The infamous ‘Mendocino Outlaws’
The infamous ‘Mendocino Outlaws’ is a dramatic story of the planned robbery of a Sheriff/ Tax Collector, the ambush murder of two members of a posse, one of the greatest manhunts in California history, and years of later legal wrangling.
While the information to follow has been drawn from a history book and newspaper articles written at the time, there is also additional reading that can be found at the following sources:
The Historical Society of Mendocino County’s book by John E. Keller, entitled, REWARD $300 for Arrest and Conviction of THE MENDOCINO OUTLAWS (1974), 29 pages;
See, also, the article in The Anderson Valley Advertiser by Malcolm Macdonald (2021), with the title “The Mendocino Outlaws” ;
Additional reading is online at the Kelley House Museum site in the 2017 article entitled, “Outlaw Dentist,” by Anne Cooper.
To provide a full historical perspective, perhaps with more information than necessary, we nevertheless turn verbatim to the close-in-time 1880 historical sketch published in the: HISTORY OF Mendocino County, California. Comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber. Also, extended sketches of its Mills and Milling, Mines and Mining Interests; Together with a full and Particular Record of the Mexican Grants; Early History of Settlement, compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; Names of Original Spanish and American Pioneers; A Full Record of its Organization; a complete Political History, including a Tabular Statement of Office-holders since the Formation of the County. Separate Histories of Anderson, Arena, Big River, Calpella, Little Lake, Round Valley, Sanel, Ten-mile River and Ukiah Townships; Incidents of Pioneer Life, and Biographical Sketches of Early and Prominent Settlers and Representative Men. ALSO A Historical Sketch of the State of California in which is embodied the raising of the bear flag. Illustrated. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by Alley, Bowen & Co., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C. , page 344:
On page 344 of a section in that book entitled “HOMICIDES OF MENDOCINO COUNTY,” we find a reference to “The Mendocino Outlaws.”
“It is most befitting that in collating and recording the murders of Mendocino county, we should put aside the chronological sequence, and close the chapter with a record of the “Mendocino Outlaws.”
“From the Mendocino Beacon we take the following: ‘Last Monday Constable William Host, while coming through Big river woods, accidentally discovered the entrails of a beef which had been recently buried with the evident design of concealing the killing of the animal. He returned to town and reported the suspicious circumstances to the Mendocino Lumber Company, to whom the creature was supposed to belong.
“Next day he and Thomas Dollard and William Wright went to the place to investigate the matter and following some tracks about a quarter of a mile, found four men encamped in the thick woods about four miles east of here, near a spring, eating their breakfast. The stolen beef was hung up, undergoing the process of jerking, or curing, and their rifles were stacked up by a tree. Their white hands and highheeled boots indicated that they did not make their living by hard work.
“The two parties entered into conversation, but Host did not then attempt the arrest of the thieves, having as yet no warrant, and not considering his party of sufficient force, giving as an excuse for their visit, that they were looking for a place to locate a tie camp. The investigating party then returned to town, swore out a warrant, and with further assistance, started in the afternoon to arrest the men, but on their arrival found the camp deserted of every vestige of the outlaws.
“On Wednesday morning, Host went out again with a posse comitatus, consisting of J.J. Morrow, A. Yell, E.W. Potter, James Nichols, C. Galbraith, Thomas Dollard, and William Wright.
After following the ridge from the camp previously found for about a mile, they saw below them, in a rough ravine, the remains of a campfire.
“Descending the hill, Wright and Yell, who were in advance, the others following closely, stooped to feel the ashes, to ascertain if they were still warm; Wright exclaimed, ‘They must have stopped here last night,’ when suddenly, without a moment’s warning, a volley was fired upon the party by the outlaws lying in ambush on the opposite hill a few yards above them.
“Wright immediately fell backward, having received a shot in the back of the neck, ranging downward; Dollard was struck in the upper part of the thigh, but fired a shot in return. Nichols was shot in the left shoulder, and another ball perforated Galbraith’s coat.
