March 19, 1975 (8 pages)

HE SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER LAWYER It was early on a July morning in 1904 when Officer Harry McGovern came upon the culprit with the evidence still in his hand. “You there, you holding the milk bottle, you’re under arrest,’’ the policeman commanded. The residents of Red Bluff had been plagued for months by an early morning prowler who stole the milk right off their porches the minute the milkman turned away. Finally it appeared the thief had been found, a drifter by the name of Chambers. Chambers, however, declared he was innocent and demanded a jury trial. And he informed _Justice of the Peace Bransford that he would act as his own defense. Judge Bransford had no " more than called the courtroom to order than Chambers was on his feet. “Objection, objection, your honor, the complaint has not been read to. the jury,”’ Chambers scolded. The _formalities soon dispensed with, the first witness: appeared on the stand, the man whose milk had . been stolen. “Can you swear that the milkman left your milk on the morning in question?”’ Chambers asked sternly. “Well, I.1 couldn’t actuallyswear. I was asleep,’’ the witness stammered. Chambers directed his crossexamination of the,.milkman with the same attention to detail. “Sir, can you positively identify Exhibit A, the bottle found in my possession, as the same bottle you left on the complainant’s back porch?”’ Of course every milk: bottle looked the same to Tommy Walton, the milkman. In his final plea to the jury, which lasted longer than the trial, Chambers protested his innocence and declared there was no evidence against him. The jury deliberated ten minutes before deciding it was not: impressed by Chambers’ legal maneuverings. They found him guilty and he served 60 days in the Tehama County Jail. IC amptonville News CAMPTONVILLE, March 10. Mrs. Beatrice Lyons is confined at the Golden Empire Convalescent Hospital at Grass Valley. . Mr. and Mrs. Don Humphrey, who recently sold their home on Spring Street, have moved to Sparks, Nevada to reside, after having spent the past many years here. Mrs. Cynthia Jaslow (formerly Cynthia Church) a former resident has moved from Hayward to Drutown, Amador where she has purchased a cafe and is operating the same. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. NEVADA COUNTY NUGGET 301 Broad Street Nevada City, Ca. f 95959 Telephone 265-2559 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY NEVADA COUNTY PUBLISHING CO. Second class postage paid at Nevada City, California. Adjudicated a legal newspaper of general circulation by the Nevada County Superior Court, June 3, 1960. Decree No. 12,406. Subscription Rates: One Year . $3.00 Two Yeors . $5.00 . Member of CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ee ee Stare Ce RE Cw le Hanson recently returned from several weeks trip to Arizona and Southern California. George Thompson, of Concord, was in town Friday ona brief business visit. Mr. and Mrs. Walter-Kechter, of Marysville, were in town Saturday on a brief visit with friends. Joe Del Porto, who recently underwent surgery, is now recovering at the Golden Empire Convalescent Hospital at Grass Valley. A stormy weekend of wind and gentle rain has brought the rainfall for the season up to 41.15 inches. A small fire took place at the Sierra Mountain Mills recently which was controlled by the local fire department and Forest Service. Safety pole work complete To reduce the severity of collisions with light poles, 126 of them have been moved, removed or fitted with breakaway bases on Interstate Routes 5, 80 and 880. If an automobile strikes one of the modified posts, the post quickly snaps off at the ground, slowing the car somewhat and reducing injury to the occupants and damage to the car. The $42,000 contract completed by B & D Contractors of Inglewood is part of a continuing effort by the . Department of Transportation to reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents by incorporating the latest safety ideas into existing roads. 2 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., March 19,1979 California Country. { Rough and Ready News Kristi Ottoman. . By Fay Dunbar It’s not the pattern I like most to see but it was beautiful, plum blossoms encrusted with snow. I didn’t get any plums last year. Besides it didn’t seem quite as cold. The robins solved the snow problem very cleverly. They worked along the edge of the driveway where the snow melted more quickly. They were lined up along the driveway so thick I could hardly negotiate it with the cat. They were so hungry they didn’t move until I was almost running over them. R&R William Bursill advises me they really are going to cut down on their gardening this year. The whole Bursill family must have green thumbs. They really love to grow things. Bill has met each of the last © three spring seasons with the firm intention of cutting down on his garden. This year they may make it. Clara has recovered very well from her recent illness and they are planning a trip back to Bursill’s birthplace in Canada. They plan to spend the nice summer weather just visiting and seeing the country. —RE&R I like the Bicentennial Americana slogan “Pride in the Past; Strength for the Future.” . —R&R I also like the idea, now proposed, of bringing all state government