The Barton Massacre of 1857, Part Five

With the killing of five men at San Gabriel raising new controversies over the degree of "popular justice" administered by citizens in the days following the killing of Sheriff James R. Barton and three members of his posse hunting the Flores-Daniel Gang, the situation accelerated further in the first days of February.

On 2 February, a group of five men led by Ezekiel H. Rubottom of El Monte (which in just several years of existence became known for its "Monte Boys," residents quick to resort to rought justice) rode out from Los Angeles on what the Los Angeles Star referred to, in its edition of 14 February, as "an expedition to Santa Barbara."  A couple of the men were left at the mission in Ventura, while the other three rode on to Santa Barbara.  According to the paper, "information was given to the people at the Mission that certain of the gang of robbers would arrive that night in town" and a lookout was stationed, while a scout went out to search the area.

Los Angeles Star, 14 February 1857.

The Star then reported that, "shortly after, two men approached, diring on a horse, and on meeting the spy, asked him if there was any excitment in town, to which he answered there was not and they continued on their course."  As the duo moved on, the spy, said to be a Californio, called out, "here they are, taken them," at which both men jumped off their horses and fled.  One was captured, while the other managed to escape.

The man who was seized "proved to be José Jesus Espinosa, one of the gang who murdered Sheriff Barton and his party."  As matter-of-factly as can be, the Star simply continued that "he was tried by the people and condemned to death.  He was accordingly executed."   The paper reported that Espinosa issued a full confession, which was published with a letter by the mission priest, Father Domingo Serrano.  These documents were also reprinted in El Clamor Público, in its edition of the 21st.

El Clamor Público, 21 February 1857.  Thanks for Paul Bryan Gray for making a microfilm of this paper available.

Serrano, in his missive, stated that Espinosa was a "native of Monterey River," the old name for the Salinas River, which flows through the Salinas Valley, and noted that the condemned was "aged about seventeen or eighteen years."  The priest wrote the letter, he said,

considering the benefit which may result to the numerous unfortunates who are imprisoned upon suspicion of robberies and murders recently committed in or about Los Angeles, by divulging some part of the confession . . . that it might serve to quiet and tranquilize the feeling of the community which is much excited by the belief of numerous secret companies or societies . . . I have accordingly with deep solicitude labored to obtain his consent in the presence of witnesses, that I might reveal a part of what I had heard in confession, and that it all might be substantiated by him as true

This extraordinary epistle was followed by the confession, or at least the part as shared by Padre Serrano.  Espinosa's mea culpa began with his awareness that "after a few hours I shall have ceased to exist" it was time "to give a strict account of all the actions of my life."  He then stated that

we, the thieves and murderers, are but ten persons, namely: Antonoi Maria Vareles, or Chino; Andres Fontes; Juan Catabo; Juan Flores; Santos --------; Santiago Silvas, Leonardo Lopez, and the remaining one which I only know as the "Ardillero," and who I confess is innocent, as he joined us after we had committed all the crimes.  I also affirm that our organization dates back one month, or [a] little less, in which time we have committed four murders near San Juan [Barton and his posse], and one murder in that place [George Pflugardt].  We have stolen from three stores in San Juan, taking away goods and money, which with that taken from the murdered persons, I think might exceed $120, and about ten horses.  This is the truth, which I sign with a cross before my name, as I cannot write.

Meanwhile, as Rubottom and his two companions rode back from Santa Barbara, the Star continued, "they proceeded to the house of a man named Berreyessa [Berryesa], whom they arrested and brought to trial."  It was observed that Berryesa had, in Santa Clara in northern California, been tried and convicted there and "had been actually hung up, but being cut down before life became extinct, the body was given over to his friends who effected his resuscitation.  The mark of the rope still remained on his neck."

El Clamor Público, 21 February 1857.

Apparently, this version was not the case.  Instead, it has been alleged that Berryesa, in July 1854, was taken prisoner by a posse and a rope placed around his neck for questioning.  Two of this brothers were killed in the next couple of years and Berryesa then relocated to Ventura.  The Star reported that "since then, he committed another murder.  These facts having been proved satisfactorily, he was also condemned and executed."  A third man was arrested some fifteen miles east of Ventura because he was "in a rather suspicious position" and, though this unnamed individual was jailed, nothing further came about.

As we will soon see, the bitterness between the two Los Angeles newspapers, the Star and El Clamor Público intensified as their very different perspectives on the actions of citizens in dispensing justice, especially at San Gabriel, were displayed for readers.  The next post, however, takes us to another example of summary justice--this time involving one of the captains of the bandit gang, Juan Flores.