Marshall claimed that at the time that he discovered gold in the mill's tail-race, Bennett was half a mile away at the house. This version of events is disputed by Stephen Staats, a lifelong acquaintance who was with him at the time, and later wrote a letter to the Oregon Statesman, stating: "In 1847 we furnished Bennett with an outfit and he traveled with us to California.
Marshall's claim that he discovered gold in the mill's tail-race while Bennett was half a mile away at the house is disputed by Stephen Staats, who claims to have been present with Bennett at the time and later wrote a letter to the Oregon Statesman.