Table of Contents

THE SANCHEZ FILE, Chapter Eleven

The Evasive Mrs. Roach

The next witness was Roach's wife, Margaret. She was not required to appear in court and her deposition was taken at her home.

How much money has Mr. Roach received as guardian of the Sanchez children?

I do not know.

Do you know that Mr. Roach has been loaning out money?

No, I do not.

At the time you moved in from Carmel Valley to Monterey was the iron safe moved in also?

It was not.

Has the safe been in your Monterey house since that time?

No.

Do you know where the safe is at this time?

I do.

Is there any money in it at this time?

I do not know.

Is this safe in your possession or under your control?

No, it is not.

Who has the key to that safe?

I am not disposed to answer.

Since Mr. Roach went to Stockton has there been any money or
property in your possession belonging to him?

No.

Has any money been paid to you by Mr. Munk or any other person on account of Mr. Roach since the 3rd of August 1854.

I am not disposed to answer.

Is there any money or other property belonging to the heirs of Jose Maria Sanchez concealed or secreted in your Monterey house or premises adjoining it within your knowledge.

Not that I know of.

Have you ever aided or assisted Mr. Roach to dispose of, or conceal any part of the said money or property?

I do not wish to answer that question.

Margaret Roach on the tough questions either was not disposed to answer, or did not wish to answer.  Evidently witnesses did not state they were taking the fifth amendment in those days; but they knew how to use it.

Obviously she knew a lot more about the missing money than she was saying. With no evidence she was not charged with aiding her husband in concealing the estate's money.

The interrogation of Munk and Mrs. Roach ended on December 26, 1854 and three days later Judge Rumsey found Roach guilty of all charges. Rumsey ruled that Roach was an unfit and improper person to serve as guardian and he was removed from the post. The man who had been appointed receiver of the estate, Lewis Belcher, is appointed guardian.

 D.W. Perley, estate attorney, wrote a letter to Roach on January 10, 1855, giving him the probate court decision. Roach was to pay the heirs $70,651 plus interest at one percent a month from October 20, 1853 to the date of judgment. The amount totaled $84,500. Sheriff Aaron Lyons was told to sell Roach's assets if he continued to refuse to pay. This order was served on Roach in the Stockton jail.

Shortly after receiving the order Roach escaped.

In an audacious move, he stopped in his flight long enough to be interviewed by a newspaper reporter for the San Joaquin Republic! The story was reprinted in the San Francisco Placer Times.

The Flight of William Roach

A correspondent of the San Joaquin Republic said he had a long conversation with Mr. William Roach on the evening before at the San Luis Ranch near Pacheco Pass and that Roach informed him he would take his departure for the Eastern States at the first opportunity.

Roach said he took the road through French Camp, then to the Stansilaus River, where he forded the San Joaquin. He then took across the plains to the coast range and up along the foothills until he reached the San Luis Ranch where he arrived about 4pm.

Roach spoke very freely of the affair. Told his name, length of time he remained in prison and also said he expected there was a reward for his capture.  Roach said he had plenty of horses along the road and also plenty of men who were his friends and who would stand by him to the last. He did not give any info as to  who helped him escape.

Roach, of course, had no plans to depart for Eastern states, but he wasn't about to tell the reporter he was heading back to Monterey.
According to published accounts Roach made his escape with the aid of his guard in the Stockton jail, the enigmatic Franklin Foote.

As the story goes, Roach became ill after many months in jail and finally called for Terry and Henry Sanford. He tells them that if he is released from jail he will tell them where the money is hidden in Monterey. Terry replies he must give up the money first before he is released.

Roach then writes a note to his wife telling her to give the money to Terry.
Leaving the jail cell with the note, Terry turns to Roach and says, "Roach, you'll never get out of here, you can rot in Hell first."

(One of the problems with this story is why Roach didn't notify Judge Creaner he would turn over the money he had embezzled. Creaner had told Roach he would be released when he did so.)

After Terry leaves, Roach tells Foote what has happened. Over the months Foote had come to like Roach and now believed he was getting a raw deal from Terry.

Seizing on what he saw as his last chance, Roach struck a bargain with Foote, "Get me out of here and if you can beat Terry to Monterey half the money is yours." Foote agrees and Roach gives him a new note to his wife, telling her to ignore the one she will receive from Terry. Foote finds a horse with speed and endurance and leaves Stockton at 3 o'clock in the morning. Roach is too weak to go with him and hides out in Stockton until he is able to travel. Riding day and night Foote rides the 120 miles from Stockton to Monterey and is able to beat Terry.

March 15, 1855

Arriving at Roach's house he gives the note to Mrs. Roach who immediately calls for her brother, Jerry McMahon. She gives him the keys to Roach's safe and he takes out thousands of dollars in gold dust and $20 gold pieces. McMahon hides the treasure, but neglects to tell Mrs. Roach where he had put it.

When Sanford and Terry got to the Roach house they nearly wreck the building searching for the gold; frustrated that Foote had beaten them to Monterey. Sanford leaves and goes to get a room at the Washington Hotel, where Encarnacion awaits him.

After all the excitement McMahon decides he needs a drink and also heads for the Washington Hotel and the bar. Fate or Malpaso, walk along with him.
Leaving his wife in their hotel room Sanford goes downstairs to the bar with his brother-in law, H. Atwood.

A few minutes later McMahon and some of Roach's friends walk in and come face to face with Sanford. The two enemies exchange words, guns are drawn, and simultaneous shots ring out. Both men fall dead within a few feet of each other.

Atwood races upstairs to his room with Roach's men after him.  They yell at him to "come out shooting." Knowing he would be killed and not willing to face the pain of what might not be instant death, Atwood puts his gun in his mouth and pulls the trigger. This is the only account of Atwood ever mentioned and what he might have done to incur the enmity of Roach is not known. Perhaps being a relative of Sanford's was enough.

The Malpaso roster of death had registered its first victims and Encarnacion Ortega is a widow for the third time.

Chapter Twelve