Excerpts from an article by Bill Wilson, May 10, 1996
Auburn Sentinel
Residence of W.M. Crutcher, Auburn, Placer Co. CA
William McDowell Crutcher was . . .admired socially, and was respected in law
enforcement and in political circles. He also became a prosperous businessman.
The most talked about incident in Crutcher’s life was a shoot-out with the
notorious highwayman Richard “Rattlesnake Dick” Barter and an accomplice in
Auburn on July 11, 1859. A shot meant for Crutcher barely missed, striking and
killing George M. Martin a deputy county tax collector, as Martin sat in a
saddle attempting to draw his gun.
. . .Born in Harbin County, Kentucky, in a portion of the state where everyone
“swore by Henry Clay”, Crutcher’s interest was torn between law enforcement and
a political career. After graduating from the Elizabethtown Academy in
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Crutcher crossed the plains and made his way to
Placerville in 1853. The next year, he began mining at Wisconsin Hill on the
Foresthill Divide where rich diggings were discovered. After mining for three
years, he moved to Iowa Hill and in 1857 settled in Auburn. Crutcher married
Mary Elizabeth Currier, daughter of Associate Justice, John B. Currier of San
Francisco.
Appointed a deputy sheriff by Sheriff Charles King in 1857, Crutcher continued
as a law enforcement officer under Sheriff’s L. L. Bullock and Henry Gooding.
Crutcher was named undersheriff by Gooding in 1867. J. H. Neff defeated Crutcher
in the election for sheriff.
During Crutcher’s career as a deputy sheriff, violence was prevalent in the
county. On June 11, 1857, eight indictments for murder were returned by the
grand jury, making a total of 10 first degree murder cases awaiting trial in the
county. Before the year ended, there four other murders. During the next two
years, there were 14 more homicides.
Appointed sergeant-at-arms of the California Assembly, Crutcher ran as an
Independent two years later and was elected a member of the Assembly, defeating
Republican Daniel Hogins.
In 1885 Crutcher was appointed Deputy Internal Revenue Collector in California
retaining the position during the first term of Pres. Grover Cleveland. When
Cleveland returned to office in 1893, Crutcher again was appointed to the. .
.position and held it until the time of his death.
His home was a residential showplace in Auburn. It was located on a ten-acre
parcel and was surrounded by fruit trees. Water from a spring jointly owned by
George W. Reamer and Crutcher was used to irrigate the orchard. The spring also
supplied water for railroad steam engines passing through Auburn.
Crutcher died in his residence on March 16, 1896 and his funeral was held in his
home. His long-time friends, former Placer County Sheriffs J. C. Boggs and Neff.
G. W. Applegate, T. J. Nichols, M. D. Lininger and A. J. Bailey were
pallbearers. . .