Stone Cutter — Coroner's Inquest
Maple Bay Sept 12th 1867
Honourable
The Colonial Secretary
of B.C.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with your instructions I went to Salt Spring Island to investigate the case of supposed murder. Upon inquiry I found that neither MacFadden or Starks could give any further information then that given by the witness Williams at the Inquest. When Williams informed MacFadden that the Colour'd men were at the Stone House, he (MacFadden) in confirming with Starks and Hudson went to the men to see what they were doing and questioned them as to where they had got the Hog from which was then hanging in the house, they said it was a wild one, and they shot it at Maple Bay. This was on the 23rd of December, on going to the House the following day with other Settlers the Coloured men were gone and were not seen again after that time, the roof of the House was not then burnt and he had not been to the Stone House more than twice during this last year, on the 23'd of December and on the day of the Inquest, but it is well known that his Cattle generally feed round there and that he him self is there most weeks, he is a mulato and an excitable violent man and has been heard to make use of threatening language as to what he would do if he caught any one stealing his Cattle, The Boy Williams who bears but an indifferent character has been working for him since Xmas. From the observations I made when there I believe no suspicion can rest upon Griffiths who wished to have the case thoroughly investigate as he understood that Jacob Peter had charged him as being the murderer. I am inclined to think that the Boy Williams knows something more of the affair but there is no evidence against him at present. The man who is supposed to have been murder'd was a deserter from an American Ship, and [illegible] is known both at Salt Spring Islandand also at Nanaimo.
The circumstance of [Thos?] Griffiths having been seen in the neighberhood of the House with a dog and gun are these. In the month of [[underline]]April[[/]] MacFadden, Starks, Williams, and an Indian named [illegible] where going from Begg's Settlement to Starks' farm in a canoe, about one mile before they got to the [[underline]]Old[[/]] Stone House they saw Griffiths walking near the water with his dog and Gun they spoke to him, he said he had lost some of his Cows and was looking for them, then they got to the Old Stone House it was burning, this House is situated on mile north of the House in which the bodyof the man was found, the conversation with the Indians took place three days after this, The man who gave the name of Jacob Peter to Mr Spalding went by the name of [Hemich?] when residing there and is now gone away. Thos Griffiths who appears a very respectable man said his Cattle were in the habit of feeding near the Stone House and he often pass'd it when looking for them, and in passing it about the middle of January he observed the roof had been burnt. On questioning Starks he said his Cattle never went in that direction.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
Jno Morley J.P.
I do not see that anything more can be done at present.
N.Y. 16 Sept.
[illegible]
Nor do I. Best to refer to Attorney General.
[J.B.?]
17 Sept 67
Col. Sec.
Cowichan August 13th 1867
Honourable
The Colonial Secretary
New Westminster
Sir
I have the honor to forward to you a Copy of the proceedings of anInquest held at Salt Spring Island upon the body of a man found in the Stone Quarry house, the house named is two or three miles from Begg's Settlement in the north of the Island it is now only a ruin [having?] been burnt some time since.
There is no doubt the man found was one of the party that committed so many depredations amongst the Settlers Cattle last year.
The witness Williams is a half-Indian about 16 or 17 years of age and has resided at Salt Spring Island some time.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
Jno Morley
Salt Spring Island
[Colony?] of British Columbia
to Wit
An Inquest upon the body of a man, name unknown, held at the Stone Quarry house Salt Spring Island on Friday the ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven, before me, Jno Morley one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Colony named in the margin, acting Coroner for the District of Salt Spring Island and the following Jury,
Thomas Griffiths; Foreman
Jonathan Norton
John Jones
John Booth
Armstead Buckner
Frederick Lester
The Jury having been sworn proceeded to view the body after which the following witness were examined.
Jno Morley J.P.
Acting Coroner
Salt Spring Island Friday
the ninth day of August one
thousand eight hundred and
sixty seven,
James Ogilvie being sworn upon his oath [deposed to] and saith,
I am the Captain of the Boat Industry, on Friday the second day of August I was at the Stone Quarry house Salt Spring Island for the purpose of taking a load of Stone to NewWestminster. I went into the House and noticed that the floor had given way a little. I got a shovel and dug down a little and found the body of a man. I then covered it up again and gave information to the Constable.
(Signed)
James Ogilvie
Taken and sworn before me
Salt Spring Island the day
and date before named
Jno Morley J.P.
