The Daily Record-Union Sacramento, Cal. Monday, July 19, 188/0 MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING - Walter COOKSLEY an employe of the firm of SALSBURY & Sons, while sleeping in a room near the office of their wood yard on H, between Sixth and Seventh streets, was shot on Friday night by his own piston in a very mysterious manner. Another gentleman sleeping in the office heard the report of a pistol in the direction of the place where COOKSLEY was sleeping, and called to him, waking him up to know what the shooting meant. COOKSLEY, irritated at being woke up, answered that he did not know anything about it, but feeling a stinging sensation in his arm, lit his lamp, and found that he had been shot through the muscle of the arm above the elbow, and upon examination ascertained that it was from his own pistol, which he kept under his pillow. The mystery as to the manner in which the pistol discharged itself with no one in the room but himself, and he so deeply wrapped in the arms of Morpheus as not to hear the report, is a subject of profound study to COOKSLEY, and more inexplicable than the fifteen puzzle. NATURAL SYMPATHY - On Saturday H.H. NOONAN, who had just got out of the chain-gang, and was circulating a paper to raise money to redeem DOWD from the balance of his term, and had collected a portion of it, between times was being watched by the police for trying to rope in ìHoosiers,î was arrested by officer JACKSON, upon vagrancy and general principles, and is now occupying the same cell formerly presided over by Jack DOWD at the city jail, and will soon follow him again to the chain-gang. One of the subscribers to Jackís release is only saved from arrest and conviction for vagrancy by getting an occasional sub- job in the Fire Department, and many of the others who placed their names on this ìroll of honor,î are of very similar ilk, and still others must have been out of profitable employment when they affixed their sign-manual. POLICE ARRESTS - The following arrests were made by the police Saturday and yesterday: J. MURPHY, disturbing the peace, by officer JACKSON; Wm. CHASE, safe keeping, by officer JACKSON; Lucine TAURE, disturbing the peace, by officers JACKSON and RIDER; T.C. McMAHON, disturbing the peace, by officers BARRON and CAFFERTY; Charles VIRGIN, drunk, by officer JACKSON; Jerry CRAVER, exposure of person, by J.C. MEDLEY and Fred. KARCHER; Ah. COME, petty larceny, by officers FERRAL and RIDER; Michael HEATH, drunk, by officers FERRAL and RIDER; No. 7 (too drunk to know his name), by officers WOOD and CAMPBELL; Lizzie WILCOX, common drunkard, by officer WOODS; Tom CROW (Italian), drunk, by Deputy Sheriff BRISSELL; Frank CAFFETY, drunk, by Deputy Sheriff KNOX. SUDEN DEATH - On Saturday afternoon John SCHERMER, a rancher residing near Elk Grove, came to the city with his team. While sitting in the waiting-room of Dr. SIMMONS' office, where he had gone for medical advice, he sank to the floor from his chair and almost immediately expired from heart disease. The Coroner was notified of the death and held an inquest, at which the facts found were as above stated. The remains were taken to Elk Grove Saturday night. HOMIDICE Dr. H.A. Summers Of Walnut Grove Shot Dead By B. Beckley Beckley Gives Himself Up after the Shooting - Statements as to the cause - Testimony Taken at the Coronerís Inquest. On last Saturday afternoon, about 5 o'clock, shortly after the arrival of the stage at Walnut Grove, which was driven by Benson BECKLEY, from Sacramento, a shooting affray took place, in which said BECKLEY shot and killed Dr. H.A. SUMMERS of that place. They met prior to the occurrence and went into Brown's Hotel and drank together, having a friendly social chat as they did so. After drinking they walked together toward the door, when the Doctor said to Mr. BECKLEY, "Ben, let's go over to the wharf and have a little talk about that matter." They then walked across the street together, when the shooting soon after occurred, as detailed in the testimony given below, taken at the Coroner's Inquest. There are different statements as to the cause which led to the shooting. The one generally given is that the Doctor had made improper advances to Mrs. BECKLEY, and a discussion of the charge was in progress between them when the Doctor denied the truth of the allegation, and made some derogatory statement in reference to Mrs. B, whereupon BECKLEY demanded its