The Latest Murder.—The inquest held by Coroner Reeves, yesterday, on the body of S. Decatur Carkhuff, so foully murdered last Sunday night, failed to throw any material light on the mysterious and awful affair. The facts, so far as known, are substantially as we published them yesterday. The jury, composed of H. Henrie, E. A. Miles, R. Ireland, W. J. Kingsley, W. A. Keefer, and S. Smith found by their verdict that S. Decatur Carkhuff had been murdered in his bed by some person or persons to them unknown. Yesterday afternoon, the body of Justice Carkhuff was brought to this city and visited by hundreds of persons. This forenoon the funeral took place, and mourning friends followed to the grave the remains of one who, according to public opinion, deserved a less melancholy fate.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Tuesday, December 30, 1862, pg. 3
Startling Developments. —This community was somewhat startled last Monday, on hearing that a most fiendish murder had been committed in Sutter Township. The deceased was S. D. Carkhuff, a Justice of the Peace.
It will recollected that suspicion pointed towards a man named Turley as having been the assassin. Turley had worked for Carkhuff and had been discharged, as he was suspected of having pilfered small sums of money. It was on the account of his discharge, Turley bore great animostiy towards his late employer. Turley, almost by universal consent, got the credit of having been the murderer, but a few of our officers at once fixed upon Samuel Carkhuff, the nephew of the deceased man, as being the individual who had perpetrated the unnatural murder. It was ascertained that on Sunday night Samuel Carkhuff had visited a house of ill fame on Second street, and have been very prodigal with his money; that he had lived with his uncle since the first part of last August, and that previous to that time his career had been one of adventure and not very creditable; that he had but little if any means. He appeared to take but little interest in his uncle's funeral, and, in fact, agreed to visit, before the interment, in company with Sheriff Bugbey, the town of Folsom and its vicinity, in search of the suspected murderer, Turley. On Tuesday last Deputy Sheriffs Saul and Culver spent the day in dragging the lagoon which lies east of the house, and they succeeded in fishing up an iron axle of a grindstone wrapped in a pair of drawers marked with the name Carkhuff. Since then an iron gudgeon, to which a shirt was attached, has been found in the same place. The shirt and drawers seem to be marked with blood. Still later, in a burnt tree near the lagoon, has been found the sum of $740, which was in a tin box. The coin bears marks of having been lately washed in water, as the sediment is to be plainly seen. The amount found in the tree, with the sums which Samuel Carkhuff is known to have spent, would about make the total of which the elder Carkhuff is supposed to have been robbed. Carkhuff, the younger, had told the woman with whom he was so familiar that he had $900 stowed away in a place known only to himself—that after the 1st of January he would be in favor of marriage, a removal to San Francisco, and the establishment of a saloon of which they were to be joint occupants and proprietors. At first S. Carkhuff said he had spent Sunday evening at the Melodeon, but in this particular he had contradicted himself several times. He said that after noon, on Sunday, he did not visit his uncle's house till Monday morning, when he discovered the dead body. A man living at the house of P. Burns, S. D. Carkhuff's nearest neighbor, will swear positively that late on Saturday Sam was seen going towards his uncle's house. Some of the officers are of the opinion that Justice Carkhuff was not killed without a struggle—while it seems hardly possible that he could have been conscious after receiving one of those very severe blows on the head. There are other points in connection with this affair which are important, and tend to the same conclusion. Those who have well weighed the evidence think that the conviction of Samuel Carkhuff as the murderer of his uncle is inevitable. It is not now thought that the man Turley had any hand in, or knew anything of the murder. Samuel Carkhuff is under arrest, and in conversation with him his answers to questions are often stultifying and evasive. He has been charged with the murder when he coolly answered several times, "No I did'nt." The officer repeated the charge, "You murdered your poor uncle who took you out of the hospital and cared for you." The answer was an interrogatory. "What do you suppose I could do that for?" "For the nine hundred dollars he had about him." "Well, half of it belonged to me." Enough has been given to the public to satisfy them that the persevering search of the officers has been crowned with success. It is a matter for congratulation that so cowardly a murderer is not likely to go without the punishment he so richly deserves. We believe that it is intended this afternoon to make an examination of Carkhuff's body, in order to see if the wounds on the head could have been made by either of the iron instruments found in the lagoon. Near the house where the murder was committed officers are continuing the search hoping to find still further traces.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Saturday, January 3, 1863, pg. 3
Samuel came to California from Ohio on January 3, 1849. He was Justice of the Peace in Sutter Township which was also where he resided. He was found murdered at his residence with his throat cut and skull fractured. It was supposed that robbery was the motive, and the prime suspect was his namesake nephew who was eventually convicted of the crime and sentenced to be hung.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Tuesday, December 30, 1862, pg. 3
Startling Developments. —This community was somewhat startled last Monday, on hearing that a most fiendish murder had been committed in Sutter Township. The deceased was S. D. Carkhuff, a Justice of the Peace.