Acting Coroner
Salt Spring Island Friday
the ninth day of August one thousand
eight hundred and sixty seven
Henry Sampson having been sworn upon his Oath saith, I am a Constable, on Wednesday the Seventh dayof August I received information that the body of a man had been found buried in the Stone Quarry house at Salt Spring Island. I help'd to remove the body and found it was in a too far advanced state of decomposition to be recognized. I could tell it was the body of a colored man by the hair of the head. I never heard of any one being buried there. I found him buried with his clothes on, he was buried near the top about six inches of earth upon him.
There was three men there last December they came in a Boat for the purpose of hunting but did not stop long as they were suspected of killing Cattle. I had a warrant out against one of them for stealing a double barrel Gun but could not take him, they moved to one of the Island's [illegible]. One of the men was named [Hogin?]. The body I found buried had on a pair of trousers made of striped tweed, and shoes on his feet, he appeared to be a man about five feet nine inches in height, and a full mouth of teeth.
(Signed)
Henry Sampson
Taken and sworn before
[me] at Salt Spring Island
the day and the date [before] named,
Jno Morley J.P.
Acting Coroner
Salt Spring Island Friday
the ninth day of August one thousand
eight hundred and sixty seven,
Edward Williams being sworn upon Oath saith, I came from Victoria in a Boat with two men last December to the Stone Quarry House Salt Spring Island one was named [Hogin?], the other Bill, they said they were going to hunt. I went out the first day to shoot ducks, when I went back I saw a pig hanging in the House it had been skin'd, they told me it was a Bear, I only stay'd with them two days but went to MacFadden. I went back next day to the men for my cloths but they would notl et me have them. I had a dog with me they told me if I did not give it to them they would shoot me. I would not and [Hogin?] took the gun to do so, the other man try'd to take it from him I ran into the bush and did not see them again. I have seen the body of the man now lying dead. I cannot recognize the man by the body it is too much decomposed, but the cloths are the same description as those worn by Bill, they were both colour'd men. Bill was a man about five feet nine in height he wore shoes, the shoes on the body I have now seen are the same, they had a spade and an axe with them, they frequently quarrel'd between themselves. I am now living with MacFadden, I asked them to bring me up in the Boat from Victoria as I wanted to get to MacFaddens.
Edward Williams
his X mark
Taken and sworn before me
Salt Spring Island the
[day] and the date before named,
Jno Morley J.P.
Acting Coroner
Salt Spring Island Friday the ninth day
of August one thousand and eight hundred
and sixty seven
Finding of the Jury
We find a Verdict of found dead without any evidence to prove how he came by his death,
Signature of the Jury
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--- ---
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Taken before me at Salt
Spring Island the day and
date before named
Jno Morley J.P.
Acting Coroner
[...] to W Spalding to make the enquiry, but I do not see that any expenses should be incurred in it. [The?] Sir James Douglas might [drop?] him at the island near the [spot?] where his investigation could [illegible] to be carried on.
[illegible initials]
28 August 67
Col. Sec.
Did your Excellency notice that the foreman of the Jury in this case is apparently the man suspected of committing the murder — if murder it be. It would be cheaper to send Mr Morley to Saltspring Island than to bring down Mr Spalding — for the "Douglas" could not [illegible] wait for him, and he must either find his way back by canoe or else await the upward trip of the "Douglas" the following week. Mr Morley's travelling expenses would not perhaps exceed $10.
The verdict of the Coroners Jury, and the [illegible] information heretofore afforded, would suggest that nothing should be done at present were it not that — if there be any value in the information contained in Mr Spaldings letter — the Foreman may have [led?] the jury to return the verdict they did.
[N.Y.?]
29 Augt
Mr Morley or Mr Spalding might [enquire?].
[initials illegible]
2 Sep 1867
Col. Sec.
Mr. Morley written to [illegible].
Mr Spaldings letter forwarded to him
2 Septr
[initials illegible]
This is a most unsatisfactory Case; and the Verdict of the Coroner's Inquest appears absurd -inasmuch as on view of the body, however much decomposed it is presumed that some wound or [probable?] cause of death would be shewn upon a careful examination. My own suspicions take the direction of the man called [Starks?] — Probably the boy Williams, if apprehended and examined would give some testimony which would help to clear the matter though as the deceased was clearly a Cattle stealer, and appears to have been ready to murder Williams for his dog, I don't think the Government will be warranted in incurring any great expense in the matter.
H.P.P. Crease A.Gn.
18 Sept 1867