Daniels made his way to Bidwell’s Mansion which was just across Chico Creek from the jail and Marshal’s office. At the mansion, Bidwell welcomed Daniels into the parlor. Well do you have good news for me Bidwell asked? Yes General, Daniels responded. We have a confession from Conway and he has named the four other murderers besides himself and three men involved in the arsons. Marshal Steward will arrest the four other murderers tomorrow and we shall interview them and hope for more confessions. Wonderful news an elated Bidwell pronounced. Well, Bidwell added, perhaps we can put this matter behind us in the near future. I am so glad you have found the Murderers Sam. I think with Conway’s confession we can get confessions from the others, General Bidwell, Daniels said. I am confident that with more confessions we can proceed with the trials rapidly and clear Chico and the County’s name soon. I believe that this will also put an end to further arsons and violence now that we have them, Daniels added. Who are the other three you mentioned, asked Bidwell. The arsons also involved Jones the carpenter and Wright at the stables. Wright also is an accessory to the murder as he was going to provide the Murderers an alibi saying they were with him at the stable when the murders took place. Also that crazy bastard Ames, who was the president of the Labor Union, knew about the arsons according to Conway, Daniels replied. Ames, said Bidwell, that’s the fellow we had the interview with at the Chico Hotel yesterday, that strange fellow who was rambling on about the Labor Union activities. Ames sent word today that he wishes an interview again with me, Bidwell added. Yes General, that fellow, Conway said he was aware of the arsons, we will find out more when we talk to the other murderers. I will contact you when I have more information General Bidwell, Daniels added. Thank you Sheriff Daniels, you will have my full support if you want your job back come the September election, I would be proud to support you, Sam, said Bidwell. Thank you General Bidwell I believe that I would like to have my old job back, I will contact you as soon as I know more, goodnight sir, Daniels concluded. Daniels walked home feeling elated and preparing his mind for the coming interrogations planning for further information to wrap up all of the Chico atrocities.
On Thursday the 22nd of March, 1877 Bidwell noted in his dairy, Bright fine day. Meeting of citizens committee at Dr Mason’s office. Drove with Saml Daniels; called at Chico Hotel, had interview with Ames.
On Friday the 23rd of March, 1877, Bidwell noted in his diary, S.L. Daniels called with important information and lists. Man arrested made full confession. Drove to Dr Mason’s office and met there with Colby, Turner, and Dorn. Callers H.O. Hooper, (Ames employer), Ames wanted an (another) interview.
Bidwell had another interview with Ames on Monday, the 26th of March, 1877. Bidwell noted in his diary, Had interview with Ames: terrible.
On the 23rd, Constable Ben True and Constable Ridgley Tilden were on the outskirts of Old Chinatown discussing the Weekly Oroville Mercury newspaper that had been printed just that day and had arrived by the Chico-Oroville stage just a few hours before. Ridgley, did you see today’s Oroville Mercury about Pence, asked True. Yeah Ben, we have another Chinese massacre on our hands. Good thing it happened in Oroville so Chico doesn’t have to take the beating that it did with the Lemm massacre. Hey Ridgley, weren’t the slaughter victims actually native born in America and therefore United States Citizens asked True? Yes by god I think you are right Ben, replied Tilden. I am sure that 14th amendment back in 66 says that if you are born here then you are a citizen. Those Chinese killed at Pence’s hotel really weren’t Chinese but native born U.S. citizens, added True. You should write the Oroville weekly mercury and point that out to them Ben, replied Tilden. They laughed, then parted company and made their respective law enforcement rounds.
The Oroville Weekly mercury article that True and Tilden found so ridicules was a story under the heading of condensed locals. In the article it reported that the construction of the Sugar Pine flume between Oroville, Dog Town and Chico was keeping Pence’s hotel full and very busy. Since the white workers on the sugar pine flume didn’t approve of Chinese labor or anything Chinese, Pence, in a showing of unity against the Chinese had slaughtered his Chinese Geese. The paper didn’t comment on whether Pence fed them up for supper but one can only assume that he did not as Chinese geese cooked were even too unappetizing for the anti Chinese flume workers.