It will recollected that suspicion pointed towards a man named Turley as having been the assassin. Turley had worked for Carkhuff and had been discharged, as he was suspected of having pilfered small sums of money. It was on the account of his discharge, Turley bore great animostiy towards his late employer. Turley, almost by universal consent, got the credit of having been the murderer, but a few of our officers at once fixed upon Samuel Carkhuff, the nephew of the deceased man, as being the individual who had perpetrated the unnatural murder. It was ascertained that on Sunday night Samuel Carkhuff had visited a house of ill fame on Second street, and have been very prodigal with his money; that he had lived with his uncle since the first part of last August, and that previous to that time his career had been one of adventure and not very creditable; that he had but little if any means. He appeared to take but little interest in his uncle's funeral, and, in fact, agreed to visit, before the interment, in company with Sheriff Bugbey, the town of Folsom and its vicinity, in search of the suspected murderer, Turley. On Tuesday last Deputy Sheriffs Saul and Culver spent the day in dragging the lagoon which lies east of the house, and they succeeded in fishing up an iron axle of a grindstone wrapped in a pair of drawers marked with the name Carkhuff. Since then an iron gudgeon, to which a shirt was attached, has been found in the same place. The shirt and drawers seem to be marked with blood. Still later, in a burnt tree near the lagoon, has been found the sum of $740, which was in a tin box. The coin bears marks of having been lately washed in water, as the sediment is to be plainly seen. The amount found in the tree, with the sums which Samuel Carkhuff is known to have spent, would about make the total of which the elder Carkhuff is supposed to have been robbed. Carkhuff, the younger, had told the woman with whom he was so familiar that he had $900 stowed away in a place known only to himself—that after the 1st of January he would be in favor of marriage, a removal to San Francisco, and the establishment of a saloon of which they were to be joint occupants and proprietors. At first S. Carkhuff said he had spent Sunday evening at the Melodeon, but in this particular he had contradicted himself several times. He said that after noon, on Sunday, he did not visit his uncle's house till Monday morning, when he discovered the dead body. A man living at the house of P. Burns, S. D. Carkhuff's nearest neighbor, will swear positively that late on Saturday Sam was seen going towards his uncle's house. Some of the officers are of the opinion that Justice Carkhuff was not killed without a struggle—while it seems hardly possible that he could have been conscious after receiving one of those very severe blows on the head. There are other points in connection with this affair which are important, and tend to the same conclusion. Those who have well weighed the evidence think that the conviction of Samuel Carkhuff as the murderer of his uncle is inevitable. It is not now thought that the man Turley had any hand in, or knew anything of the murder. Samuel Carkhuff is under arrest, and in conversation with him his answers to questions are often stultifying and evasive. He has been charged with the murder when he coolly answered several times, "No I did'nt." The officer repeated the charge, "You murdered your poor uncle who took you out of the hospital and cared for you." The answer was an interrogatory. "What do you suppose I could do that for?" "For the nine hundred dollars he had about him." "Well, half of it belonged to me." Enough has been given to the public to satisfy them that the persevering search of the officers has been crowned with success. It is a matter for congratulation that so cowardly a murderer is not likely to go without the punishment he so richly deserves. We believe that it is intended this afternoon to make an examination of Carkhuff's body, in order to see if the wounds on the head could have been made by either of the iron instruments found in the lagoon. Near the house where the murder was committed officers are continuing the search hoping to find still further traces.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Saturday, January 3, 1863, pg. 3
Samuel came to California from Ohio on January 3, 1849. He was Justice of the Peace in Sutter Township which was also where he resided. He was found murdered at his residence with his throat cut and skull fractured. It was supposed that robbery was the motive, and the prime suspect was his namesake nephew who was eventually convicted of the crime and sentenced to be hung.