retraction, and the Doctor refusing, the shooting took place. As soon as the Doctor was dead Mr. BECKLEY surrendered himself to a man by the name of Wm. BUTERICK, to whom he remarked that he thought he was justified in doing what he had done. BUTERICK delivered him to Constable HENSLEY, and they went together to Justice KNOTT at Isleton, who did not deem an examination by himself necessary, as the Sheriff had been telegraphed for. They then returned to Walnut Grove, reaching there about the same time Sheriff HEILBRON, Deputy Sheriff BAKER and District Attorney BUCKLEY arrived. The Sheriff and Deputy then brought Mr. BECKLEY to the city and placed him in the jail, and District Attorney BUCKLEY remained to the inquest. Coroner VERMILYA went down yesterday morning and held an inquest, and brought the remains to this city, where they will be interred. Dr. M.F. CLAYTON held a post mortem examination, assisted by Drs. RANDALL and ODELL. He found that the ball had taken effect about opposite the outer third of the collar-bone, or clavicle, and about three-quarters of an inch below the clacicle; ranged inward and downward; it cut the first rib, and as it passed out, cut the second rib near the spinal column and lodged in the muscles near the upper angle of the left shoulder-blade. In its course it cut the subclavian artery and went through the apex of the left lung. He also found the left pelural cavity was filled with blood. The following is the testimony taken before the Coroner yesterday at the inquest: CHARLES E. PALMER Staten Island, was acquainted with deceased. On the afternoon of July 17, 1880, about 5 o'clock, I was in the hotel kept by Mr. BROWN at Walnut Grove. I heard loud talk and looked across the river, and next thing I heard was the report of a pistol. I looked over and saw Dr. SIMMONS and Mr. BECKLEY, and I say the doctor place his right hand on his left breast and exclaim immediately after the first shot, "My God, I am shot." I rushed over to the wharf, and, as I was crossing the road, I heard another pistol shot. I hallooed to Mr. BECKLEY to stop shooting. Before I got upon the wharf he snapped his pistol again, and it missed fire. Then, after the first shot was fired, deceased was standing to the south of Mr. BECKLEY, who was facing deceased and standing four or five feet from him. To the east of the parties were some bales of hay. Deceased ran around to the east of the hay bales followed by Mr. BECKLEY. deceased stooped down behind the bales of hay and cried "Murder," several times. While deceased was stooping behind the hay Mr. BECKLEY reached his pistol over the bale of hay and shot at deceased, but the pistol missed fire. By this time Mr. BECKLEY got around the bale of hay near deceased, and deceased partially arose and caught hold of the pistol. I was standing in the road about fifteen feet from the parties. As deceased caught hold of the pistol I jumped upon the wharf and caught hold of the pistol. Both parties also held the pistol. Mr. BROWN, I think, by this time also caught hold of the pistol. During the struggle for the pistol I pulled the chamber from the pistol and one cartridge dropped from the chamber upon the wharf. I heard it drop. Mr. BROWN wrenched the pistol from the contending parties. This pistol looks like the pistol used by Mr. BECKLEY. I can identify this as the chamber taken from the pistol. Mr. BECKLEY walked away with Mr. BUTRICK. About the time the pistol was taken from the parties deceased leaned against the bale of hay and exclaimed, "My God! I am a dead man. Give me a pillow." A pillow was given to him and he laid down on his right side at the place where the Coroner found him. He laid down before he got the pillow, and when he got the pillow he laid more on his back. I did not see deceased draw any weapon or make any hostile demonstrations. Did not know of any quarrel having been had by deceased and Mr. BECKLEY previous to the shooting. As Mr. BECKLEY walked away he said, "You may call me a liar as much as you are a mind to, but no man can call my wife a liar. I'll shoot any man who calls my wife a liar." Prior to the shooting I did not notice any altercation between deceased and Mr. BECKLEY. Mr. BECKLEY appeared excited after the shooting. Mr. BECKLEY surrendered himself voluntarily. He told me he thought he was justified in doing what he had done and was willing to give himself up, and was then waiting for a team to take him to Sacramento. Just