“The outlaws kept up a rapid fire, and hit Dollard twice more, which prostrated him, and he gradually rolled to the bottom of the ravine, when he pulled off his coat and crawled under a log in the creek, where he lay groaning. Yell, Potter and Galbraith shot several times, but the murderers kept themselves almost entirely concealed, only some portion of the bodies of one or two appearing, and it is not yet known whether any shots took effect on them or not.
“Host, Potter, Yell and Morrow finally gained a cover, where they remained until succor came. They are convinced that their assailants numbered eight or nine, as the shots came very rapidly and from several directions in front. In the meantime Galbraith and Nichols gained their horses and returned full-speed to town with the frightful news.
“Constable Nelson immediately organized another posse, and also engaged teams with bedding to bring in the wounded. Upon their arrival at the scene of conflict, they found Dollard already a corpse, and Wright helpless and speechless, and evidently near his dissolution. With considerable difficulty they carried them up the steep acclivity to the wagons, and returned with them to town, giving up further pursuit of the desperadoes for the time being.
“Wright was taken to Carlson’s hotel and cared for. As the two men were “brought in, and the body of Dollard was laid out in a room over the post office, a mute expression of sorrow was visible on every countenance. An inquest was immediately held, Justice Smith acting as Coroner, on the deceased, at which the jury returned the following verdict: ‘We, the jury impaneled to inquire into the cause of the death of Thomas Dollard, do find as follows:
“‘That the name of the deceased was Thomas Dollard, a native of Ellsworth, Maine; that he died on the 15th day of October, 1879, about four miles east of Mendocino, in Mendocino county, California; that he came to his death by means of hemorrhage from three gunshot wounds, caused by rifles fired by several parties unknown to us.’
“A public meeting was held and a committee of safety numbering twentyone was appointed to act in the emergency and organize a determined pursuit of the outlaws.
“William Wright died on Wednesday evening about seven o’clock, having remained unconscious
nearly all the time since his fatal wounding in the morning. Subsequent examination showed that he had received a second shot through the side near the heart.
“The inquest on his body, held on Thursday morning was substantially the same as in the case of Dollard. This town and vicinity is thoroughly aroused, and two separate parties well-armed and equipped, left here Wednesday evening in search of the guilty parties. Caspar mill and woods ceased work Thursday, and a large party from there joined in the hunt.
“On Thursday evening word was brought that three of the outlaws had been seen on the prairie back of Little River, and that two had obtained breakfast and supper at the house of a settler on that day. The same day, a man named Carmichael, reported that while riding toward Mendocino on the Ukiah road, about three miles out, he saw a man by the roadside, who threatened him with a rifle, but seeing him unarmed, slunk off into the woods.
“One man was arrested in Little River that night on suspicion, but after examination was released.
“Nearly the whole of the circumstances go to show that there are but four men who have perpetrated these crimes, and they are undoubtedly the same who were found by Host and the deceased on Tuesday.
“The description, as given by Host, is: one about five feet ten inches in height, dark complexion, short dark hair and moustache, face unshaven for a week or two, weight about one hundred and fifty-five pounds, age about twenty-six years; one about five feet eight inches high, heavy set, complexion dark, short hair, black moustache, otherwise clean shaved, dark eyes, about thirty-two years; the third, five feet eight inches high, light complexion, big moustache and goatee, blue eyes, weight one hundred and sixty, age thirtyfive; and the fourth, five feet eleven inches, sandy complexion, blue eyes, big moustache and goatee, heavy set, about one hundred and seventy-five pounds, age about fortyfive years.
“An armed force is now scouring the prairie near where they were last seen. The funeral of the murdered men was held on Friday, at 1 p.m. Mr. Dollard was an officer and member in high standing of Mendocino Lodge, No. 179, F. and a.m., and was buried according to the rites and ceremonies of that order. Mr. Wright, though not a member of any secret society, was attended to his grave by the Odd Fellows as a mark of respect. As we go to press, nothing of importance has been heard from the parties in pursuit of the outlaws.”