“Condensed locals:
Since the Sugar Pine Company finished its flume Pence’s Hotel has been crowded by day and by night with travelers and men engaged about the flume. It is one of the liveliest places in the county. All the flume workers are opposed to China labor, or anything else China, so Pence has had to slaughter his China geese to show that he was heart and hand with them. Send him up some more, BOWDEN.”
The weekly mercury also printed:
Chinese visitors in Oroville.
Some China merchants from San Francisco came up on Thursday of last week to visit their countrymen here. They hired Sherman's hack and rode about town for a while, then had an extra dinner served up at the restaurant. Later in the evening, about 10 o'clock, they had a feast in Chinatown, to which some of our men were invited. Everything that was nice with them was served up in the very best of style. Constable George Grover, who for many years has been their policeman, assisted in showing them around town and in pointing out the many places where Chinamen had made money in mining in the lava beds. On Such occasions Chinamen spend their money very liberally.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
THE MURDERERS ARRESTED
On Saturday March 24th, 1877 John Bidwell wrote in his diary:” Murderers of Chinamen arrested.
Marshal Steward had acted fast that morning to round up the four remaining murderers. Sam Daniels, R.B. Hall and Hamilton were waiting at the jail as the murderers were brought in. Daniels, Hall and Hamilton made a fine job of obtaining confessions from the others, which lead to the arrest of even more of the involved.
After Eugene Roberts confessed and he was brought back to his cell, he saw Chinatown Constable Ben true. Roberts, an abrasive and cocky young bully, yelled out at Ben True:” Well if it isn’t Chink lover Constable True. Hello Eugene, True responded, are you here to have your neck fitted for a noose; True asked? Roberts hesitated, he had a look of fright on his face, like most bully’s who are bold at shooting unarmed men but cowards when facing their own peril. Finally Roberts seemed to regain his arrogance and said:” Hell China lover, there’s not a Chinaman’s Chance in hell that they will hang me for killing a Chinaman, no white man jury will let another white man hang for killin a Chink. True had that tired look on his face, the look that developed on law mans faces from always talking to dimwitted bullies like Roberts and stupid drunks day in and day out. True just looked at Roberts as he would any ignorant person and said:” You mean there isn’t a Chinaman’s Chance in Chico that a jury will hang you don’t you Eugene. You and your friends changed the saying now that Chinamen don’t have any more chance living in Chico as they would in hell so you are responsible for changing the American lexicon now. Roberts who didn’t understand words like lexicon looked bewildered then snapped out of it and got a big smile on his face, not a Chinaman’s Chance in Chico, I like that. People will be saying that for hundreds of years about what we did here, I like that. Ben True was almost sorry he said it when he saw how pleased Roberts was with the new phrase to describe very low chances of success that had once originated from the Chinese laborers working on the transcontinental railroad and blasting tunnels through mountains. So many laborers were lost that it became a description and phraseology for none to very low chances of success. Now the term took hold in and around Chico for many years finally fading away as the memory of the murders faded away with time and years. Around Chico they say that some of the old farmers still say there’s not a Chinaman’s chance in Chico when they are talking about low chances of a good crop that year.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
KILLING OF A FEW HOGS THE CONFESSIONS
Chico enterprise 30 March 1877
The Chico Enterprise of 30 March 1877 printed the confessions obtained by Daniels, Hall, Hamilton and Judge Hallet on the 24th of March. The added confessions helped complete the puzzle that was the Chico atrocities.
