OLD RESIDENT OF BECKWITH BURNED TO DEATH LAST NIGHT
S. A. Thomas Perished In Flames; Home Destroyed
Evidently Old Gentleman Was Suffocated as He Had Been Aroused From Sleep.
Sylvester Augustus Thomas, an old and respected resident of Beckwith, met with a tragic death Wednesday
evening, when his home in that town was destroyed by fire and he, himself, was cremated in the blaze.
The fire started in a room in the upper story occupied by a boarder, and it gained considerable headway
before it was discovered by the roomer, who had been absent. The alarm was given, and Mr. Thomas, who was
sleeping in an adjoining room, was aroused, but did not go downstairs.
The other members of the family made their escape from the building, but later it was found that Mr. Thomos
was missing. The building was completely destroyed, and this morning the charred body of the unfortunate
man was recovered from the embers.
It is supposed that, after being aroused, Mr. Thomas went into the room where the fire had started, in
an endeavor to extinguish the blaze, and that he became suffocated, or fainted, and was unable to make his
escape.
A coroner's inquest was held this afternoon by Justice of the Peace R. J. McClunie, and the jury returned a
verdict to the effect that deceased met his death in accordance with the facts above related.
Deceased was one of the oldest residents of Beckwith, having come to that place in from Arkansas, the
state  of his nativity, and has ever since resided in that section, following the cattle business. He was an
upright citizen, and a kind husband and father. Besides a sorrowing widow, he leaves two sons, Everett A.
and Sylvester Clarence Thomas, to mourn his loss. Mr. Thomas was an old member of Hope Lodge, F. & A.
M., and his funeral will be held under the auspices of the order at a time to be set later. [Quincy, Plumas County California Jan 7, 1915, submitted by Barb Z.]
 
MRS. VICTOR MONDOR DIED CHRISTMAS DAY
Mrs. Victor Mondor, an aged resident of Beckwith, died at her home Christmas Day, and was buried the
following Monday in  the Catholic Cemetery at Beckwith.
The deceased was 95 years of age and was the stepmother of Harry Mondor, of Loyalton. [Quincy, Plumas County California Jan 7, 1915, submitted by Barb Z.]
 
OROVILLE TAILOR COMMITTED SUICIDE
OROVILLE. Jan. 1-Carl Schnabel, a tailor of this city, committed sucide some time between Saturday
night and today, when the body was found at his home. He inhaled gas through one of the connections of the
stove. He was about 40 years of age and it is supposed he was despondent because of family troubles, his wife
having left him two years ago. [Quincy, Plumas County California Jan 7, 1915, submitted by Barb Z.]

DEPUTY SHERIFF R. C. BOGART WAS SLAIN AT WESTWOOD
HE, IN TURN, KILLED HIS MURDERER, WHO WAS UNDER ARREST
TRAGIC OUTCOME OF BOOT-LEGGING OPERATIONS IN LASSEN CO. TOWN
Deputy Sheriff R. C. Bogart of Lassen county was slain at West wood at about 7 o'clock Tuesday evening,
January 1.2th, Thomas Collins, a bootlegger whom the officer had placed under arrest, firing the fatal shot.
Before succumbing to the wound, Bogart emptied his revolver at Collins, one bullet inflicting a wound in the
bootlegger's head, from the effects of which he died 15 minutes later.
No one saw the fatal duel between the two men. Bogart had arrested Collins on his arrival from Susanville,
the county seat of Lassen county. Bogart died from a wound made by a bullet entering his back and
piercing his liver. There are different theories about the double tragedy.
The jailer, hearing the shots, rushed to the jail to find Bogart breathing his last and Collins dying. As it is
the custom for officers searching their prisoners before locking them in the cell, it is thought Collins quickly fired
as Constable Bogart turned lo close the door after entering the jail and that the dying officer emptied his revolver
at his murderer, as all five chambers of the weapon had been fired.
Nearly a year ago Collins went to Westwood, but his wife did not care for the lumber city. She, however,
spent the summer there, working as a cook in the camp in which her husband was employed. Mrs. Collins
went to Corning in October, but Collins remained at Westwood, but spent the Christmas holidays with his wife
and little daughter, Mildred, before returning to Lassen county after New Years he deeded the house to his wife,
who pleaded with him not to leave.
Mrs. Collins is in poor circumstances financially and had not the means to go to Westwood to attend the funeral of
her husband. The news of his death led to a knowledge of her situation and she received many offers of assistance
from citizens of Corning.
Collins, it is alleged, left Susanville Tuesday afternoon for Westwood, and with him took a suitcase filled with
liquors. Sheriff Hunsinger, of Lassen county, who had Collins under surveillance, telephoned to his deputy
at West wood, and Bogart met the train on its arrival al the depot and took Collins in charge. The shooting
followed their arrival at the jail, and there were no eye-witnesses to the tragedy.
Bogart was a fearless officer, and while he held an official position, it was well known that he was also a
peace officer in the employ of the Red River Lumber company. The town of Westwood, which is "dry" has been
afflicted with "bootleggers'' ever since its establishment in July, 1913, and in stamping out the illegal sale of
liquor there, the murdered officer played a prominent part, and, as a consequence, incurred the enmity of
the law-breakers and their sympathisers. Officer Bogart was a son of a former Sheriff of Tehama county, who
was killed by the Ruggles brothers in a train holdup in that county about 20 years ago. [Quincy, Plumas County California Jan 7, 1915, submitted by Barb Z.]
 
Old Resident of Greenville Dies
Mr. William Stevens Passed Away On Monday of This Week After Only a Week's Illness.
William Stevens, one of the pioneer residents of Greenville, passed away Monday at his home in that town, after
an illness extending over a period of a week, he was one of the oldest citizens in the county, having reached
the ripe old age of 89 years. Deceased was a native of England. We are not informed as to the date when
he came to this country, but he was naturalized in the Superior Court of Plumas county on September 2. 1871.
He was a blacksmith by occupation, and for over thirty years he plied his trade in Greenville.
Besides his aged widow, deceased leaves three sons to mourn his loss, William H., L. C. and E. J. Stevens.
To these, in their hour of sorrow, the sympathy of their many friends is extended. [Quincy, Plumas County California Jan 7, 1915, submitted by Barb Z.]
 
DEATH OF A FORMER INDIAN VALLEY LADY
Mrs. Finis Hickerson Passed Away at Fort Bidwell, Modoc County, on New Years Day
Mrs. Finis Hickerson, a well-known and respected former resident of Indian Valley, this county, passed away
on January 1st at her home in Fort Bidwell, Modoc county. The funeral was held the following Sunday.
Mrs. Hickerson, whose maiden name was Julia Snyder, was a native of Illinois, where she was born April 3d,
1842. She came to California and to Indian Valley in 1865, where she was married to Finis Hickerson, a member
of the well known pioneer Hickerson family of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Hickerson later removed to Surprise Valley.
Modoc county, where they made their permanent home.
Mrs. Hickerson was a true Christian woman and was noted for her acts of comfort and of charity.[Quincy, Plumas County California Jan 7, 1915, submitted by Barb Z.]