Historic Union Cemetery

Saturday, June 21, 1902

MURDERED FOR HIS MONEY

A Swiss, Named Mattli, Was Found Buried in a Creek

Joseph Briggan, a Swiss dairyman, residing on the Rice ranch in the mountains beyond Woodside, was brought to the county jail Sunday morning by Under Sheriff Butts with the charge of murder lodged agains him, the victim being a Swiss named Mattli, employed by Briggan.

The crime which is a particularly atrocious one was committed early Saturday morning. The evidence disclosed by a young man named Koard and by the Sheriff's inquiry indicates that this crime is one of the most cold-blooded ever perpetrated in this county.

The story of Koard is that shortly after he left t he house on Saturday morning he heard some one moaning. Briggan a little later came out of the house with a bloody hatchet in his hand and his clothes covered with blood. The sight of this so frightened Koard that he fled from the plce, going to Hartley & McArthur's mill which is a short distance away. Here he told his story, but the mill hands paid no attention to him and it was not until noon that Henry McArthur consented to accompany him to the ranch. On their arrival at the house blood stains coulde be seen on the newly washed floor. Briggan said that Mattli had been paid his wages and had departed. Koard also demanded his pay and was given $11 of the $15 du3e him. He then set out for Redwood and when he arrived here into in the evening he immediately informed Sheriff Mansfield, who with Deputy Butts and Constable Chatham, set out for the scene of the tragedy. On their arrival at the ranch Briggan was found at his work. He submitted to arrest but denied that he knew anything of Mattli's whereabouts, declaring that the latter had left shortly after he was paid off.

Butts and the prisoner then left for Redwood. While Sheriff Mansfield and Constable Chatham made a more thorough search for the victim. No blood was found upon Briggan's clothes but this was accounted for by the fact that he had burned his own and Mattli's clothing. Bloodstains were found about the room and also upon the window sill. This latter fact led the Sheriff to believe that th body had been carried through the window. This theory was the correct one for a trail was found from the window to a creek two hundreds yards distant and here under a dry waterway was found buried the almost nude body of the butchered ranchman. The head was literally chopped up and there were a number of wounds on the body any one of which would have caused death.

The body was brought to the morgue and on Monday Dr. Ross performed an autopsy. On the same day the Sheriff took Briggan to the morgue where he was confronted by the body. It was the first that he knew of the finding of the remains and he manifested considerable nervousness. After much hesitancy he admitted the the mutilated corpse was that of Mattli whom he claimed to have paid and sent away.

It is believed that the prisoner killed the man to avoid paying him his wages amounting to about $100.

Briggan's preliminary examiniation was set for next Tuesday. He was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff without bail.

Send questions, comments, and feedback to ellen[at]HistoricUnionCemetery[dot]com

Mattli, Joseph

JOSEPH MATTLI

Times-Gazette

Saturday, June 21, 1902