Posted By:	Vern Dander
	Email:
	Subject:	Death of wife & daughter of Henry JOHNSON/JOHNSTONE in CA in 1860
	Post Date:	December 24, 2006 at 09:38:07
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/johnstone/messages/770.html
	Forum:	Johnstone Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/johnstone/

Am not related but may be of interest to someone who is. I have no further info but additional newspaper extracts may be found at URL: <http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php> Vern D ////////////////////////////////// Transcribed by Dee Sardoch; <deesar@frontiernet.net> ////////////////////////////////// Stockton Daily Argus Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA ************************* NOTE: INITIALLY REPORTED IN ARGUS WITH SURNAME "JOHNSON". Original post can be found at that surname page, >>Saturday, 29 Dec 1860<< PARTICULARS of the HORRIBLE MURDER of the JOHNSTONE FAMILY -- The horrible massacre of Mrs. JOHNSTONE, her daughter aged 12 years, and a hired man named COOK, in the suburbs of San Francisco, is still undoubtedly fresh in the minds of our readers. It was so strange a murderous deed, that it was believed none but a crazy person could have been guilty of such an act of horror. The deed had slept so long, without a clue to the murderer, it was feared he never would be discovered. But it has come to light. It appears that COOK had worked for a man named MARRAN, who owed him for his labor. On the day of the murder, MARRAN went to JOHNSTONE's garden where COOK was working. He took with him a man named HANBERRY as a witness that he offered to pay his indebtedness to COOK. He presented a portion of the amount claimed, saying that was all he owed; but COOK refused to receive it unless he was paid the full amount. High words ensued, when COOK lifted his spade to strike MARRAN, when the latter seized an axe and with 1 blow on the head killed COOK. The S.F. 'Herald' continues the horrid tale: "MARRAN and HANBERRY waited a moment to see if COOK would come to, but finding that a mortal blow had been given, they were about to start off, when Miss JOHNSTONE came from the house, probably to take a swing (one hanging close by), just in time to see what had been done. She instantly ran back to the house, shouting, "Mother, mother! They killed COOK!" She rushed first to the front door, but finding it fastened, she ran to the back door, repeating her cries. Her mother was upstairs sewing on a garment, but she immediately rose and went down to find out what the trouble was. "In the meantime MARRAN and HANBERRY, aware that they had been seen by the girl, determined to "finish the business" and reached the back door just as Mrs. JOHNSTONE did; 1 stroke with the death dealing axe disposed of her, and then the little girl fell a martyr to the same bloody weapon. "All this time a man had overlooked the terrible scene and noted the facts. He had heard COOK and MARRAN in dispute and not wishing to take part, had his himself behind a clump of bushes to await the result. This unseen spectator was afraid to make the facts known, thinking if he failed to have the murderers convicted, they would kill him; but the secret was too much for his single brain and he told a friend of the transaction and counseled with him. That friend had another intimate to whom he disclosed the secret, and the 3rd party made affidavit to the officer as narrated to him, by means of which affidavit the officers were put upon the scent of blood. "In the meantime HANBERRY had left MARRAN and gone away from this vicinity; but the Chief of Police having reason to believe that he was in Stockton sent a couple of officers to that city to hunt HANBERRY up. About 14 days ago an officer asked MARRAN whether he could not tell something about the JOHNSTONE murder, and MARRAN replied, yes, he could a good deal about it, and furthermore, stated that JOHNSTONE and HANBERRY had done the killing. He was asked if he knew where HANBERRY was at that time, and replied, he did not. He was then asked if he would make affidavit to the effect that COOK and the JOHNSTONEs had been murdered by JOHNSTONE and HANBERRY, and said he would. "Saturday, the 15th inst., a couple of officers repaired to MARRAN's ranch and asked him to come in and make the affidavit he had promised, when MARRAN mounted a horse and came in with them. On the road they were met by Chief BURKE, who ordered MARRAN to be taken to the station house. On examining MARRAN's person, a letter was found from HANBERRY, saying that he was on a rancho about 12 miles from Stockton and the officers who had been sent to Stockton were immediately telegraphed to that effect, when they repaired to the rancho, found HANBERRY, and in irons carried him to San Francisco."