to Sacramento. Why should. state offices, other than service departments, be maintained in San Francisco and Los: Angeles. The governor and legislature are in Sacramento. Maybe it would help eliminate some of those state cars to have it all in one place. R&R A friend of mine told me a story. of early day Rough and Ready that is sure hair raising but is definitely true. He knew the late Frank Johnson, former resident of Rough and Ready. He lived just across the Rough and Ready Ravine from Maud Taylor Calvert. Frank told him the story. All three men involved are dead now so the story can be told. Frank, Bill Torpie and Maud’s brother were working a mining claim together. Their claim was back uver the hill toward Deer Creek from Rough and Ready; Frank didn’t explain exactly where. It was sometime in the late 1880s. In 1872 Torpie’s father, Francis, had been. granted a mining claim and homestead rights, by the U.S. government, for 160-acres of land in the North Quarter of Section 24. It seems reasonable to assume it was somewhere in that area. _ The Torpie Tunnel was reported to be 1700feet long. These three were honest hard working young men. When they took a day off to go to town it usually became two days because they were also hard drinking men. When they returned, kind of befuddled, : from one of these trips to town they found claim jumpers working their claim. In the ensuing fight Frank was knifed very badly in the stomach. The episode cooled them off for a while but when Frank got out of the hospital they returned to their claim. They shot the claim jumpers and burned their cabin to the ground with the bodies still in it. Early day justice in Rough and Ready! Quick cand final! One of the nicer stories about the Torpie family was written by Andy Rogers, of more recent times. Tom Torpie, younger brother of Bill, told Andy the story. All the miners of the.area, who «were alone, used to come to Mrs. Bridget Torpie for advice and to share their little secrets; often to let her be the only other one who knew where their gold cache was hidden. ; : Another of Andy’s stories was of the Torpie’s goat; it was the terror of the camp. One day he ran a trespassing miner up a tree and kept him there for three hours . before help: arrived. One of the Torpie’s neighbors, James McManus, tried to kill the goat once, after it caused trouble in his pig pen. He accidentally killed one of his own pigs instead. This did not improve anyone’s opinion of the goat. He finally really went too far when he invaded a store and knocked all the merchandise about. The Torpie family, Francis and Bridget M., came to California in 1854 via the Isthmus. Their were three children born in Rough and Ready. William, Thomas J. and Mary. Before the death of their father in 1907 Thomas had a wife named Sallie. Mary had married a Mr. Flannery. William was 43 years old when his father died. There is no mention of a wife. Most of these facts are from the Abstract of Title records concerning their homestead in Rough and Ready. R&R The Torpie story reminds me of one other rather famous story of desperate action in the administration of law and order here in the early days. This is the story of a hanging. In the summer of 1851 a Digger Indian named Chollo broke the Indian treaty of peace signed on May 20, 1850 between General Green and Indians of the area.For no apparent reason he crept up behind a young lad who was peacefully following a wagon along the peaceful country road through Penn Valley to Rough and Ready and murdered him. The Chief of his tribe brought Chollo in himself and delivered him to the citizens of Rough and Ready for punishment. Chief Weimah was a man of honor, he had been one of the chiefs that signed the treaty. Chollo was tried, convicted and hanged for his crime. Indians witnessed the hanging; there were no further incidents. R&R We have more new neighbors. The James M. McCoskers came here from Concord last December. I met the two boys first; Carl is 14, Darrin is 9, and their sister Cathy is 12, Their mother is a bit of an artist. She paints and also dances. She has already met Mary Hirsch also of Squirrel Creek Acres where the McCoskers live. She was pleased to hear of Lucille McCrea’s interest in art. McCosker has been in business for himself for about eight years. He hopes to build as good a business here in Rough and Ready. His business is earth moving; hauling, bulldozing, and backhoe. _ Mrs. McCosker lost her mother last December. Her father, Carl Grimes, hopes to put his life together again here with his daughter and her family in Rough and Ready. R&R Mary O’Neal and Loreto Lofgren attended the Nevada County Travel Club luncheon last Wednesday. After lunch the group enjoyed stories and-pictures of the club’s last trip to Hawaii. They also saw pictures of Alaska. The club plans a trip to our newest state this summer. R&R. — Don’t forget quilt pieces; all fabrics, sizes, and colors for our fire auxiliary quilting bee. They.meet the second Monday of each month; everyone is welcome. Call Marie Broadus for further information. R&R. Also mark your calendar for next Wednesday, March 26. The Penn Valley Nitwit Band will entertain at the Nevada County Newcomers’ Luncheon. Lunch is at Banner Grange Hall at 12:30 p.m. All mémbers and newcomers to the area are invited. Reservations requested.

