The Human Wildcat

The notoriety that earned Juan Soto a place in the history of the U.S. West came at the end of his life.  Soto was of mixed Indian and Mexican heritage and became notorious in California as a thief and murderer.  Soto and two other men robbed a store in Sunol, California, on January 10, 1871, killing a clerk and shooting a number of rounds into the living quarters of the store owners, apparently for no purpose at all.  Soto and his men were then tracked by Sheriff Harry Morse and a deputy.  The lawmen followed the outlaws into the Sausalito Valley about fifty miles outside the town of Gilroy.  Morse and the deputy found Soto and a dozen of his followers inside a makeshift hideout.  Soto drew his gun on the sheriff when the lawman told him he was under arrest.  After a short and uneventful skirmish, Morse broke free and pursued Soto outside.  Arriving outside ahead of the lawman, Soto had attempted to mount a horse.  But the animal spooked and ran away leaving the hapless gunfighter behind with nowhere to hide.  Soto ran for some 150 yards before Morse was able to draw a bead on the outlaw.  Even at this significant distance the sheriff’s aim was true, as he nailed the bandit with a single shot.  As Soto, now wounded, ran back toward the sheriff, Morse fired a second shot.  This time, the bullet found its mark, striking the “Human Wildcat” in the head.  Soto died almost instantly.  Read more about Soto and other California bandits in the book Outlaw Tales of California.  Go to www.chrisenss.com for more information.