California Newspaper Transcriptions
Crimes and Criminals (pre 1924)
N. D. Rideout

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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N. D. Rideout

It is not generally known that the late N. D. Rideout, head of the Rideout 
string of banks in Northern California, figured as a victim of highway robbers 
in the early fifties, at a time when he was seeking his fortune in the mountain 
district of Yuba County.  On a Tuesday afternoon, about 4:30 o’clock, in 
October, 1852, as the Camptonville stage was proceeding to Marysville, it was 
stopped when near Dry Creek by six mounted highwaymen. They were after the 
treasure it carried, which amounted to $100,000.  Near the point of attack the 
road forked, and Rideout, gold-dust dealer and banker of Camptonville, was on 
one road and the stage on the other.  Rideout was stopped by the robbers, who 
all presented their arms and commanded him to dismount.  He hesitated, when one 
of them threatened to shoot him.  On the threat being made he dismounted, and 
went toward the stage on the other road across the ravine.  The robbers called 
him back and demanded his money.  Being satisfied that he had none, his treasure 
being on the stage, they took his horse and allowed him to cross over to the 
stage.  The robbers then commanded the driver of the stage, John Gear, to stop, 
and threatened to kill the first man who should oppose them in their designs.  
Messenger Dodson, messenger for Langton’s Express, immediately drew on the 
robbers and commenced firing.  His first shot took effect on the spokesman of 
the robbers and unhorsed him.  Rideout had by this time got to the stage.  An 
indiscriminate fight now commenced between the robbers and passengers.  As many 
as forty shots were fired on both sides.  The robbers, finding themselves so 
stoutly opposed, retreated, leaving the passengers victors of the field of 
battle.  The driver, John Gear, was shot through the right arm, above the elbow. 
 Mrs. Tighlman, wife of a Marysville barber, was shot in the head, the ball 
entering over the right eye and penetrating the brain.  Two other passengers 
were wounded.  When the stage was stopped and the firing had commenced, one 
white man and four Chinamen left and ran back on the road which had been passed 
over.  The newspaper reports of the occurrence said:  “These persons have not 
been seen since.”

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles