Killing of Katie Ennis
Killing of Katie Ennis (Indian) - Alonzo Davis, a boy only about thirteen years of age, shot and killed an Indian girl by the name of Katie Ennis, at the house of M. D. Markley, in Putah Caņon, August 20, 1871, under the following circumstances, as brought out in the testimony: The Indian girl was living at Markley's as his housekeeper. Markley was away from home a great deal of the time during the day, and was often away for days at a time. It would seem that the girl got the idea into her head that the boy wished to destroy Markley's property during his absence, and she threatened to shoot him should he pass by the premises again. There were two roads leading by the place; one just in front of the door, and one up the hill a short distance. One day he passed along the lower road in com- pany with another boy, and he states, being corroborated by his companion, that she fired at them with a rifle, after they had got past the house some distance. The next day he got a small pistol, and having an errand that way, took occasion to go along the lower road, as usual. When the girl saw him she said: "I will shoot you, you s-- of a b----!" and started into the house. Just as she crossed the threshold, the boy fired, and the bullet entered the girl's brain. The body was found some time afterwards in a mutilated condition, rats and coons doing the work. The boy was arrested, and Justice R. C. Gillaspie of Yount Township, committed him to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury, on the 26th of August. That body found a true bill against him, September 6th, and he was tried October 5th. The jury in the case comprised to the following named gentlemen: David Edwards, James Dunhig, S. Winters, Asa Chapman, David Yount, W. H. Beagles, W. A. Haskins, J. G. Francis, E. K. Wood, Wm. Locker, J. B. Chiles and T. G. Rodgers. Their verdict was: "We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty."
Source: [Lyman L. Palmer], History of Napa and Lake Counties, California (San Francisco: Slocum, Bowen & Co., 1881), page 150.
This record was transcribed by Regina Gualco and is posted on CAGenWeb with permission.
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Last updated August 5, 2006