after the first shot was fired deceased was retreating in an easterly direction on the wharf, followed by Mr. BECKLEY, who fired a shot at deceased. Deceased continued to retreat until he reached a bale of hay, behind which he crouched. ALEXANDER BROWN I keep a hotel at Walnut Grove, in this county. Was acquainted with deceased. About twenty minutes of 5 o'clock on the afternoon of July 17, 1880, deceased and Mr. BCKLEY came into my hotel, walked up to the counter, and deceased said to Mr. BECKLEY, "Ben, what will you?" Mr. BECKLEY said he would have a glass of beer, and deceased said he would have the same. They drank the beer and left the hotel together. As they were leaving the door deceased said to Mr. BECKLEY, "Ben, come over on the wharf and weíll have a little talk." In about ten minutes I heard some talk on the wharf. I looked over, and heard deceased say, "It's false." At the same time deceased uttered a scream, and I saw Mr. BECKLEY raise the pistol and fire a shot as the deceased turned to run. Deceased immediately placed his left hand upon his right breast or shoulder and screamed "Murder!" ran around some bales of hay, first in a southerly and then in a easterly direction, followed by Mr. BECKLEY. as I ran across the road I halloed to Mr. BECKLEY for God's sake not to shoot. He continued to follow deceased. I got upon the wharf before the second shot was fired. I undertook to close in on him to get the pistol, but he handled it so recklessly that I was afraid to get near him. By this time they had made one circuit of the hay bales. Deceased was at this time at the southwest corner of the hay bales, and Mr. BECKLEY was about five or six feet from him, and fired a shot at deceased. I think he fired over the top of a bale of hay. He fired in a southerly direction. Both parties were running. Deceased ran around to the easterly corner of the hay bales, and crouched behind a bale of hay. Mr. BECKLEY came up to him. Deceased kept dodging from one side to the other, and Mr. BECKLEY kept pointing the pistol at him. He snapped the pistol at deceased but it missed fire. As Mr. BECKLEY was attempting to cock the pistol deceased reached up and caught hold of the pistol. In the struggle for the pistol I caught hold of the pistol, as did also Mr. PALMER; the spring of the pistol opened and the chamber dropped out, and Mr. PALMER got it and remarked that "it's all right, Doctor, I have got the chamber," at the same time letting go of the pistol. I said to Mr. BECKLEY, "Ben, let go of the pistol." He said, "You have the Doctor let go first; I won't shoot any more." I said, "He has let go," and both Mr. BECKLEY and deceased let go at the same time, as near as I remember. I started to put the pistol away and get some water. Deceased laid upon the wharf, resting his head upon his right elbow and hand. The pistol here exhibited by the District Attorney and Coroner is the pistol with which the shooting was done. I think both Mr. BECKLEY and deceased were sober. Don't know what they wanted to talk about. They appeared at my hotel to be friendly. After the shooting Mr. BECKLEY said "You d___ ___ ___ ___, you can all me a liar; but don't you call my wife a liar!" About four minutes after the second shot, deceased died. While running around the hay the deceased continued to exclaim "Murder!" and Mr. BECKLEY exclaimed two or three times, "You d___ ___ ___ ___. you can call me a liar; but donít you call my wife a liar!" JAMES E. TOWN Grand Island, sworn; By occupation a butcher. Knew deceased in his lifetime. July 17th, about 5 P.M. was sitting in Mr. Brown's hotel. Heard a pistol or gunshot. Directly I heard some one say, "Beckley, don't shoot." Heard another pistol or gunshot. Got up and looked out of the window, through the screen. Saw deceased crouching down on the southeast of the most easterly bale of hay on the wharf. I saw Mr. BECKLEY holding a pistol with both hands, with the barrel pointing upward, and he then pointed it around the corner of the bale of hay at the deceased, who screamed "Murder." I started to go out of the hotel door. I could not see any of the difficulty from the time I started until I got to the door, and while going I thought I heard a noise like a pistol or gunshot. When I got out of the door I saw deceased and Mr. BECKLEY and two or three others in a scuffle. I walked down the street. I saw blood on the left shoulder of deceased. Two or three hours after the