Plumas County, CA History

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta Jul 2009

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Illustrated History of PLUMAS, LASSEN & SIERRA Counties
with CALIFORNIA from 1513 to 1850, Farriss & Smith , 1882, San Francisco.

Historical Reminiscences


THREE FUGITIVE MURDERERS 
  
  
           On the eighteenth of October, 1857, in Indian valley, Caleb Holliday 
was shot and killed by Stephen D. Shore, with a Colt's revolver. Shore 
immediately fled, and returned overland to Missouri, escaping those who were in 
direct pursuit of him. The grand jury indicted him May 7, 1858, for murder, but 
he never returned to answer the charge; and so far as is known, has not since 
visited the state, the climate probably being too sultry for him. Jacob Dertsh 
was shot dead November 18, 1856, in Indian Valley, near the Deutsche or 
Dutchman's ranch, now known as the Matt Knoll ranch, by Henry Van Orman, with a 
shot-gun. Van Orman was indicted for murder April 10, 1857, but had fled the 
country, and never returned. Another homicide occurred at Smith Bar on the east 
branch of Feather river, September 2, 1857, in which George Jaque drew a 
revolver and shot John McKinzie, killing him instantly. Jaque immediately 
emigrated to Fraser river to avoid punishment for his crime, and was never 
captured. He was indicted for murder October 15, 1857.