Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/698

 holmes] A U RIFE ROUS GRA VEL MAN 629

Jones came out of his office opposite, and with characteristic imprecations threw a broken skull into the middle of the street. Called upon to explain, the Doctor said that the skull had been brought to him as a relic of great antiquity, but that he had just discovered cobwebs in it, and concluded that he had been made the subject of one of Scribner's practical jokes. Afterward the Doctor picked up the specimen again and carried it into his office, saying that perhaps he had been too hasty, and that he would give it further consideration. Shortly afterward the skull was sent to San Francisco, and a little later Whitney returned to Murphy's and proceeded to make inquiries as to its origin. Mr Sperry drove him to Angels Camp to see Mattison and to obtain from him a statement regarding the discovery of the skull. The statement was obtained, and satisfied Whitney as to the genuine- ness of the find. The opposition to the evidence was, he said, mainly from religious prejudices and, he thought, had no solid foundation.

Others at Murphy's were familiar with the story, often told and retold, but all were unbelievers and took great pleasure in telling of the practical jokes perpetrated by Scribner and his coterie upon their friends, and upon Dr Jones in particular. In general the versions of the story of the skull were much alike, showing a common origin but having individual variations characteristic of memory recitals. I talked with J. L. N. Shep- hard, C. A. Curtis, W. J. Mercer, E. H. Schaeffle, and others well informed on the events of the early days ; and the statement by Mr Joseph Shephard, a prominent local engineer, made in writing to Mr.H. W. Turner of the U. S. Geological Survey, may serve to indicate the general trend of these accounts and the character of the persons connected with the story of the skull. His statement is as follows :

" When the skull was found in Mr Madison's (Mathewson's) shaft, there lived in Angels three men, John Scribner (merchant), William Coddington (ditch owner), and Ross B. Coons (saloon

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