The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-16 00:00:00

JUSTICE IN CALIFORNIA.

On Saturday night, between 11 and 12 o'clock,
James Wilson made a desperate attempt to escape
from prison. The two prisoners condemned to die
were kept in the second story of a frame building.
Oa Saturday night the keeper went into the adjoining
room where the other prisoners were kept, for the
purpose of replacing a candle which bad burnt out,
and in an instant Wilson sprang to the door, turned
the key, and ran down the steps on the outside of the
house. Another keeper, named John Canavan, who
slept in the same room, and was awakened by the
turning of the key, instantly sprang up, and gilding
the prisoner gone, rushed out and jumped from the
top of the stairs into the street, where he found the
prisoner, who had apparently become confused and
ran against a waggon. The prisoner called out to
his pursuer not to shoot, and the latter, although
unarmed, had little difficulty in securing him. It
appeared that the prisoner bad been furnished with a
small saw, with which he worked at his chain (a
(heavy ox chain) whenever a favourable opportunity
offered, until at length he succeeded in cutting it.
The prisoners were taken to the gallows from the
gaol on the 28th, at two o'clock precisely, and through
a dense concourse of citizens, who lined the whole
way from the gaol to the gallows, conducted to the
spot where they should end their lives. The two men
looked calm and collected. Wilson had a solemn
countenance, while Salkmyer smoked his cigar, and
seemed unconscious of the fearful trip he was taking.
When on the ground, they mounted the platform with
nerve, and faced the crowd without the exhibition of
any emotion. Wilson stood upon the right and Salk-
myer on the left. Wilson made a short exordium in
so faint a voice that we could not hear, but the pur-
port of it was to acknowledge his guilt, and warn
others from a similar fate. Salktnyer made a long
speech, giving his history, and requesting the public
press to do him justice. He denied the offence to the
last. His voice was very firm, and at times he was much
excited, and raised his tone very high. Still there was
no faltering. He spoke freely with those who questioned
him, and at the end returned thanks to those who had
done him any kindness. He said that his conduct
was not dictated by irreverence, but he desired to die
like a man. The Rev. Mr. Wood then addressed the
crowd, and offered up a prayer. The prisoners then
bade adieu to the sheriff and the crowd, and the fatal
naps were drawn over their heads. After the ropes
were adjusted the signal was given, and the drop fell,
rendering unto justice and the grave these young and
early victims. The immense crowd who witnessed
the execution could not have been less than 3,000 people.
Not a row has occurred during the week up to the pre-
sent time. A citizen police guarded the city last night,
and will continue on duty through the coming night. A
gentleman, recently arrived at Coloms, from the
Plains, gives the editor of the News the following ac-
count of a private hanging affair that oame off on
Carson River, on the 26th of September, by an im-
promptu Vigilance Committee :—"John Wilson and
Green Hensley, two men belonging to a train of emi-
grants composed of persons from Michigan and Mis-
souri, had some slight difficulty the day before the train
arrived at the Fourteen-mile Desert, which amounted
merely to words. Some of the company remarked to
Wilson that he had better look out, or Hensley would
shoot. Nothing more was thought of the matter till the
night they crossed the desert. While the party were
preparing their supper, Wilson lay down and went to
sleep, when Hensley approached him, drew his pistol,
and deliberately shot him. Wilson lingered till about
ten o'clock the next day, when he expired. While the
company were engaged in interring the remains of
their murdered comrade, a party of Californians, re-
turninghe t
e lut
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eh e
aSet:et easi ,ectaemd ewuipt
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rieuetier it
enegciene oparned.
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thfoer tphreismenuerrdeare.lecAtiecg-
After hearing all the
circumstances, the jury found him guilty, and Ben-
three and the emigrants three.
cpeorsdediegtoly heav
jeurlylewn
ht eenv
ne
hhei
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et oembpel e
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called, tried
s
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ried into effect. Hensley was from Missouri. Wilson,
weuandefstand, Paper.wasfrom .'
Hillsdale county, Michigan:
—San Francisco

COMMITTAL
---- OFFICER
v OF A RELIEVING FOR MAN-
lon, Huntley
SLAUGHTER.. —On Saturday last, an inquest which had been
adjourned from the 27th ult. was resumed at the Red Lion
deuce Bullock, a young woman, about 17 years of age, re-
aiding at Little London, in the
v before J. Barnett, Esq., on the body of Pin-
died suddenly on the 23d ult. It appears deceased was quite
destitute, and some time before her death, J. Abell, Esq., sur-
geon, of Micheldean, requested Richard White, the relieving
parish of Longhope, who
officer for the Westbury-on-Severn Union, to relieve the de-
ceased, as she was destitute of the common necessaries of life,
and without means of obtaining any. He neglected to do
this, and she died of starvation. The jury, after a short
consul;ation, returned a verdict of manslaughter against
White, and he was committed under the aoroner'a warrant
for trial at She next amizes,—Gloucester Journal.