The Murder of Mr. Mills in Marysville 1850

(This entry was taken from California Newspaper Archives and may contain errors)

Daily Alta California, Volume 1, Number 215, 3 September 1850


Murder at Marysville.


The New World (Steam ship), from Sacramento, brought us our exchanges of yesterday at an early hour last evening. Through the politeness of Captain Wakeman, they were delivered promptly. The Times contains the following account of a murder at Marysville on Saturday last.


Mr. Mills, who had been working a claim on Feather River, purchased of a packer of the name of Cargill, a quantity of goods to the amount of $87, for which he conditioned to pay him in the event of the success of his labors. The claim proved a failure, and Mills Ieft to go elsewhere. Cargill followed him to Marysville, and meeting him about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, opposite the United States Hotel, demanded of him a note, which he consented to give him payable in California. Cargill refused to accept this, and required that it should be payable in New York. On declining to comply with his request he deliberately drew a pistol, and shot him through the heart, killing him instantly. Cargill was arrested forthwith and placed in the custody of the sheriff. The populace met in the evening and demanded his immediate punishment. By the intervention of Mr Goodwin, they were induced to refrain from extreme measures, and a court would be held on Sunday morning. The determination to hang the murderer was so general that whatever be the result of the case, there is but little chance of his escape. The court was in session when our informant left.