Near Sacramento, California, accused murderer kills his three guards and escapes

William Wells was accused of the robbery-murder in April, 1860 of a man in Sacramento and arrested in Nevada in July.  During his transport by wagon back to Sacramento, he slipped his handcuffs during the night, stole a revolver and killed all three of the men assigned to guard him.  He fled the scene and was never recaptured but was rumored to have been killed by a fellow gang-member in 1864.  (By John Osborne)