Stainbrook's statement:
My name is Thomas Stainbrook. Reside on the Turner ranch in Dayton Township, Butte County. On the evening of the 14th instant I was in the town of Chico, Butte County, California, at a house rented from C. M. White, near the Slaughters. During the day I had no talk with anyone on the subject of murder or robbery. I had been down to the ranch in the morning and returned about three o'clock. I had used Slaughters team, and I returned it to Slaughters house. About seven o'clock in the evening, John Slaughter, Fred Conway and myself left the house of Slaughter and went down eighth Street to the Junction, and afterwards we went up the Humboldt Road. Up the road we met Eugene Roberts, and Charles Slaughter, came up and joined us. We went up the road and turned towards the Chinese camp on Lemm's ranch. Eugene Roberts and John Slaughter going ahead, and Fred Conway, Charles Slaughter, and myself following. When we got over the fence into the field, we stopped and had a talk as to who should lead the band into the Chinese camp. Roberts agreed that he would lead, and he did lead to the cabin. John Slaughter entered first, and we all rushed in. Roberts was the first man who proposed to shoot the Chinese, to which I objected, and told them that it was not willing to do that and Fred Conway said the same. When the other boys entered I stood outside and Conway stood at the door. We were none of us disguised. Charles Slaughter and Eugene Roberts examined the cabin and searched the Chinese to find money, while the others had pistols holding them on the Chinese to keep them quiet. When the cabin had been searched, Roberts gave the word to shoot. I heard three shots fired, but I don't know who fired them. There were several scattering shots. I fired one towards the shanty just as I turned to leave. I did not want to kill any of them, and did not intend to do so. I did not go there for that. Before there was any firing I went into the cabin to see what was doing and came out before any shot was fired. All the time except this once, I was outside. I went as far as the door one other time and looked in, and then stepped back. Immediately after the firing we left. I went first, and the other boys soon came along.
As I left I heard some groans. We did not remain long enough for me to know whether anyone was killed outright. I suppose some of them were killed. The first I heard of the intent of the party, or any of them, was at the fence we got over into the field. We first started out, as I supposed, with a view of just trotting around to see what was going on. The first word that I heard was a proposal from Eugene Roberts and John Slaughter to go and rob the Chinese for money. We all consented to go over to the camp. They said the Chinese had plenty of money. When near the camp Roberts first proposed to kill them, and my impression is that it was for purposes of safety. Before the shooting, Roberts, had a bottle of kerosene oil, and he threw it out on the Chinese in on their clothing and beds. It was an ordinary sized glass bottle. I think someone, probably John Slaughter, stated that he touched a lighted match to the kerosene oil. This was when we were coming down, and also each of them stated that they had fired at the Chinese.
When the firing was being done I heard someone say which one do you want? And I suppose each picked a man and fired. Three shots were fired at first, and then several others. When we left we came in the vicinity of the flume and so back to town, but I do not know exactly the way. We separated before we got back to town. I went by myself to my own house, and I suppose the Slaughters went to theirs.
Wright’s statement:
I am a citizen of Chico and have been for two years. On the evening before the murder of the Chinamen, two men – Eugene Roberts and John Slaughter – came into the stable where I was at work, and borrowed my large sized six shooter. I let them have the pistol, and they said they were going to the mountains. The next morning they came into the stable and returned the pistol, and said they had killed six Chinamen. This statement was made by John Slaughter. A few minutes after, Roberts came in, but that time I did not hold a conversation with him. I remarked to Slaughter: God damn you, you said you were going to the mountains. If you had told me you were going to do such a thing, you should not have had my pistol. He replied:" I knew that." I said:" what induced you to do that?" He replied:" we have done as bad as that and got away with it." I said to him:" for Christ's sake, what is that?" He said:" we have burned up all the old China shanties, and we have got away with it." I then said:" John, you're old enough to know that burning old China shanties is not like killing human beings." I further said:" John, I would not be in your boots