Born in St. Lukes Parish and educated as a physician, B.S. Screven joined with a group of Georgians for the California gold mines overland in 1849 leaving his recent pregnant wife behind. He became prosperous and returned home once promising to bring his wife & child to California, but Screven returned alone to Mariposa County where he enjoyed a good practice and made money in mining and speculating.
Screven became involved in a scandal when he seduced the wife of Charles Scoville Peck, a local clerk and miner, who ran for public office. The Pecks became estranged resulting in Mr. Peck confronting the doctor on his return to Mariposa in Mt. Ophir at Miller's Hotel. Peck shot first and a barroom brawl & shooting resulted in Screven's death. He had been Mariposa County's first Coroner, but there is no evidence that Screven's body was ever returned to the county seat. More than likely his body was quickly buried under one of the many foothill oak trees that dominated the landscape at this now-lost California ghost town.
When Screven's wife learned of the murder, she appointed her brother, an attorney, as administrator of the estate. They then learned that Screven's estate valued at over $14,000 contained multiple notes to the brothers of Mrs. Peck in excess of $10,000. The grand jury of Mariposa County refused to indict Peck for the murder.
Screven became involved in a scandal when he seduced the wife of Charles Scoville Peck, a local clerk and miner, who ran for public office. The Pecks became estranged resulting in Mr. Peck confronting the doctor on his return to Mariposa in Mt. Ophir at Miller's Hotel. Peck shot first and a barroom brawl & shooting resulted in Screven's death. He had been Mariposa County's first Coroner, but there is no evidence that Screven's body was ever returned to the county seat. More than likely his body was quickly buried under one of the many foothill oak trees that dominated the landscape at this now-lost California ghost town.
When Screven's wife learned of the murder, she appointed her brother, an attorney, as administrator of the estate. They then learned that Screven's estate valued at over $14,000 contained multiple notes to the brothers of Mrs. Peck in excess of $10,000. The grand jury of Mariposa County refused to indict Peck for the murder.
Born in St. Lukes Parish and educated as a physician, B.S. Screven joined with a group of Georgians for the California gold mines overland in 1849 leaving his recent pregnant wife behind. He became prosperous and returned home once promising to bring his wife & child to California, but Screven returned alone to Mariposa County where he enjoyed a good practice and made money in mining and speculating.
Screven became involved in a scandal when he seduced the wife of Charles Scoville Peck, a local clerk and miner, who ran for public office. The Pecks became estranged resulting in Mr. Peck confronting the doctor on his return to Mariposa in Mt. Ophir at Miller's Hotel. Peck shot first and a barroom brawl & shooting resulted in Screven's death. He had been Mariposa County's first Coroner, but there is no evidence that Screven's body was ever returned to the county seat. More than likely his body was quickly buried under one of the many foothill oak trees that dominated the landscape at this now-lost California ghost town.
When Screven's wife learned of the murder, she appointed her brother, an attorney, as administrator of the estate. They then learned that Screven's estate valued at over $14,000 contained multiple notes to the brothers of Mrs. Peck in excess of $10,000. The grand jury of Mariposa County refused to indict Peck for the murder.
Screven became involved in a scandal when he seduced the wife of Charles Scoville Peck, a local clerk and miner, who ran for public office. The Pecks became estranged resulting in Mr. Peck confronting the doctor on his return to Mariposa in Mt. Ophir at Miller's Hotel. Peck shot first and a barroom brawl & shooting resulted in Screven's death. He had been Mariposa County's first Coroner, but there is no evidence that Screven's body was ever returned to the county seat. More than likely his body was quickly buried under one of the many foothill oak trees that dominated the landscape at this now-lost California ghost town.
When Screven's wife learned of the murder, she appointed her brother, an attorney, as administrator of the estate. They then learned that Screven's estate valued at over $14,000 contained multiple notes to the brothers of Mrs. Peck in excess of $10,000. The grand jury of Mariposa County refused to indict Peck for the murder.
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