The first South County murder of note was on Dec. 12, 1884.

It was allegedly committed by the Rev. James Wells, a Ripon school teacher.

And it led to the construction of the San Joaquin County’s second courthouse.

The events leading up to the Ripon murder started three years earlier in Illinois.

The victim, Phillip Finch, at one time was engaged to Wells’ half sister, Helen Markham.

All three lived in Illinois before moving to Ripon.

Wells, based on testimony, did not approve of Finch marrying Markham.

Evidence was introduced at the trial that accused the couple of “behaving like man and wife” while living in Illinois

Wells, after the three moved to Ripon, offered to be friends with Finch if he promised to marry his half-sister.

Things were peaceful for several weeks. Then during the next two years, the two men crossed paths a number of times in Ripon during which words were exchanged.

The shooting happened at 4 p.m. on Dec. 12, 1884.

Finch was coming up the railroad tracks.

At about the same time, Wells left the schoolhouse. Wells motioned Finch, with his left hand, to keep to the left.

Finch stepped in front of Wells, drew both hands from his pockets, and stood in front of him with a gun.

In three or four seconds, witnesses testified, Wells fired and Finch dropped to the ground. Finch started to get up, and Wells fired again and again.

Ripon farmer Thomas Frederick took the 38-caliber weapon from Wells while other witnesses carried Finch into a nearby store where he died 30 minutes later.

The trial ran for nearly three months.

The jury then deliberated for more than 24 hours with no verdict.

That led to the court placing bail at $25,000. “Wealthy and willing friends,” according to news reports, gathered the funds needed and Wells was released.

Wells and his sister returned to Illinois.

The trial caught the attention of much of those in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

It attracted such a crowd during its three-month course at the original courthouse built in the early 1850s that the courthouse, due to the crowd, was found to be structurally unsafe.

After a delay of several days, the trial was moved to the Masonic Hall in Stockton.

That prompted the county to start work to construct a new courthouse.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com