for anything." He said:" I would rather be in mine than in yours, if you ever divulge it." I said further:" you know such things are not recognized by the order," meaning the labor union order. He then said:" there is a slight more than the labor union connected with this matter." I said:" John, I am sorry that anything of this kind should have taken place." He then said:" my brother Charley and Roberts were with us, but Roberts was not worth a damn. He went back on us." He mentioned Thomas Stainbrook and another man, name not remembered. He has red whiskers; is a large man, and has a large scar on his cheek. He said:" there was six of us in all." He did not mention Conway among the gang. The same day, in the afternoon, the two Slaughter Brothers and the man described above came up the street, and the stranger came into my barn, where I was washing a buggy, and he said to me:" I understand you feel damn badly hurt that the killing of a few hogs." To shield myself from him, I replied:" I don't care a damn." He said:" if you keep this shady, say nothing, and prove true, would take you in, perhaps, the next time that anything is done or to be done." I walked along until I got to a stall where there was a pitchfork, and, taking it in my hand, said:" three fingered Jack, I imagine is nothing by the side of this, meaning the killing of the Chinamen. He started for the door, and said:" you had better, a damn sight, keep still than say anything." I remarked:" you need not be uneasy. I'm just as afraid of this as you are." This conversation took place, as here related, the day following the murder, being 15 March. On the 16th two Slaughter boys and the stranger came into the barn between 10 and 11:00 AM, or about that time. One of the three, name not remembered, said to me:" Wright, we are afraid of you." I said: what are your reasons for fear?" The stranger replied:" we are afraid you will inform the Council." The conversation of the same import was had between us all. The same evening Eugene Roberts came into the stable and said:" if this gets out (alluding to the murder), what in the name of God we going to do?" I replied:" you ought to have thought of that before you went into it." We had a long conversation on the subject of the murder. Eugene Roberts admitted that he was present at the murder, but denied making a shot. He then left. Two days afterwards Thomas Stainbrook came to the stable and commenced a conversation about the murder. I told him I did not want him to hang around the stable, but to stay away, as everybody is watching in town. The morning after the stranger returned and said:" have you got any money?" He said he wanted to leave for a few days, until this thing died away. I refused to loan him anything. He asked me if I would not swear that he stayed with me at the stable on the night of the murder. I replied:" yes, I will, as I have promised the others to do the same." I done this to shield myself from him. The Slaughter boys and Thomas Stainbrook said to me, since the murder:" there are others outside of the two orders that are opposed to Chinamen." Leaving the impression in my mind that there is a third order.
Adam Holderbaum's statement:
On the evening of the fire set at Chinatown, I met Jones and Jack Mahoney at the junction hotel, in Chico, and Mahoney remarked, without any preliminary conversation, that it would be a good time to set Chinatown on fire. He added:" where can I get some oil?" I spoke before I thought and said:" I can get some at Shuffleton’s." I then came up town and had my supper. We went into the lumberyard and had a short talk with setting fire to Chinatown. Mahoney thought we had better meet at the" old town," but I suggested that we meet in the lot back of Shuffleton’s, and we did so, about nine o'clock or a little later. We then parted went to the Lodge with the understanding that we were to meet at 12 o'clock midnight in the lot before mentioned, and we met there accordingly, myself, Mahoney, Charles and John Slaughter, and Eugene Roberts. I then went to Shuffleton’s house and got the can of oil, and to the barn and got the three sacks of straw and delivered them out in the lot where we met. Someone of the crowd took the coal oil and poured it over the sacks of straw, and they were taken by someone and carried to" old Chinatown." What was done with them I have no personal knowledge, as I went only part way from the lot to the town, when I went home and to bed. I saw the light from the fire after I got into bed. I've never had any conversation with either of the parties herein mentioned since the fire. This is all I know, or ever did, with reference to the recent fires that have occurred in Chico. At the meeting with the boys in the lot, I did say that I was acquainted with the dog and could get the oil, meaning the dog at Mr. Shuffleton’s.