“A reward of $300 for the first and $200 for each subsequent murderer was offered by the Governor. Early the next week Dr. J. F. Wheeler, a resident of Mendocino City, was arrested for complicity in the affair. The clue that led to his arrest was the finding of a tin cup and a frying-pan in the camp said to have been purchased by Wheeler recently. Wheeler had gone to Mendocino City some time before and started into business as a dentist, but finally developed into a regular practicing physician. He was a married man, of pleasing address and suave manners, and soon managed to have quite a number of friends in the place, and was doing quite a thriving business. Nothing was known of his past life, and, California like, nothing was asked. He was, apparently, a gentleman now, and that was all that was asked or required.
“The truth was, however, that he was an exconvict, having served his time in San Quentin for his connection with a stage robbery some years ago. It was developed shortly after Wheeler’s arrest that he was the grand moving spirit in the enterprise.
“In August previous John Billings received a letter from Wheeler, as follows: — “I have here, in Mendocino county, a rich claim, worth about $15,000; it can be worked in about two weeks if I have good men. The claim is the Sheriff of Mendocino county. I have one good man with me. Come yourself and bring anyone you know and can depend on.” The good man he referred to was H.E. Brown.
“About the 10th of September Billings arrived at Mendocino City, bringing with him Samuel Carr, an old ex-convict, who had been sentenced to the State Prison for life from San Francisco for killing a man in the “Thunderbolt” saloon, but who had been pardoned on the condition that he leave the State and never return.
“There was also with them a young man named George Gaunce, heretofore to criminal fame unknown. As the plan was to rob the Sheriff when he was making his annual round collecting the taxes, and as it would yet be some time before he would come on his trip, the gang concluded to rendezvous in that vicinity, but, of course, not at the hotels or elsewhere where they would be seen much by the people. For some time their rendezvous was at a cabin owned by A. B. Courtwright, in the mountains east of Westport. While here Wheeler supplied the necessaries of life, and also purchased a lot of ammunition and firearms for their use.
“About two weeks before the murders the gang moved their quarters down to within a few miles of Mendocino City, and were vigorously engaged in jerking beef and in other ways preparing for the journey they soon expected to take. While here they were in daily communication with Wheeler, who advised them never to surrender if an attempt was made to arrest them, but to shoot, and how well they followed his advice the story of their attempted arrest sets forth.
“One of the gang, Samuel Carr, was overtaken and arrested at a cabin in Long valley on the morning of the 22d, while cooking his breakfast. He was tired, sick and footsore, and without arms, as he had thrown his rifle away. He turned State’s evidence, and hence was used as a witness for the people, and narrated all the details of plans, etc., with evident truthfulness.
“On the 29th the posse who were scouring the mountains divided into two parties, one, under the direction of Sheriff Moore, started towards Piercy’s ranch on Rattlesnake creek, in which direction the outlaws were heading, and the other, under J.M. Standley remained on their track, closely pursuing them.
“During the day Standley’s party suddenly came upon them near the mouth of Rattlesnake creek. Each party discovered the other about the same time, and after ordering the outlaws to surrender their pursuers began firing, but with no particular result, except that they fled and left their camp equipment behind, escaping with only their arms and a few rounds of ammunition.
“The gang then changed their course from north to east, and ate breakfast on the morning of the 30th at William Rea’s, near Blue Rock. They were then heading for Trinity county, north of Round valley. They were next heard from in the Mad river country in that county, where a posse from Round Valley came upon them in camp in a deep gulch. This was in the night, and the posse decided to divide, and one part remain above and the other go below, and thus be ready to trap them in the morning, but daylight found the birds flown, and they had evidently passed very near to their pursuers.
