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Boise, Ida., July 6 – Through a statement made by a
convict in the Colorado penitentiary, the state of
Idaho may soon be in a position to prosecute
successfully some if not all the gang who murdered
and robbed the Chinese miners on Salmon River about
twelve years ago. The name of the convict imparting
the information is Calvin Luke. He makes a statement
to Gov. McConnell in a letter received, in which he
says:
“I beg to acquaint your Excellency that convict No.
2562 Joseph Brooks, alias Jack Shafer, convicted
last autumn of horse stealing, is, according to his
own confession, a fugitive from justice, having
participated in the robbery and murder of ten
Chinese placer miners at a point on the Salmon river
some years ago. Brooks bears a scar on his right
hand received during the resistance made by the
Chinese. The excuse for the murder as alleged by
Brooks, is that one of the number of Chinese offered
resistance to the robbery and was killed, whereupon
the bandits exterminated the entire number in order
to avoid identification in the event of their
apprehension. Erastus Christiansen, alias Ras Lewis,
alias Matt Warren, who is now in prison in Vernal,
Utah awaiting trial on two charges of murder; Tom
McCarty, Kid McCarty and Billy McCarty, were,
together with Brooks, the perpetrators of the
crime.” |