death of deceased I felt on the outside of his pockets for a pistol, but found none. I found a cartridge lying on the wharf where the scuffle had taken place. I picked it up and laid it down again. I went home and came back this morning, and picked up in the same place what I think is the same cartridge. I gave it to Dr. CLAYTON. FREDERICK WICHERS, Walnut Grove; My occupation is that of a butcher. On July 17th, near 5 o'clock P.M., I was in my house about 50 yards to a northeast direction from the wharf at Walnut Grove. I heard a report of a gunshot. I went out to see from whence it came. Saw deceased running around some bales of hay, followed by B.D. BECKLEY. Heard deceased halloo "Murder!" and "Don't shoot!" Saw deceased crouch down behind two bales of hay, and Mr. BECKLEY reached over the hay and fired a shot at deceased. I was six feet away. Deceased continued to halloo "Murder!" and "Don't shoot!" Mr. BECKLEY followed around the bale of hay, and put his pistol against deceased's breast, but the pistol failed to explode. At the same time deceased reached out his arms and put them around Mr. BECKLEY's neck, and then he sank backward, but retained a hold of Mr. BECKLEY's arm which held the pistol, and pulled Mr. BECKLEY over him in a stooping position. By that time myself, Mr. BROWN and Mr. PALMER got on to the wharf, and Mr. BROWN and Mr. PALMER got possession of the pistol. Deceased remarked that he was killed, and dying. He was lying on his right side. Saw a great deal of blood on the left shoulder of deceased. Saw no weapons with deceased. Heard only two reports. About 15 or 20 minutes before the shooting I saw Mr. BECKLEY, and I think he was sober then, and also at the time of shooting. I thought he was very much excited at the time of the shooting. When I first saw him he was not, in my opinion, excited. T. SHARP, Wm. BUTERICK, G. LYONS and O.S. TERRELL were subpoenaed as witnesses, but did not attend. VERDICT Walnut Grove, Sacramento county, July 18, 1880 - At an inquest held on the body of a man dying from the effects of a gun or pistol shot wound at the above-named place, July 17, 1880, we, the Coronerís jury, duly summoned by the Coroner to inquire into the cause of said man's death, do find said man's name to be Henry A. SUMMERS, a native of Canada, aged 42 years, and that the cause of death of the said Henry A. SUMMERS was from a gun or pistol-shot wound, causing hemorrhage into the cavity of the thorax from the divided subclavian artery, said gun or pistol shot having been fired by the hands of one B.D. BECKLEY. D.B. MILLER, Robert BROWN, Wm. HOLTUM, H.C. ARMSTRONG, James D. RHOADES, E. KEEFE, A. MEAD, A. WALKER, M. MADGE, John HASKELL, J. WISE, G.A. KNOTT. DR. H.A. SUMMERS Was about 5 feet 11 inches in hight, sandy complexion, light hair and mustache, weight about 210 pounds. He is said to have possessed an irascible disposition, often abusing his friends upon the slight pretexts, saying things for which he felt bound to apologize shortly after. He was a Canadian by birth, and graduated in 1864 from the Philadelphia Medical College, and commenced the practice of his profession in Michigan. Twelve years ago he came to San Francisco, and remained there engaged in his profession ten years. Two years ago he came to this city and opened an office on the west side of Eighth street, just south of I. Afterwards he removed to the corner of J and Fifth streets. About nine months ago he left this city and opened an office in Rocklin, in Placer county. Last December he removed to Walnut Grove, and remained there until the time of his death. He leaves a wife and two children, who are now at the residence of Dr. M.F. CLAYTON in this city. POLICE COURT - In the Police Court on Saturday William GRIMES, a drunk, was fined $12.50; O.M. ADAMS pleaded guilty to battery of Superintendent F.L. LANDES at the latterís office on Thursday last, and was fined $10 and costs; Wallace MacPHERSON, charged with obtaining money under false pretenses, was held to answer to the Grand Jury, with bail fixed at $500; John WALL, alias ìHappy Jack,î was tried on a charge of being a common drunk, and discharged; Frank MARTIN and Eddie JOHNSON were adjudged guilty of disturbing the peace; Barney McSORLEY was fined $5 for having been drunk; Eli MAYO was fined $12.50 for violating the health ordinance; Conrad SCHEPP, previously convicted of selling diseased meat, was granted a continuance of judgment till