H. T. Jones statement:
From the Chico Enterprise:
H. T. Jones is a Kentuckian. He came here with the Donaldson wagon train in 1847. He confessed on Tuesday confirming Wright’s confession. He says that A. M. Ames proposed with the Council to fill two cylinders with acid, put them under the brick houses in Chinatown and blow them up; but the Council would not do it because of the injury that might result to white men. I join the order sometime in January. It would have been better for me if I had never joined. It was because of the excitement about Chinamen and at the request of A. M. Ames. There were between 160 and 170 members, consisting of laborers and mechanics. There were some businessmen. Its name was the United Working Men's Association; this was the Chico Lodge. A. M. Ames was president. The Council was first intended as a jury to try charges against the members, but it agreed to go farther and burn the two Chinatown's. Ames talked of the burning on the outside of the lodge. The society expelled him for this and elected Hank Wright to fill his place. The Council had authority to call any member of the society to do anything it decided upon. Wrights division did the Butte Creek gardens burning and the killing of the Chinese. Holderbaum’s division attempted the burning of the two Chinatown's. The renting of the slaughterhouse by Bidwell to the Chinamen was an aggravated case. The Chinese threw the hogs that died into little Chico Creek and they would flow down into town. Two can now be seen in front of the schoolhouse. On the night of the fire some dead hogs floated near where I lived. I was vexed and spoke of it to Hank Wright. He said:" Eugene Roberts wants to get rid of it." I said:" let us go up and burn it – you and I." He said:" all right; we will go up tonight." At night Roberts brought out a can of coal oil to use. Wright took it and he and I went to the slaughterhouse. He threw the oil on the roof, fired a bag of straw, threw it up in and the the building burned. We made a good job of it. I was a Captain and a man named Williams, now at red Bluff, was one of my lieutenants.
Second statement of Charles Slaughter:
The first I heard of the intention to fire the property of Mrs. Patrick was from my brother John and Fred Conway, the conversation was on the day of the evening on which the fire was set. The conversation was with reference to firing the Butte Creek Garden, but owing to its being so late, we changed our minds and concluded to go to Mrs. Patrick's ranch, and fire the China quarters there – myself, brothers John and Pleasant Slaughter, James Fahey, Fred Conway and Eugene Roberts. We set fire to the barn first. Don't remember which, but think it was either John or Roberts who touched the match to the hay. The China men came out and put out the fire. Then we returned immediately and fired into the China house, then went round to the barn and fired it again in the hay, and it was consumed. The hay was about 4 feet high from the floor, but can't say how many tons there were. After it commenced to burn we all left and returned to Chico. We set fire to the Chinese laundry on big Chico Creek. My brother John touched the match, and he is the first person who mentioned the subject to me. This is all I know about the Patrick and China laundry fires.
Eugene Roberts statement about the Massacre:
in the afternoon of the 14th day of March instant, I called at slaughter’s and took John with me to Kempf’s slaughterhouse to assist in carving up a beef, and in course of conversation between us, he said:" let's go up and burn the China cabin on Lemm’s ranch." I said:" agreed." I said:" who will go?" He replied:" Fred Conway and I and Thomas Stainbrook and Charles Slaughter," making five in all. We agreed to meet just above my father's place, and the parties mentioned did meet as agreed upon. We then went up the Humboldt Road, toward the Lemm ranch, just above Williams ranch. We lay down behind a log while a wagon passed. There were but myself and John Slaughter at that time. We remained there on the road until Tom, Fred and Charley came up. We then got over the fence and went up to the China house and entered. We drew our pistols on the Chinamen and ordered them to sit down and keep still, and while were holding them at bay, Charley went through their pockets and carpet sacks and I went through a valise. I found no money but found a razor and dirk knife and gave them to Stainbrook. Charley found four bits, a dirk and razor, but can't say what he'd done with them. I then scattered a bottle of coal oil over the room and John Slaughter said," fire," and we let loose shooting each a Chinaman. Some of the crowd fired more than once. Immediately after firing, we all left and returned through the woods, along the flume to the middle of Ackerman's pasture, where we divided off, and Stainbrook and I went up towards town and parted, and I went to Kempf’s meat market and went to bed, and the other boys said they were going home, and that is all I know about the murder.
Roberts statement about the fires:
On the night that the soap factory was burned, H. T. Jones and Henry C. Wright came to our house and got a can of kerosene to burn the soap factory, and by agreement I had set the can out by the side of the road for them to use. They called and took it away in my presence, both of them being together. They left together toward the soap factory and in half an hour or so the roof was on fire and was wholly consumed. The factory was only about 300 yards from our house. I loaned a pistol to Jones to go to the fire, and for self-defense. On the night of 8 March John Slaughter and I met opposite the Chico hotel on the steps. John said, business, and I said what business? He replied: a crowd of us are going to burn old Chinatown. We were to meet in the rear of the town, in an open half block. We met there somewhere about 12 o'clock at night. Holderbaum said: I know the dog and can get the sacks of straw. He came back with three sacks of straw, and then took a can of coal oil out of a large pile of manure near us, and one of the slaughter boys saturated the sacks and straw with the oil. The same boys went with the straw and some oil in a bucket, and started for the buildings, but the dogs made so much noise that we deferred the matter for half an hour. We then all started for the town with our kindling and Charley and John shoved the straw under a building occupied by a China woman, they touch it off, and we left. That is the end of this fire, so far as I know.