The Latest Murder.—The inquest held by Coroner Reeves, yesterday, on the body of S. Decatur Carkhuff, so foully murdered last Sunday night, failed to throw any material light on the mysterious and awful affair. The facts, so far as known, are substantially as we published them yesterday. The jury, composed of H. Henrie, E. A. Miles, R. Ireland, W. J. Kingsley, W. A. Keefer, and S. Smith found by their verdict that S. Decatur Carkhuff had been murdered in his bed by some person or persons to them unknown. Yesterday afternoon, the body of Justice Carkhuff was brought to this city and visited by hundreds of persons. This forenoon the funeral took place, and mourning friends followed to the grave the remains of one who, according to public opinion, deserved a less melancholy fate.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Tuesday, December 30, 1862, pg. 3
Startling Developments. —This community was somewhat startled last Monday, on hearing that a most fiendish murder had been committed in Sutter Township. The deceased was S. D. Carkhuff, a Justice of the Peace.
It will recollected that suspicion pointed towards a man named Turley as having been the assassin. Turley had worked for Carkhuff and had been discharged, as he was suspected of having pilfered small sums of money. It was on the account of his discharge, Turley bore great animostiy towards his late employer. Turley, almost by universal consent, got the credit of having been the murderer, but a few of our officers at once fixed upon Samuel Carkhuff, the nephew of the deceased man, as being the individual who had perpetrated the unnatural murder. It was ascertained that on Sunday night Samuel Carkhuff had visited a house of ill fame on Second street, and have been very prodigal with his money; that he had lived with his uncle since the first part of last August, and that previous to that time his career had been one of adventure and not very creditable; that he had but little if any means. He appeared to take but little interest in his uncle's funeral, and, in fact, agreed to visit, before the interment, in company with Sheriff Bugbey, the town of Folsom and its vicinity, in search of the suspected murderer, Turley. On Tuesday last Deputy Sheriffs Saul and Culver spent the day in dragging the lagoon which lies east of the house, and they succeeded in fishing up an iron axle of a grindstone wrapped in a pair of drawers marked with the name Carkhuff. Since then an iron gudgeon, to which a shirt was attached, has been found in the same place. The shirt and drawers seem to be marked with blood. Still later, in a burnt tree near the lagoon, has been found the sum of $740, which was in a tin box. The coin bears marks of having been lately washed in water, as the sediment is to be plainly seen. The amount found in the tree, with the sums which Samuel Carkhuff is known to have spent, would about make the total of which the elder Carkhuff is supposed to have been robbed. Carkhuff, the younger, had told the woman with whom he was so familiar that he had $900 stowed away in a place known only to himself—that after the 1st of January he would be in favor of marriage, a removal to San Francisco, and the establishment of a saloon of which they were to be joint occupants and proprietors. At first S. Carkhuff said he had spent Sunday evening at the Melodeon, but in this particular he had contradicted himself several times. He said that after noon, on Sunday, he did not visit his uncle's house till Monday morning, when he discovered the dead body. A man living at the house of P. Burns, S. D. Carkhuff's nearest neighbor, will swear positively that late on Saturday Sam was seen going towards his uncle's house. Some of the officers are of the opinion that Justice Carkhuff was not killed without a struggle—while it seems hardly possible that he could have been conscious after receiving one of those very severe blows on the head. There are other points in connection with this affair which are important, and tend to the same conclusion. Those who have well weighed the evidence think that the conviction of Samuel Carkhuff as the murderer of his uncle is inevitable. It is not now thought that the man Turley had any hand in, or knew anything of the murder. Samuel Carkhuff is under arrest, and in conversation with him his answers to questions are often stultifying and evasive. He has been charged with the murder when he coolly answered several times, "No I did'nt." The officer repeated the charge, "You murdered your poor uncle who took you out of the hospital and cared for you." The answer was an interrogatory. "What do you suppose I could do that for?" "For the nine hundred dollars he had about him." "Well, half of it belonged to me." Enough has been given to the public to satisfy them that the persevering search of the officers has been crowned with success. It is a matter for congratulation that so cowardly a murderer is not likely to go without the punishment he so richly deserves. We believe that it is intended this afternoon to make an examination of Carkhuff's body, in order to see if the wounds on the head could have been made by either of the iron instruments found in the lagoon. Near the house where the murder was committed officers are continuing the search hoping to find still further traces.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Saturday, January 3, 1863, pg. 3
Samuel came to California from Ohio on January 3, 1849. He was Justice of the Peace in Sutter Township which was also where he resided. He was found murdered at his residence with his throat cut and skull fractured. It was supposed that robbery was the motive, and the prime suspect was his namesake nephew who was eventually convicted of the crime and sentenced to be hung.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Tuesday, December 30, 1862, pg. 3
Startling Developments. —This community was somewhat startled last Monday, on hearing that a most fiendish murder had been committed in Sutter Township. The deceased was S. D. Carkhuff, a Justice of the Peace.