“They were next heard of at Petit Johns’, in Tehama county. It was known ahead that they were coming that way, and Petit Johns expected to arrest them, and for that purpose had asked a neighbor to come to his house that day, as he expected them to pass about noon. They came, however, in the morning before they were expected, and they found Johns by himself. They called for breakfast, and were provided with the meal. Johns’ wife placed the plates all on one side of the table, so that all were in a row, and when they came in and sat down they left their guns sitting just outside the door. The woman then went off to the barn, expecting her husband to open up a fusilade upon them and probably kill one or more of them. The old man seemed anxious enough to do something of the kind but he felt that he was taking too great chances. He went into an adjoining room twice and came out again after a time, his courage evidently failing him. He went into the room a third time, when Billings’ suspicions were aroused, and drawing his revolver and placing it on the table said that if he came in the room again from that room he would shoot him in his tracks. Johns, fortunately for him, passed out through another door.
“At one place they had stopped in a roofless and deserted cabin to spend the night. Presently they were aware that their pursuers were on their track, and close at hand; so they rushed out into the bushes and hid. Standley, it is said by Gaunce, came near losing his life here. He rode up to the house and looked over into it, and then started on up the canyon, but a mule he had for packing refused to follow him, and he was obliged to turn back for it twice, and he then changed his course. Had he come right on he would have come upon them in their ambush; and as he was recognized as the leader of the posse by the gang, it was well known to them that if he were killed the posse would break up, or at least be so demoralized that they could get a good start. Billings seemed determined to shoot anyway, but was persuaded to desist as his man was too far off; but that mule, fortunately, did not let him get close enough for Billings to carry his purpose into execution.
“On the 8th of November they were at Last Chance Hollow, west of Red Bluff. On the 10th they crossed the Sacramento river above Red Bluff. Here all traces of them were lost by the pursuing party, and the chase for the time abandoned. The pursuers traveled over one thousand miles in this most wonderful man chase, and the most of the time on foot, and some of the time through soft, wet snow.
“The following description of their journeyings will convey an adequate idea of the great amount of traveling they did. From Big river north to Blue Rock; thence east to Bell Springs; crossed Eel river; thence north to Red Mountain; thence north to Mad river; thence west to Kittenchaw valley; thence east, up Mad river to the three forks of the river; thence up the north fork of the main divide between Mad river and the south fork of Trinity river; thence south to the Yolo Bolles; thence across the Yolo Bolles; thence east to the foot-hills on Cold creek; (Petit Johns lives here); thence south to the Stony creek, thence north to Elk Grove; thence north to Paskenta, thence east to Red Bluff; thence south to Tehama; thence north to Cold creek; thence south to Mount St. John; thence east to Willows; thence home, having lost all traces and given up the chase.
“After the separation Moore and Standley went from Red Bank to Vale’s Gulch; thence to Red Bluff; thence down the Sacramento river to Tehama; crossed the Sacramento river and went to Vina; (at this time the outlaws were on the railroad between the two pursuing parties); thence to Tehama; thence up the Sacramento river to Blossom’s ranch; thence east to the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada mountains; thence south along the foot-hills a distance of fifteen miles; thence back to Tehama; thence to Thomas’ creek; thence south-east to Newville, near Stony creek; thence up Stony creek to Bear valley; thence east to Willows; thence east to Colusa; thence to Williams, and thence to Ukiah. This was the end of the first chase, and all parties were now in Ukiah; and it was thought that the gang had eluded the vigilance of the officers.
“But Standley had his ears always open to catch stray reports that would lead to anything like a clue. At last he heard that Brown had a brother-inlaw somewhere in the vicinity of Nimshew, Butte county, and knowing that the track of them was lost in that neighborhood, he surmised that they were located near there somewhere.