Roberts statement about the Patrick fire:
The following persons, after meeting on the bridge crossing little Chico Creek, to wit: Eugene Roberts, John, Charles and Pleasant Slaughter, Jim Fahey and Fred Conway – went out round and through the racetrack into the road leading to Mrs. Patrick's. We went there to burn the Chinese houses, and we put fire through a crack in the wall into the hay in the barn, and the Chinamen ran out of their house and put it out. We then went round the house and fired several shots into the China house, for the purpose of intimidating them. Charles and John Slaughter, they then fired the barn again in the same place. We then heard three or four shots and the boys went around into the road leading to the main road, and asked them what they were shooting for, and Jim Fahey said a Chinaman was crawling upon him. Having waited until the flames got to the roof of the barn; we left for town, then divided and went home. That's all I know about that fire.
Roberts statement of the laundry fire, on Chico Creek:
John, Charles and Pleasant Slaughter and myself set fire to and burned the China laundry on Chico Creek. John and Pleasant whittled the shavings and set the fire. We agreed to do his burning on the night it was done, and no one else was engaged with us. All this occurred in Butte County, California.”
The manner in which the confessions were taken down and sworn to, made the work of Deputy District Attorney Henshaw quite easy, so that when the examinations took place, before Judge Hallett, only the mere form had to be gone through and the commitments made out. John Mahoney was the only one who demanded an examination, and on the evidence of right, he was also committed.
The following are the names and crimes of the prisoners committed: F. E. Conway, murder and arson; Eugene Roberts, murder and arson; John slaughter, murder and arson; Charles slaughter, murder and arson; Thomas Stainbrook, murder and arson; Henry C. Wright, arson; John Mahoney, arson; Pleasant Slaughter, arson; H. T. Jones, arson; Adam Holderbaum, arson; James Fahey, arson.
The Sacramento record union summed up what would be justice after writing about the confessions of the Murderers this was reprinted in the 30 March 1877 Chico enterprise:
The Chico murders.
(From the Sacramento Record Union.)
In consequence mainly of their own hardihood, the murderers of the Chinese laborers near Chico have been identified, and the confessions of two of their number have resolved all doubt as to the circumstances of the crime. The murderers appear to be nearly all young men, presumably of the hoodlum type, and the kind of sentiment begotten in such minds by the common denunciation of the Chinese is illustrated in the comparative coolness and indifference with which they seem to have regarded the atrocious deed in which they participated. The most significant feature in the revelations we print this morning, however, is the alleged intimate connection of a secret order called the laborers union, with this and several other crimes committed upon the Chinese.
Regarding this laborers union we have no precise information, but it has been repeatedly referred to as an offshoot from the order of Caucasians, and is not yet shown that some of the murderers and of their accessories, were not members of the latter organization. Of course the statements of the two men who have turned state's evidence must be taken with due allowance for their desire to place the heaviest responsibility upon other shoulders, but if we accept their assertions without quotation, we must conclude that they are themselves callous and conscienceless ruffians, to whom the proposal to murder half a dozen China men appeared anything but revolting.
The story of Conway, who asserts that he went out with the others in ignorance of their purpose, and did not know what was intended until they were close to the Chinamen's hut, is to say the least, improbable. In fact, all the confessions seem to point to a pre-concerted arrangement, of which at least some of the leaders of the laborers union were cognizant, if they had not planned it themselves. It is quite apparent that this and the other crimes which have disturbed Butte County for several months past, have had their origin in the lawless instigation of members of one or the other of the secret societies which demagogues have been so active in promoting. The facts now made known will fortunately enable the authorities to put their hands upon the prime agents in this seri