It will recollected that suspicion pointed towards a man named Turley as having been the assassin. Turley had worked for Carkhuff and had been discharged, as he was suspected of having pilfered small sums of money. It was on the account of his discharge, Turley bore great animostiy towards his late employer. Turley, almost by universal consent, got the credit of having been the murderer, but a few of our officers at once fixed upon Samuel Carkhuff, the nephew of the deceased man, as being the individual who had perpetrated the unnatural murder. It was ascertained that on Sunday night Samuel Carkhuff had visited a house of ill fame on Second street, and have been very prodigal with his money; that he had lived with his uncle since the first part of last August, and that previous to that time his career had been one of adventure and not very creditable; that he had but little if any means. He appeared to take but little interest in his uncle's funeral, and, in fact, agreed to visit, before the interment, in company with Sheriff Bugbey, the town of Folsom and its vicinity, in search of the suspected murderer, Turley. On Tuesday last Deputy Sheriffs Saul and Culver spent the day in dragging the lagoon which lies east of the house, and they succeeded in fishing up an iron axle of a grindstone wrapped in a pair of drawers marked with the name Carkhuff. Since then an iron gudgeon, to which a shirt was attached, has been found in the same place. The shirt and drawers seem to be marked with blood. Still later, in a burnt tree near the lagoon, has been found the sum of $740, which was in a tin box. The coin bears marks of having been lately washed in water, as the sediment is to be plainly seen. The amount found in the tree, with the sums which Samuel Carkhuff is known to have spent, would about make the total of which the elder Carkhuff is supposed to have been robbed. Carkhuff, the younger, had told the woman with whom he was so familiar that he had $900 stowed away in a place known only to himself—that after the 1st of January he would be in favor of marriage, a removal to San Francisco, and the establishment of a saloon of which they were to be joint occupants and proprietors. At first S. Carkhuff said he had spent Sunday evening at the Melodeon, but in this particular he had contradicted himself several times. He said that after noon, on Sunday, he did not visit his uncle's house till Monday morning, when he discovered the dead body. A man living at the house of P. Burns, S. D. Carkhuff's nearest neighbor, will swear positively that late on Saturday Sam was seen going towards his uncle's house. Some of the officers are of the opinion that Justice Carkhuff was not killed without a struggle—while it seems hardly possible that he could have been conscious after receiving one of those very severe blows on the head. There are other points in connection with this affair which are important, and tend to the same conclusion. Those who have well weighed the evidence think that the conviction of Samuel Carkhuff as the murderer of his uncle is inevitable. It is not now thought that the man Turley had any hand in, or knew anything of the murder. Samuel Carkhuff is under arrest, and in conversation with him his answers to questions are often stultifying and evasive. He has been charged with the murder when he coolly answered several times, "No I did'nt." The officer repeated the charge, "You murdered your poor uncle who took you out of the hospital and cared for you." The answer was an interrogatory. "What do you suppose I could do that for?" "For the nine hundred dollars he had about him." "Well, half of it belonged to me." Enough has been given to the public to satisfy them that the persevering search of the officers has been crowned with success. It is a matter for congratulation that so cowardly a murderer is not likely to go without the punishment he so richly deserves. We believe that it is intended this afternoon to make an examination of Carkhuff's body, in order to see if the wounds on the head could have been made by either of the iron instruments found in the lagoon. Near the house where the murder was committed officers are continuing the search hoping to find still further traces.
Source: The Sacramento Bee
Saturday, January 3, 1863, pg. 3
Samuel came to California from Ohio on January 3, 1849. He was Justice of the Peace in Sutter Township which was also where he resided. He was found murdered at his residence with his throat cut and skull fractured. It was supposed that robbery was the motive, and the prime suspect was his namesake nephew who was eventually convicted of the crime and sentenced to be hung.
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