“Acting on this supposition he and Moore again set out on the chase, going to Butte county. On the morning of Dec. 5, Sheriff Moore, J.M. Standley, C.A. White, of Nimshew, and a Chico stagedriver named Messer, surrounded a cabin on Butte creek. About one hundred yards from the cabin the men took their positions so as to command the place; White above the cabin, Standley near the ravine, Moore commanding the ravine in one direction, and Messer in the other direction. White and Standley had Winchester rifles, and the others had shot-guns loaded with buck-shot. After they had waited a few moments Billings came out with a gun and ax, evidently intending to chop some wood to cook their breakfast with, as this was very soon after daylight in the morning. When about seven feet from the cabin Standley called to him to throw up his arms. Instead, however, he sprang back into the cabin, whereupon Standley fired, the ball striking him in the shoulder.
“On hearing the firing Gaunce and Brown dashed into the brush. White discharging four shots at them as they ran. He then turned and saw Billings trying to get his gun leveled at him. When Billings saw that he was discovered he ran into the cabin again, but came immediately out.
White then fired, the ball striking Billings in the knee, bringing him partially to the ground. While in this position Billings again tried to aim and fire at White, who continued to shoot at him ’til he fell dead. He fell about thirty feet from the cabin, face downward with his gun under him. He only gasped once after he was reached by the officers. His body was carried into the cabin and a Coroner sent for, and an inquest held, after which Sheriff Moore started for Ukiah with the body.
“By this time it was night again, but the officers started out into the dark, using a lantern to show them the trail. About one hundred yards from the cabin the trail divided, one of the parties, Gaunce, going south-west down the creek, and the other, Brown, had gone up the creek. After pursuing Brown perhaps a mile and a half, they concluded that as he was lame, he could not elude them as well as Gaunce, so they returned and started out on the trail of the last named.
They followed the tracks down Butte creek three or four miles, and then the trail made a square turn and led them to within a very few rods of town where it was lost. It was now about midnight, and the pursuers had been at work fully twenty-four hours without an hour’s sleep or respite, hence they went to the hotel and retired.
“In the morning the irrepressible Standley was out bright and early, and as eager for any new clues as he ever had been. He soon learned that a gentleman had lost a buggy robe during the night, and rightly guessed that Gaunce had taken it for a blanket, and that he had spent the night close by. The buggy stood in a shed adjoining a vacant cabin, and naturally enough they searched that building first, in one of the rooms there was an old cupboard, and, stowed away behind that, they found the culprit, who was worn out, exhausted, and broken down in spirit as well as body. Standley took him in a buggy, and drove to Chico, where he overtook Moore, and turned Gaunce over to him to bring to Ukiah.
“We will now return to Brown and follow him through the devious windings of his path from his escape from the cabin to his arrest, for it here recorded that all the gang were finally brought to Ukiah and lodged in jail.
“After leaving the cabin where Billings was shot he went up Butte creek, on into Concow valley; thence due east, up the slope of the Sierras to the snow line; here he stopped all night with an Indian; thence, starting on the morning of Dec. 8, he crossed the north fork of the Feather river, staying all night at Last Chance; he then crossed French creek to the Mountain House, on the road from Oroville to Susanville; thence on the main road to Bidwell’s Bar; here he took to the shrubby foot-hills and traveled to Wyandotte; he then turned towards Rice’s crossing, on the Yuba river, and thence to the vicinity of Bidwell’s Bar.
“On the evening of the 10th, Standley and White arrived at the last-named place on horse-back and in the morning scoured the country, warning everybody to look out for Brown. Sheriff Sprague of Yuba County joined them at this time. Sometime
during the day the officers met two men — Thatcher and Ryan — who had Brown in charge, they had apprehended him about a mile ahead of the officers. Standley arrested Brown and returned to Ukiah with him at once.
“And so was ended one of the greatest man-hunting expeditions on record, and it is doubtful if indeed it can be excelled in all the annals of crime. No one can begin to have a just appreciation of its magnitude, and what they were called upon to undergo and endure until he has traveled over those chemical mountains, going through places where a scarce grizzly bear would attempt to force his way. Let anyone take a map of the State, and trace out the route traversed, and he will be amazed. Great credit is due to all who were in any way connected with the pursuit, but to J.M. Standley, Sheriff Moore and Jerry Donohoe, the burden of the honor falls due for their untiring energy and determined zeal. The last name was on the road for sixtyone days.