the 24th, as was also Robert McCLURE for embezzlement, and George D. ALLMOND for misdemeanor. The petit larceny cases of Ah Toy and Ah Sam went over till the 12th; Annie MARKS and Delia GALLAGHER were tried for petit larceny and found not guilty. DEN RAIDED - Last evening a man who had got too much beer went into Martin RYAN's dive, on K, between Front and Second streets, where he fell asleep in a chair. While in this position he was robbed of a fine heavy silver watch and chain. He at once reported it to Chief KARCHER, who detailed officers JACKSON, FERRAL, RIDER and CAMPBELL to go to the place of the robbery and arrest the proprietor and every person found in the establishment. They proceeded to obey orders, and, after a severe rough-and-tumble experience, took eight with them to the station-house and locked them up for the night. Among the number taken in was the proprietor and three prisoners just discharged from the County Jail and chain-gang. FAMILY DIFFICULTY - Last Tuesday or Wednesday a house at the corner of Twelfth and D streets was reported to police headquarters to have been robbed. Officer FREDERICKS arrested a boy upon suspicion, and the Chief of Police telegraphed to San Francisco for another who he suspected. Yesterday the lad from San Francisco returned and gave himself up, with the missing property. It now seems to be a family difficulty between a stepmother and stepchildren, and will probably be settled. PROSTRATION FROM HEAT - On Saturday afternoon, about 5 o'clock, a carpenter by the name of Allis BALLINE, employed at the Pioneer mills, was overcome with heat, which was so serious as to be at first thought to be fatal, but he was greatly improved yesterday, and last evening said to be out of danger. BRIEF NOTES Deputy Sheriff WELLS of Solano county passed through the city yesterday, en route to Fairfield, with Manuel Joaquin LOPEZ, who was arrested upon a charge of grand larceny for stealing from a train an overcoat and valise belonging to a man named WATERHOUSE. Considerable difficulty is being experienced by grain growers to obtain men for gathering and thrashing the matured crop, and yet there are not a few applying from house to house for something to eat, and who claim they cannot get work. The sporting Celestials have organized boating club, and put three boats upon the portion of China slough west of the Third street cut off, where they enjoy gilt-edge regatta, manifesting much adeptness with the oar. Daniel DENNISON, while training a horse upon the track at Agricultural Park, was thrown from the sulky and had a shoulder dislocated. Two carloads of immigrants arrived yesterday from the East, and two will arrive at 3 P.M. to-day. Major-General McDOWELL passed Omaha yesterday, to arrive July 22d. PERSONALS - J.W. MACKEY passed through on the train yesterday. Madam Adelaide NEILSON and her agent were among the passengers on yesterdayís overland eastward. INSANE EN ROUTE - Sheriff KYLE of Eureka, Nevada, passed through the city on Saturday with Joseph CORE, insane, en route for Stockton asylum.

Great Betty, Anybody know what the "fifteen puzzle" is? marilyn ________________________________ From: Betty Loose <betty@unisette.com> To: norcal@rootsweb.com Sent: Tue, February 23, 2010 9:02:30 AM Subject: [NORCAL] Sac Union July 19 1880 The Daily Record-Union Sacramento, Cal. Monday, July 19, 188/0 MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING - Walter COOKSLEY an employe of the firm of SALSBURY & Sons, while sleeping in a room near the office of their wood yard on H, between Sixth and Seventh streets, was shot on Friday night by his own piston in a very mysterious manner. Another gentleman sleeping in the office heard the report of a pistol in the direction of the place where COOKSLEY was sleeping, and called to him, waking him up to know what the shooting meant. COOKSLEY, irritated at being woke up, answered that he did not know anything about it, but feeling a stinging sensation in his arm, lit his lamp, and found that he had been shot through the muscle of the arm above the elbow, and upon examination ascertained that it was from his own pistol, which he kept under his pillow. The mystery as to the manner in which the pistol discharged itself with no one in the room but himself, and he so deeply wrapped in the arms of Morpheus as not to hear the report, is a subject of profound study to COOKSLEY, and more inexplicable than the fifteen puzzle.