Supreme court of the United States. No. 135. The United States, appellants, vs. John A. Sutter. Appeal from the District court U.S. for the Northern district of California.

The United States vs. Sutter. 29
Questions by Governor McDougal, att'yfor claimant.
1st question. What are your name, age, and place of residence?
Ans. Parson B. Reading; my age is 36 years; and I reside at
Shasta county, California.
2d question. Are you acquainted with John A. Sutter? and if yea,
when did you become acquainted with him?
Ans. I am acquainted with him, and have knowrr him ever since
the fall of 1843.
3d question. Where did he reside?
Ans. At Sutter's fort, in the present city of Sacramento.
37 4th question. Do you know whether in 1843 Captain Sutter
occupied and resided on his present farm, known as the Hock
Farm, on the west side of Feather river?
Ans. I know that he occupied it, but do not know that he resided
on it. There was on it at the time a good adobe house, house of the
vaqueros, corrals, and all improvements necessary for conducting a
raricho. It was also well stocked with large numbers of cattle and
horses.
5th question. Was that place generally reputed at that time to be
a part of Capt. Sutter's grant?
Ans. It was. It has also been occupied by him ever since; either
himself or some one representing him.
6th question. Did Capt. Sutter hold any office, civil or military?
Ans. lie was acting as alcalde, and also held a commission as captain in the service of Mexico. under Gov. Micheltorena. In the winter of 1844-' 5 he organized a company of foreigners, principally Americans, and with them and Indians, to the number of about one hundred, he marched to join Governor Micheltorena in actual service.
This was done under orders of Gov. Micheltorenl. There was at
that time an attempt at a revolution, and the Californians were in
arms for the purpose of driving him from the coullnly. In the expedition he was reputed to be taken a prisoner at tile i,: ttle of Cohaenga.
I was in command at Fort Sutter at that time, an:d received official
notice of that fact.
PEARS'ONi B. READING.
Mr. Greenhow, associate law agent, was presen t the taking of this
deposition, but declined asking any questions.
Subscribed and sworn befo:e me, at San Fr>:T':ci~io, Oct. 6th, 1853.
ALPHEUI> 3FELCH, Com'r.
Filed in office October 6th, 1853.
GEBL. FISHER, Sec'y.
Recorded in Ev. B,, vol. 2, page 706.
GEO. Fi jSER, Sec'y.