“When Standley arrived at Ukiah with the last of the outlaws, great excitement prevailed, and the stage was surrounded with a great crowd of eager spectators, desirous both of getting a glimpse of the captive and of paying a just tribute to the captor. Upon Standley’s arrival at Little Lake quite an ovation was tendered to him. Anvils were fired, Rev. A.0. Ross delivered a speech of welcome, and the grand rejoicing was fittingly closed with a dance.
“On the night of Nov. 30, Wheeler, in company with James Anthony, made his escape from the jail by the aid of a false key made of Babbitt metal. The guard of the jail had stepped out for a few moments, not thinking but that his prisoners were safe under lock and key, and when he came back the birds had flown. They went to a livery stable and appropriated two horses to their use, and fled northward toward the mountains, but were both captured near Calpella not having gotten a dozen miles away. They were successful jail-breakers, but not so much of a success in eluding re-capture in the muddy, rainy days of mid-winter.
“In April, 1880, Wheeler, Brown and Gaunce had their trials, Carr, the main witness for the people, giving the most of the foregoing facts concerning the intentions and movements of the gang up to the time of the shooting, and Wheeler’s complicity with them.
“Judge J.G. Pressly, of Sonoma county, was on the bench. Following is the text of the sentence of Wheeler:
“John F. Wheeler, you have been charged with the highest crime known to human as well as divine law, and of this charge, alter a fair and full trial, you have been convicted by a jury of your countrymen, sworn to try the case and to render a verdict in accordance with the proof. You have been very ably defended; your counsel have been persistent; have, with pertinacity and skill, contested every point made against you. The same laws which you have broken gave you the means of presenting anything in the way of defense or exculpation that would tend to establish your innocence or extenuate your acts. After hearing all that you have offered in your defense, a jury of intelligent and unbiased men have found you guilty and another proof of circumstances which divests your crime of the glamour which surrounds a bold and daring robbery and murder, is that you remained in the background, and had your work done by confederates. If the circumstances detailed by witnesses are true, and the jury have found them to be so, you were the master spirit in one of the most diabolical conspiracies which has, perhaps, ever been entered into within the limits of this county.
“A man who had not harmed you was to have been robbed, and the funds entrusted to him by virtue of his office, taken away and divided among you and your subordinates in crime. In order to carry out your nefarious purposes you compassed the death of any citizen who might attempt to interfere with your plans. The result was the death of an estimable citizen of this country — a young man in the prime of life and vigor of manhood, cut down — without a moment’s warning, and that by men under your command, cowardly secreting themselves and shooting from ambush. The fate which has at last overtaken you, is but the just deserts of the act, shown by the testimony, to have been done by you. Your present condition is but another proof of the truth of the scripture which says that ‘the way of the transgressor is hard.’ I do not desire to harrow up your feelings, or inflict more pain upon you than my duty, as one of the ministers of justice, requires me to do. I will not prolong this, to me, painful scene, further than to advise you to prepare to meet the awful fate which will surely overtake you.
“I have endeavored to give you a fair trial. I am not now aware of any errors committed by me to your prejudice. I am glad to know that ifi have committed any, and if you have been deprived of rights, there is a tribunalto which you may take your case if you so desire. I hope no human being will ever, by any mistake of mine, be ushered into the presence of the Great Judge, who will finally award to everyone the just deserts of his deeds, and that without possibility of error. I think you need not look to any power short of Omnipotence for pardon of the crime of which you have been convicted. I advise you to dismiss from your mind all hope of human aid, and look alone to Him who, ‘though your sins be as scarlet, can make them as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, can make them white as wool.’ Your sentence and the judgment of the Court is that you be, by the Sheriff of Mendocino county, on Friday, July 2, 1880, hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
“The city of Ukiah was thrown into a fever of excitement, on Saturday morning, May l0th, by the report that John F. Wheeler, one of the outlaws, had committed suicide. In an almost incredible space of time hundreds of people congregated on the outside of the jail, and in the hall-ways leading to it, anxious to gain the latest information from within. The door to the Sheriff’s office was locked, and only a few were admitted, and when any of those who were fortunate enough to gain an entrance would retire, they were plied with all manner of questions as to the condition of the condemned man. The interest seemed to abate but little until death ensued, when most of the people silently betook themselves to their homes there to meditate over the drama just ended.