HE SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER LAWYER It was early on a July morning in 1904 when Officer Harry McGovern came upon the culprit with the evidence still in his hand. “You there, you holding the milk bottle, you’re under arrest,’’ the policeman commanded. The residents of Red Bluff had been plagued for months by an early morning prowler who stole the milk right off their porches the minute the milkman turned away. Finally it appeared the thief had been found, a drifter by the name of Chambers. Chambers, however, declared he was innocent and demanded a jury trial. And he informed _Justice of the Peace Bransford that he would act as his own defense. Judge Bransford had no " more than called the courtroom to order than Chambers was on his feet. “Objection, objection, your honor, the complaint has not been read to. the jury,”’ Chambers scolded. The _formalities soon dispensed with, the first witness: appeared on the stand, the man whose milk had . been stolen. “Can you swear that the milkman left your milk on the morning in question?”’ Chambers asked sternly. “Well, I..1 couldn’t actuallyswear. I was asleep,’’ the witness stammered. Chambers directed his crossexamination of the,.milkman with the same attention to detail. “Sir, can you positively identify Exhibit A, the bottle found in my possession, as the same bottle you left on the complainant’s back porch?”’ Of course every milk: bottle looked the same to Tommy Walton, the milkman. In his final plea to the jury, which lasted longer than the trial, Chambers protested his innocence and declared there was no evidence against him. The jury deliberated ten minutes before deciding it was not: impressed by Chambers’ legal maneuverings. They found him guilty and he served 60 days in the Tehama County Jail. IC amptonville News CAMPTONVILLE, March 10. Mrs. Beatrice Lyons is confined at the Golden Empire Convalescent Hospital at Grass Valley. . Mr. and Mrs. Don Humphrey, who recently sold their home on Spring Street, have moved to Sparks, Nevada to reside, after having spent the past many years here. Mrs. Cynthia Jaslow (formerly Cynthia Church) a former resident has moved from Hayward to Drutown, Amador where she has purchased a cafe and is operating the same. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. NEVADA COUNTY NUGGET 301 Broad Street Nevada City, Ca. f 95959 Telephone 265-2559 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY NEVADA COUNTY PUBLISHING CO. Second class postage paid at Nevada City, California. Adjudicated a legal newspaper of general circulation by the Nevada County Superior Court, June 3, 1960. Decree No. 12,406. Subscription Rates: One Year .. $3.00 Two Yeors .. $5.00 . Member of CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ee ee Stare Ce RE Cw le Hanson recently returned from several weeks trip to Arizona and Southern California. George Thompson, of Concord, was in town Friday ona brief business visit. Mr. and Mrs. Walter-Kechter, of Marysville, were in town Saturday on a brief visit with friends. Joe Del Porto, who recently underwent surgery, is now recovering at the Golden Empire Convalescent Hospital at Grass Valley. A stormy weekend of wind and gentle rain has brought the rainfall for the season up to 41.15 inches. A small fire took place at the Sierra Mountain Mills recently which was controlled by the local fire department and Forest Service. Safety pole work complete To reduce the severity of collisions with light poles, 126 of them have been moved, removed or fitted with breakaway bases on Interstate Routes 5, 80 and 880. If an automobile strikes one of the modified posts, the post quickly snaps off at the ground, slowing the car somewhat and reducing injury to the occupants and damage to the car. The $42,000 contract completed by B & D Contractors of Inglewood is part of a continuing effort by the . Department of Transportation to reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents by incorporating the latest safety ideas into existing roads. 2 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., March 19,1979 California Country. { Rough and Ready News Kristi Ottoman. . By Fay Dunbar It’s not the pattern I like most to see but it was beautiful, plum blossoms encrusted with snow. I didn’t get any plums last year. Besides it didn’t seem quite as cold. The robins solved the snow problem very cleverly. They worked along the edge of the driveway where the snow melted more quickly. They were lined up along the driveway so thick I could hardly negotiate it with the cat. They were so hungry they didn’t move until I was almost running over them.

