Marin County Deaths

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

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KILLING OF PATRICK MONEHAN
            On Thursday evening of November 4, 1875, 
a row occurred at the Indian rancheria in Nicasio, which culminated on Sunday 
evening in the sudden and violent death of a white man.  An Indian known by the 
name of Big Jos� Salvador, made an assault on his sister, the widow of Calistro, 
with a knife.  He had the woman down, when a lad, her son, seized his pistol 
from his hip pocket, and ran away with it.  Jos� gave chase to the boy, and the 
woman improved the opportunity to escape.  She swore out a warrant for the 
arrest of her assailant, before Justice Rodgers, charging him with an assault 
with a deadly weapon, with intent to kill.  The Justice put the warrant in the 
hands of John R. Foulks, who, with Louis Demsey, went on Sunday evening to the 
rancherie, to arrest the Indian.
            The officers searched through several cabins, and at last came to 
one in which Patrick Monehan was sleeping, to whom they told their errand.  He 
said he also had a warrant for Jos�, but they could not arrest him.  Foulks said 
he had a warrant for the Indian, and he intended to try to serve it.  Monehan 
and Dempsey (who is known as John Igo) then had some words, during which the 
former got hold of the officer, and the two had a little scuffle, though there 
was a picket fence between them.  Monehan was a large and very powerful man.  
Just then, a young man from Mrs. Irvine�s came up and told Foulks that the 
Indian was in such a cabin, pointing to it.  Foulks started for it, calling 
Dempsey to go with him.  It seems that Monehan then got hold of Foulks, who drew 
his pistol, but the cylinder fell out.  Dempsey, seeing that Foulks� weapon was 
not available, drew his pistol and cocked it so that Monehan could hear it.  The 
latter then walked toward Dempsey, saying, �You would not shoot me.�
            Dempsey retreated, and told Monehan to stop.  Monehan advanced, 
saying, �You would not shoot me.�
            Dempsey finally said he would go back no further, and Monehan still 
going towards him, he fired, his ball entering Monehan�s forehead, and producing 
instant death.
            This tragedy seems to have ended the Indian crusade, as nothing 
further was heard about the arrest of the Indian.
            Dempsey immediately gave himself up to await examination.
            A Coroner�s jury was impaneled on Sunday evening, consisting of E.R. 
Cornwell, Frank Nason, H. Thies, A.J. Winslow, David Taylor, E.M. Welch, P. Fox 
and one other, to investigate Monehan�s death.  Their verdict simply declared 
the facts, and neither condemned nor justified the act.
            Dempsey was examined before Justice Rodgers on Tuesday afternoon.  
The Justice telegraphy for District Attorney Bowers to attend and represent the 
people, but prior engagements prevented.  E.B. Mahon, Esq., appeared and 
defended Dempsey, who was acquitted of all blame in the premises, and released 
from custody.
            Monehan seems to have had the reputation of being quiet and good 
natured when sober, but when intoxicated a pretty rough customer to handle.

History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, 
Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, 
Bowen & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880