“At half-past seven o’clock, on Saturday morning, the guard on duty in the jail spoke to Wheeler, who answered that he was all right, and half an hour after, on being spoken to, he made no response. A few minutes later one of the other prisoners looked into the cell and remarked: ‘The Doctor is lying flat on his back, with his mouth wide open and sound asleep.’ No notice was taken of this announcement by the authorities, as it had been customary for Wheeler to remain up late at night reading and writing, and to sleep in the morning. At about a quarter to ten, his wife called to see him, and on going to his cell to bring him out, he was found stretched upon his bed in a comatose state.
“He was at once removed to the Sheriff’ s office and placed upon a mattress, where Drs. Dozier, Mason and King did everything in their power to resuscitate him, but without avail, and at 6:50 P.M., he breathed his last. The shackles were at once removed from his ankles and the body placed in the hall-way, where, after being enclosed, it remained until buried on Sunday afternoon. It was visited twice by Mrs. Wheeler while there, once that evening, and again the next morning. On both occasions she manifested great affection for him, and appeared completely broken down with grief.
“During the time Wheeler was lying in the Sheriff’s office, under the influence of the narcotic, two of his confederates — Brown and Gaunce — manifested a great deal of interest, by getting up to the grating between the jail and office a number of times, and peering into the room where Wheeler was lying. But the body was in a corner of the office beyond their vision, and they were unable to catch even a glimpse of the face of their late chief.
“On searching the cell lately occupied by the deceased, the Sheriff found two packages of letters, a coat, in the lining of which, just over the right shoulder, had been secreted the fatal drug; five bottles, two of which contained a solution of chloral hydrate, two compound spirits of lavender and the other cologne; a small satchel, a small lance-shaped knife, a photograph of his wife, and some books and magazines. The bottles containing chloral hydrate were found secreted in his pillow. On the back of the photograph, in Wheeler’s handwriting, were the words, ‘Whose little duckie is this?’
“Wheeler had spent a good portion of Friday afternoon and night writing letters to relatives and friends. Previous to taking the poison he had dressed himself with scrupulous care, and in his letter to his wife requested that he be buried just as found, with the picture of his wife upon his breast, which was done.
“Dr. Mason, County Coroner, held an inquest on Sunday morning,… After viewing the remains, the jury retired to the Superior courtroom, where Drs. King and Dozier testified that death resulted from morphine poisoning. Sheriff Donohoe and Undersheriff Potter were examined as to the discovery of Wheeler in an inanimate condition and the contents of his cell, when the jury returned the following verdict:—
“We, the jury impaneled to inquire into the circumstances of the death of John F. Wheeler, find that the deceased was aged about forty years; that he was under sentence of death for complicity in the murder of William Wright; and that he died by his own hand, by morphine poison, taken with suicidal intent, and that said death occurred on Saturday, May 15, 1880, at about seven o’clock, P.M.”
