.
If Nevilles was really the man who attempted to murder Rich, he certainly exhibited a degree of
cunning not usual among criminals in obliterating all marks of the crime. His clothes must have been
covered with blood, and yet the suit which he ordinarily wore was found in his cabin, apparently just as
he had taken it off previous to his leaving. He could not have burned his clothing for the ashes in his stove
were carefully examined, and no cinders of woolen or cotton cloth were found among them. It is not
probable that he could have went any distance from his house to bury his clothing, for the deed was
committed in daylight, and but a short time after he was among the most active in endeavoring to discover
the perpetrators. Between twelve and two o’clock of that night, Nevilles left, and went below. His object
in leaving at that unusual hour has never been satisfactorily accounted for. The supposition is, that he had
left Rich for dead, but fearing afterwards that he would revive sufficiently to inform on him, he thought it
was best to get out of the place.
As soon as it was known that Nevilles had left, his cabin was thoroughly examined, and the only
thing about his premises that would indicate that he had committed the crime was the condition of the
sink. While everything else in the house was covered with dirt and filth, the sink was remarkably clean. It
is supposed that he washed himself in the sink and then scoured it to obliterate traces of blood. This is
looked upon by many, as the strongest circumstance against him. A pair of rubber boots were also found
in the cabin, which exactly fitted tracks back of Rich’s house, and which are supposed to have been made
by Nevilles as he was leaving by the back door. The circumstantial evidence against Nevilles, although
strong, is not sufficient to warrant a jury in finding a verdict of guilty, and should he be brought back for
trial his conviction will depend much upon the character of the evidence given by Rich, the condition of
his mind, and what he is able to remember in regard to Nevilles being in his house just before the murder
was attempted.
NAME CHANGED.—A meeting of the residents of the town of Rabbit Creek, in Plumas county,
was recently held, and the name of the town changed to “La Porte.”
COURT OF SESSIONS.—This court was in session Monday and Tuesday. The case of Andrew
Kelly, indicted for grand larceny, was set for trial on Thursday. The cases of M. C. Barker, indicted for an
assault with intent to do bodily injury, and of J. L. Dribilbis, indicted for grand larceny, were continued to
the next term of the court. Yesterday morning, Ah Ti, a Chinaman, was tried and convicted of grand
larceny, in stealing some two hundred dollars worth of jewelry from another Chinaman name Qui Sou. In
the afternoon, the trial of Francis Mathews, for assault with intent to commit murder, was commenced,
and the evidence closed. The case will probably be concluded to-day.
WEAKENED.—A short time since an obstinate debtor was sent to jail for contempt of Court, in
refusing to pay a judgment, when he had the money in his pocket. He declared his determination of
remaining in the jail “till he rotted,” thinking it an excellent place to live free of expense. During his short
sojourn in jail, one prisoner [Andrew Kelly] stole his money and another [Frank Moore] committed
suicide. At the suggestion of the creditor, he was put into the suicide’s cell, which frightened him so badly