R&R William Bursill advises me they really are going to cut down on their gardening this year. The whole Bursill family must have green thumbs. They really love to grow things. Bill has met each of the last © three spring seasons with the firm intention of cutting down on his garden. This year they may make it. Clara has recovered very well from her recent illness and they are planning a trip back to Bursill’s birthplace in Canada. They plan to spend the nice summer weather just visiting and seeing the country. —RE&R I like the Bicentennial Americana slogan “Pride in the Past; Strength for the Future.” . —R&R I also like the idea, now proposed, of bringing all state government to Sacramento. Why should. state offices, other than service departments, be maintained in San Francisco and Los: Angeles. The governor and legislature are in Sacramento. Maybe it would help eliminate some of those state cars to have it all in one place. R&R A friend of mine told me a story. of early day Rough and Ready that is sure hair raising but is definitely true. He knew the late Frank Johnson, former resident of Rough and Ready. He lived just across the Rough and Ready Ravine from Maud Taylor Calvert. Frank told him the story. All three men involved are dead now so the story can be told. Frank, Bill Torpie and Maud’s brother were working a mining claim together. Their claim was back uver the hill toward Deer Creek from Rough and Ready; Frank didn’t explain exactly where. It was sometime in the late 1880s. In 1872 Torpie’s father, Francis, had been. granted a mining claim and homestead rights, by the U.S. government, for 160-acres of land in the North Quarter of Section 24. It seems reasonable to assume it was somewhere in that area. _ The Torpie Tunnel was reported to be 1700feet long. These three were honest hard working young men. When they took a day off to go to town it usually became two days because they were also hard drinking men. When they returned, kind of befuddled, : from one of these trips to town they found claim jumpers working their claim. In the ensuing fight Frank was knifed very badly in the stomach. The episode cooled them off for a while but when Frank got out of the hospital they returned to their claim. They shot the claim jumpers and burned their cabin to the ground with the bodies still in it. Early day justice in Rough and Ready! Quick cand final! One of the nicer stories about the Torpie family was written by Andy Rogers, of more recent times. Tom Torpie, younger brother of Bill, told Andy the story. All the miners of the.area, who «were alone, used to come to Mrs. Bridget Torpie for advice and to share their little secrets; often to let her be the only other one who knew where their gold cache was hidden. ; : Another of Andy’s stories was of the Torpie’s goat; it was the terror of the camp. One day he ran a trespassing miner up a tree and kept him there for three hours . before help: arrived. One of the Torpie’s neighbors, James McManus, tried to kill the goat once, after it caused trouble in his pig pen. He accidentally killed one of his own pigs instead. This did not improve anyone’s opinion of the goat. He finally really went too far when he invaded a store and knocked all the merchandise about. The Torpie family, Francis and Bridget M., came to California in 1854 via the Isthmus. Their were three children born in Rough and Ready. William, Thomas J. and Mary. Before the death of their father in 1907 Thomas had a wife named Sallie. Mary had married a Mr. Flannery. William was 43 years old when his father died. There is no mention of a wife. Most of these facts are from the Abstract of Title records concerning their homestead in Rough and Ready. R&R The Torpie story reminds me of one other rather famous story of desperate action in the administration of law and order here in the early days. This is the story of a hanging. In the summer of 1851 a Digger Indian named Chollo broke the Indian treaty of peace signed on May 20, 1850 between General Green and Indians of the area.For no apparent reason he crept up behind a young lad who was peacefully following a wagon along the peaceful country road through Penn Valley to Rough and Ready and murdered him. The Chief of his tribe brought Chollo in himself and delivered him to the citizens of Rough and Ready for punishment. Chief Weimah was a man of honor, he had been one of the chiefs that signed the treaty. Chollo was tried, convicted and hanged for his crime. Indians witnessed the hanging; there were no further incidents. R&R We have more new neighbors. The James M. McCoskers came here from Concord last December. I met the two boys first; Carl is 14, Darrin is 9, and their sister Cathy is 12, Their mother is a bit of an artist. She paints and also dances. She has already met Mary Hirsch also of Squirrel Creek Acres where the McCoskers live. She was pleased to hear of Lucille McCrea’s interest in art. McCosker has been in business for himself for about eight years. He hopes to build as good a business here in Rough and Ready. His business is earth moving; hauling, bulldozing, and backhoe. _ Mrs. McCosker lost her mother last December. Her father, Carl Grimes, hopes to put his life together again here with his daughter and her family in Rough and Ready. R&R Mary O’Neal and Loreto Lofgren attended the Nevada County Travel Club luncheon last Wednesday. After lunch the group enjoyed stories and-pictures of the club’s last trip to Hawaii. They also saw pictures of Alaska. The club plans a trip to our newest state this summer. R&R. — Don’t forget quilt pieces; all fabrics, sizes, and colors for our fire auxiliary quilting bee. They.meet the second Monday of each month; everyone is welcome. Call Marie Broadus for further information. R&R. Also mark your calendar for next Wednesday, March 26. The Penn Valley Nitwit Band will entertain at the Nevada County Newcomers’ Luncheon. Lunch is at Banner Grange Hall at 12:30 p.m. All mémbers and newcomers to the area are invited. Reservations requested.