Lynching of the Ruggles brothers one of Shasta County's most notorious crimes

Editor's note: The lynching of the brothers John and Charles Ruggles on July 24, 1892 in Redding is believed to be the last mob hanging to have happened in Shasta County. This story appeared in the Currents section, page 29, of the Record Searchlight on July 8, 2001.

There was no arraignment, no trial and no verdict — just the passing of a sentence.

And at dawn on July 24, 1892, Redding residents found two of Shasta County's most notorious criminals serving their time ― dead and hanging by their necks.

"A visit to the scene half an hour after the hanging disclosed a melancholy spectacle, the bodies hanging still and cold, both facing toward the west about four feet apart," says a July 30 article in the weekly Free Press newspaper of Redding.

It was the chilling finale to a saga filled with archetypes of the American West — a stage robbery, stolen loot, the capture and jailing of suspects and finally their lynching by angry townsfolk.

And some say it was the mob hanging — the county's last — that assured the infamous Ruggles brothers' place in local legend.

The night of the hanging about 40 armed men marched to the Redding jail and broke out John and Charles Ruggles. The two were hanged for robbing a stagecoach and shooting to death Amos "Buck" Montgomery, who had been guarding the stage.

The men were killed before they could enter a plea in the case, much less sit through a preliminary hearing or a trial based on evidence of whether they committed any crimes.

But justice had been fairly meted out, the newspaper wrote in an editorial.

"It was a disagreeable job, but under the circumstances appeared to be necessary for the public good and is an example to the courts," says the July 30, 1892 editorial.

Although the brothers never received a trial, it is widely accepted they were guilty. But would they have been found innocent in court?

"Absolutely not," said Pat Gavigan of Redding, an amateur historian who has done extensive research on the holdup and lynching.

There was ample evidence to convict them of murder and robbery, as well as overwhelming community anger toward the pair, Gavigan said.

"When a couple guys get lynched like that there has to be a lot of animosity and hatred," Gavigan said. "Hell, back in those days if you stole a horse you could be lynched."

Retired Shasta County Superior Court Judge Richard B. Eaton said he believes the Ruggles brothers would have either pleaded guilty or been convicted.

"He himself never denied he was the robber," Eaton said of John Ruggles.

Apparently no law enforcement investigative reports of the robbery have survived. But a detailed newspaper account of the lynching says John Ruggles offered to divulge the location of the stolen loot if the move would free his brother.

"Spare Charley and I will tell you," John Ruggles was quoted as saying.

The vigilantes refused the deal, instead hanging the brothers at a blacksmith's shop at the northwest corner of Shasta Street and the railroad tracks.

The stage was robbed late in the afternoon on May 14, 1892, as it headed east on what is now Middle Creek Road, between Redding and Shasta.

Accounts of what happened that Saturday vary, but these are the general facts in the case:

The wagon from Weaverville was carrying driver John Boyce and passenger George Suhr. Montgomery rode inside the coach.

As they came to a sharp curve in the road a man wearing a long coat and a red bandana over his face stepped out from the manzanita brush and ordered the stage to stop.

The man leveled a shotgun at the driver and passenger and ordered the driver to throw down the strong box. After Boyce threw down the treasure, Montgomery then fired from inside the stage, hitting the masked gunman in the face and upper body.

As the gunman went down he fired, hitting Suhr and Boyce in the legs with buckshot. Just then another gunman opened fire from the nearby hillside, firing three shots into the coach and seriously wounding Montgomery.

The team of horses then bolted, leaving the two gunmen with the strong box.

Reports of how much gold was stolen vary from as little as $3,800 to as much as $75,000.

Montgomery died later on the same day of the robbery. Charles Ruggles was found in the area of the robbery the next day, badly wounded. John Ruggles was arrested at a restaurant in Woodland on June 19.

Although Charles was held in jail for more than two months and John more than a month, the two were never brought to court to face charges, Eaton said.

But the Ruggles brothers' deaths haven't ended the story.

Gavigan, 44, said he has done research on the incident since he was 17 years old and has given half a dozen speeches on the issue to community groups.

"It was fascinating. This story has everything there is to make a great movie," Gavigan said.

All the bits of history he has dug up about the incident have breathed life into the story and the people involved. For example:

After the shooting, John Ruggles fled to his aunt's house in Woodland. But after telling her he had robbed a stage and killed a man she kicked him out and reported him to the local sheriff, Gavigan said.

After arresting Ruggles at a Woodland restaurant the sheriff asked the fugitive if he recognized him. Ruggles didn't remember him, so the sheriff reminded him they attended elementary school together.

The brothers' father was a well-known and respected Tulare County resident who had high hopes for his son Charles, who had attended college and committed no crimes before the shooting, Gavigan said.

But the father had little hope left for John Ruggles, who had served time in prison for a previous robbery. John Ruggles had apparently corrupted his little brother by drawing him into the stage robbery scheme, Gavigan said.

The father came up to Redding from Tulare County to visit his sons in jail. And when the elder Ruggles saw Charles wounded, barely able to speak and behind bars for murder and robbery, he broke down and cried at what had become of his youngest son.

George Albro, the jailer who had faced the lynch mob and watched as they blew open the safe holding the jail keys, worked 75 years for Shasta County, Gavigan said.

Redding residents were driven to lynch the brothers for two reasons, Gavigan said. The Ruggles had concocted a story claiming stage guard Montgomery was in cahoots with them. And women in the town were lavishing attention on the two robbers.

"The handsome brothers were held in the Redding jail, and while they were pampered by local ladies, who brought flower bouquets, cakes, fruits, and even offers of marriage, which supposedly prompted their speedy hanging by local males," Dottie Smith wrote in her Dictionary of Shasta County History.

While the brothers' saga ended with their deaths, two mysteries surrounding the robbery and lynchings have endured.

Many claim the stolen gold still may be hidden somewhere in Shasta County, and the identities of the members of the lynch mob have never been revealed.

"It was kept quiet for years and years afterwards. No one ever wanted to talk about it," Gavigan said of those involved in the lynchings.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Ruggles brothers' hanging one of Redding's most notorious crimes