John Richards and Steve Thompson were incarcerated in the California State Prison at San Quentin when the census was taken in June 1900. John was 19 years old; Steve was 21. Their occupations (before they went to prison) are listed as teamster for John and laborer for Steve.

After 1900, I find no more record of Steve Thompson. He disappears. Given a life sentence, he probably spent the rest of his life, whether long or short, at San Quentin. But John Richards’ story continues.

Johnny Richards had garnered some sympathy from the public as a young man led astray by an older and more criminally-minded companion. Annie Bidwell wrote to him while he was in prison. She sent him packages; in 1901 she sent him Aesop’s Fables for Christmas and 25 handkerchiefs in 1905. She sought to get him paroled from prison, and in 1909 she was successful. Her diary tells the story:

1907 Mon Sept 2  [List of letters written] #3 John Richards – San Quentin

1909 Tues., February 2. Letters: 1 From Sister : 2 John Richards about his release on parole from San Quentin. His “papers” had been rec’d. at Prison. Very grateful to me.

Mon., February l5. Events: “John Richards Paroled from San Quentin, to take effect March l st l909” – thus the clerk of the prison wrote me in letter recd. today. Also sends list of clothing he must have and his fare to Chico. Ordered the clothing & fare sent to him, today.

Mon., February 22 Letter from San Quentin Clerk & Receipt for $35.00 which I sent for John Richards’ parole expenses

Tues., March 2. Events: John Richards returned on parole from San Quentin and called on me this A.M. and P.M. Wrote letter to officials notifying same of his arrival & that I would give him continuous work. We held a little service of prayer & thanksgiving.

The Diaries of Annie Kennedy Bidwell, 1888-1896, 1899-1911

John Richards went back to working as a teamster, and might have faded quietly from sight, if it weren’t for his strange and unfortunate death in 1918.

In a wild frenzy, John Richards rushed from his sickbed at the home of Mrs. Ed Martin on Humboldt avenue last night, dashed madly for the Northern Electric Mulberry shops, climbed to the top of a sixty-foot water tank and jumped from the tank to the ground, breaking both is legs in two places, the upper and lower jaw bone and the hip bone. He was unconscious at the Enloe Hospital early this morning. He may die.

Richards, who is thirty-seven years old, is employed by the Chico Ice & Cold Storage Company. About a week ago he was stricken with pneumonia, and the crisis approaching last night, he lost his reason temporarily.

He was discovered at the top of the water tank by Bert Holmes, nigh operator at the Northern Electrics shops.

“What are you doing up there?” queried Holmes as he looked up at Richards on top of the tank, his nightshirt flying in the breeze.

“I’m just taking in the scenery,” retorted Richards, who had climbed to the railing.

Bert Holmes telephoned the police for help, but by the time they got there, John Richards had jumped. He was taken to Enloe Hospital and died the next day. His body was buried at the Chico Rancheria cemetery.

No mention was made in newspaper articles about the crime from eighteen years ago. He had cleared his record. He had a job and a fiancee and the support of friends and family. His illness and death are a sad end to a promising life.