“The following letter was written by Wheeler to his wife just previous to taking the fatal dose:
Ukiah, May the 14th, 1880. — My dear, dear angel of a Wife: — Why has your sad misfortune been thus? You are the best and dearest little angel on earth, and dear er to me than my own heart’s blood. God knows it; you, dear wife, know that I am innocent — and it is that that will break your dear, pure, tender heart. If it is the will of the All- wise God to let such perjured villains swear the life of an innocent man away, that he, the deep-dyed sinner, might live, let it so be. But dear, good wife, it is too bad, too cruel, to know that you have to suffer on account of such horrible fiends. Dear wife, it was my desire, should you have died in San Francisco when you were sick, that I should be buried in the same coffin; for, after your death, life would have no charms for me. You are my heart, my soul, my all. I hope, dear little pet, that I have been kind to you; and if I have ever done you a wrong, that you will now forgive me. Oh yes, pet, I know, if such were the case, you would only be too willing to do so. We have both been so cruelly treated by many that we have been so kind to in life; but we have the consolation of having a clear conscience, and we know we could not send an innocent fellow-man to the gallows. Now, dear, little, good wife, do not grieve, but think what a troublesome world this is. Oh, to have had you in my arms at the last moment of life, and to have known that you were leaving the world after the time allotted you to remain here on this cold earth, would have been all the blessing I could have asked; and I always calculated to follow you, if you should have been taken from me. But, dear wife, try to once more be happy, if possible. Do as you think best with all things.
And we know that we soon shall be with little Jimmy and the rest of our dear friends, if there is such a thing as friends meeting in the spirit-land. ‘Tis there that poor Dollard and Wright will know whether I am innocent or not. I am, thank God. I hope they are happy. Now, dear, dear, little wife, if I should leave this earth tonight, please have me buried with my clothes on, just as I die. May the God of Heaven strengthen your dear heart to bear up under the trouble that has and will befall you. Dear, dear, good angel, do. I hope soon to be beyond the wicked hand of man, and to go where all are judged alike. I know there is not enough evidence to convict me in the Supreme Court; but rather than have you, my dear angel, suffer and be abused so long, I had rather die, and let poor little pet be tormented no longer. No, you have suffered too much. Oh, what can I say in this, my last hour, to cheer and console you? Dear, dearest of wives, what can I say? Alas! ‘Tis sad to die in a gloomy cell, an innocent victim. But perhaps, as we have read, some of the best men have had to do the same thing. I now ask, from the bottom of my heart, the forgiveness of any one I have done an injury to in life, and I will try to forgive those who have wronged me. But to you, dear wife, dear wife, may God give me words of consolation to offer you. I am now looking at your dear picture, which I want buried on my breast — as next to thee, dear, little, good angel that you are. now for the last words on earth: ‘Tis all in praising you, my dear little pet, for your goodness and kindness. You love true and fondly and faithfully. Oh, mercy on my poor soul! May God help you and me, at the last moment so four troubles. To all dear friends, farewell. And to you, poor, dear angel, poor, dear angel, I will meet you again —-I hope soon — in happiness. Now thy dear pet I kiss in the spirit. So, alas, farewell ! Good-bye, good-bye; dear angel, good-bye on this earth! — Yours in death, J.F. Wheeler.
“The trial of H. E. Brown occurred March 2, 1880, and he was convicted of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hung April 30th. George Gaunce was tried at the same term of court and the conviction was the same, and may 21 st set for the day of execution. Both secured a stay of execution pending the decision of the Supreme Court in regard to a new trial.”
So that brings an end to the Mendocino Outlaws story, right? Wrong.
This story, its criminal characters, and the legal and political proceedings that followed continued for many years to pique the public interest and garner newspaper coverage. As examples and documentation, the following newspaper accounts are provided:
The Sacramento Record-union, Wednesday, May 12, 1880, page 2: “Pacific Slope News.”
The Last of the Mendocino Outlaws Convicted of Murder.
The Last of the Mendocino County Outlaws — Wheeler Convicted of Murder in the First Degree.
“UKIAH, May 11th. — The jury in the case of John F. Wheeler, after an absence of two hours, came into Court with a verdict of murder in the first degree — standing on the first ballot one for the second degree. The argument occupied five hours and a half. Wheeler received the announcement of the verdict with that indifference manifested throughout the trial.”