CALIFORNIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1869, 16 May 1863, Page 5

CALIFORNIA.

Our (S. M Herald) dates from San Francisco aye to the 2nd of February. Horrible Murder-Fouh Persons Killed. — Stockton, February 1. — News of a most horrible murder was received here yesterday. It appears that on Thursday evening 2i)lh, Aaron J. Golding. Mrs Golding, Pedro, a Mexican vnquero, and a Spanish boy named Santers, who resided about twenty five miles from this city, at the entrance to Coral Hollow, were brutally murdered, and the house set on fire and totally destroyed. The crime is believed to have been committed early in the evening. The presumption is, that the victims were bound and burned alive. They were found in the place where they usually slept The legs and arms of the vaquero were burned off, and the bodies of the woman and man were burned to a perfect cinder. Golding's right arm had been twisted behind bis back, and had evidently been broken above the elbow joint. It bad been bouud, as the blood bad saturated the clothing, and two twists of a cord were found on the wrist. One circumstance which disproves that either of the men were burned a'ive is that their skulls were broken, while the woman's was not. The coroner's jury brought in a verdict that the victims were first murdered and afterwards burned. No clue to the perpetrators has yet come to light. — Telegram to Daily Alta California Feb. 2, San Francisco Trade in Contraband of War.— Fronv circumstances which have transpired, it seems quite certain that the schooner Live Oak has lecently sailed from Sen Francisco with some ten tons of powder on board. This schooner cleared for a " fishing voyage," but as Slie cannot use powder for such a purpose, the question naturally arises, where are these munitions of war going ? and why this great secresy if no wrong be intended ? They may be designed for Mexico, which Is perhaps the case, but what is to hinder the purchase of a fast sailing vessel in this port, and after her clearance, apparently for some legitimate trade, i taking on board at sea, from a schooner of as'milar class to the Live Oak, p owder and other munitions of war? Indeed, there are rumours of a brig — one of the fastest sailers upon this ; coast — is fitting out for some secret expedition, I perhaps for smuggling purposes, but it could just as well be a privateer for all the public may know to the contrary. Whatever may be the meaning of the departure of the Live Oak with tons of powder on board, there is a significance in it, at least when taken in connection with rumoured smuggling voyages, which should lead to unusual vigilance upon the part of the United States revenue officers. It is, as we have suggested, probable that these munitions of war are designed for Mexico, as it is stated that the Collector has positive orders to stop all contraband of war from leaving this port. The trade in gunpowder and other munitions of war, to be taken clandestinely from San Francisco in fast sailing vessels is a matter at the present \ time of some importance, as it creates, at least 1 for the time being, a fear in the public mind that something may be wrong. All uulawful trade in munitions of war should be promptly stopped. — Weekly Bulletsn t Jan. 31.