Se SR ie ee Ate ol oo!
Richard Hicks. 13

ES CLEA aL Be TMs au ee

I have purchased a strong log house for a Prison and a Building
for a Court House for 350 dollars—they will soon pay for themselves.

Another case of murder occurred here on Sunday night last.
I held an Inquest yesterday. I was compelled to go to Hill’s Bar this
morning to settle disputes with mining claims. Tomorrow I will take
the examination; all the documents shall be forwarded in due course.
I have not received any Sealing wax nor the Official Seal.

Officer Carey returned on Thursday last. Provisions are very high
and hardly any flour for sale, the Company’s store is almost empty, and
much fear and complaints exist on account of the scarcity of all sorts
of provisions.

I will, I assure Your Excellency, forward every information at
the earliest possible moment.

I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency’s
Most obedt Hble Servant

Ricwuarp Hicks.
Fort Yale, Nov. 9th, 1858, 12 o’clk p.m.

To His Excellency the Governor of Britssh Columbia.
May IT PLEASE Your EXcELLENCcY:

I forward herewith the depositions and other papers in the case
against Mathias Neil, charged with the murder of William Hartwell
at the Forks of Fraser and Thompson’s River. The prisoner made his
escape from the custody of Charles Emerson, a deputy Officer, near
Sumas. J understand he is again captured and secured on board the
brig “ Recovery.”? Captain Emerson informs me he wrote Your
Excellency fully upon the subject. Efforts are being made by the
Gambler’s who infest the Country to obtain his discharge. When the
trial comes on it will be proved that a more cool and deliberate murder
seldom ocurrs.

I have also committed for trial George Harrison Jones for shoot-
ing Herman Wallace at Fort Yale on Sunday night last; the depositions
I also forward herewith. There are some mitigating circumstances in

(87) This vessel had been purchased from the Hudson’s Bay Company and was stationed
near Langley to enforce payment of duties, license fees, and head-money, as the levy of two dollars

per head ‘‘ compensation ’’ to the Hudson’s Bay Company was called. See the introduction as to
this ‘‘ head-money.’’