The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-21 00:00:00

have them—never fear—itthe remark, hurriedly and energetically made, "We
thundering shout of wild congratulation announced
that the people below were as fully bent upon wit-
is all right ln and a
nessince justice done as their representatives in the
chambers above. A few of the committee then dashed
out the glass above the door of the southern chamber,
and one of their number mounted into the opening,
holding one end of a rope. Dexterously clinging
to
the clapboards on the outside he managed to pass the
rope through the block, and returned with the two
ends to the floor. Both doors cf the committee-
rooms were then closed, the fatal ropes inside.
It was now within fifteen minutes of three P.M ,
seventeen minutes only having been spent in rescuing
the priso9ers from the gaol, conveying them to the
rooms,. and completing the preliminaries of their
execution. The great, dense, agitated crowd that
covered the roofs, and clung by dozens to the sides of
all the adjoining houses and packed the streets,
darkened the walls, and filled the rigging and boats
along the docks, presented an awful and imposing
spectacle of excited, impatient, and resolute mankind.
Ten thousand faces were upturned, and every eye was
fixed upon the doors of the committee-chambers. The
vast concourse was stilled almost to the hush of death;
but this was only for a few seconds. Two minutes
only had passed after the ropes were draim in, and
already the crowd showed symptoms of impatience.
The first murmur had scarcely arimen,however, when
the doors of both chambers were simultaneously
jerked open, presenting to view each of the pri-
soners, half-surrounded at each door by mem-
bers of the committee. A terrific shout rent
the air. The multitude tossed to and fro; above all,
amid all, calmly but sternly stood "ttee band of the
Brothers of Vigilance, and in their hands the fainting,
drooping, gasping criminals, their arms pinioned and
their feet secured. The rope was about their necks,
their coats having been removed, and they stood aghast
and trembling in the brief second of lifetime allowed
them to confront the stormy sea of human beings
spread out far below them. Another second of time,
and they were tossed far out into space and drawn
like lightning up to the beam's end. Both were exe-
cuted at one and the same instant, the signal being
given throughout the chambers, and the members
rushing back with the rope until the culprits each had
been dragged to the block, and hung almost motion-
less by the neck. Then a few convulsive throbs, and
the names of M'Kenzie and Whittaker were but empty
words—their tabernacles of flesh cold in " obstruction's
apathy."
While they were hanging, the crowd below vented
in whisper, and some of the more thoughtless in
shouts, their approval. One or two of the committee
very indecorously appeared at the threshold from
which the poor wretches had the instant before passed
into eternity, and seemed to recognise acquaintances
among the populace, exhibiting very little reverence
for the sacredness and solemnity of death, to say the
least. Maeezie was attired in gray_ pants and a
coarse shirt, and was hung from the beam in front of
the northern room of the committee. While being
dragged to the fatal spot from the further end of the
room he manifested an overwhelming fright and
terror. His face was pallid, his eyes upturned, bis
hair seemed to stand out from the scalp, and every
fibre of his flesh quivered and seemed to clutch ex-
istence. Whittaker was snore apathetic and un-
moved. He was cleanly dressed, and much the best
looking man of the two. M'Kenzie exhibited a
countenance, when brought up to the door, that
few who looked upon it wilt ever forget. The spec-
tators turned away from the bodies while swinging
in the air, and the great crowd began to disperse,
slowly, silently, solemnly. Numbers of men were
continually arriving on the ground as the earliest
corners took their departure. Over 15,000 people
probably visited the place of execution during the
afternoon.

The bodies, after barging 40 minutes, were taken
down, and it being foiled that life still remained in
the body of Whittaker, it vas again suspended from
the beam. Twenty minutes thereafter it was again
cut down, and then, we understand, the coroner was
admitted to hold his inquest. But two or three wit-
nesses were examined at the inquest. The physicians
present decided that the necks were not broken, and
the jury returned the following verdict :
" In according with the testimony, the jury, after
deliberate consideration, have come to the conclusion,
and accordingly render their verdict, that Samuel
Whittaker and Robert Klienzie came to their deaths
by being hanged by the neck, thereby producing
strangulation, by the act of a body of citizens styling
themselves the Vigilance Committee of San Fran-
cisco, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 24, at
about three o'clock, in front of the Vigilance Com-
mittee-room, on Battery-street, near California-
street, from the second story thereof. (Signed)—
THEODORE PAYNE, JAMES lIAGAN, J. SLOCUM, JOHN
C. WRISWOLD, W. M. MocatE, JAMES 11. WINGATE.
—E. GALLAGHER, Coroner."
LYNCHING IN SACRAMENTO.
In Sacramento city,.also, a similar excitement took
place, growing out of the reprieve, by Governor
M'Dougal, of Robinson, one of the highway robbers
condemned with two others
to be executed. The
people took charge of the prisoner, and, aftei the
officers of the law had fulfilled their duties upon the
two others, proceeded to execute him. Governor
M'Dougal was burnt in effigy,
resolu-
tions, requested to resign.
The Sacramento Union, of August 23, gives the
following particulars : and, in public
By daylight yesterday morning, teams, horsemen,
and pedestrians were seen pouring into the city from
every direction, and at an early hour the city was
crowded with miners and strangers from the country,
who bad come in to witness the execution of the three
culprits, Thompson, Gibson, and Robinson. Soon
after 9 o'clock a rumour ran through the city that a
respite of Robinson's sentence had been received from
the Governor, and that the day of his execution was
to be postponed until the 19th day of September.
Almost immediately a meeting of citizens was or-
ganized at the Orleans Hotel, of which Dr. Spalding
was chairman and Dr. Bryerly secretary. Mayor
Hardenbergh appeared, and requested to know
if he was to be exonerated from all blame
and freed from all responsibility on leaving
the prisoners in the hands of the sheriff. Judge
Sackett moved that a committee be appointed by the
chair to report resolutions expressive of the sense of
the meeting. The following gentlemen composed the
committee :—Messrs. Sackett, Milne, Stiles, Scran-
ton, Fay, and Winans. The committee reported as
follows :—" That the mayor is not required by law,
and would not be justified in relieving the sheriff of
any responsibility attaching to that officer." Re-
solved,—" That the city authorities are hereby re-
commended to place all the prisoners under sentence
in the hands of the proper officer,"

As the hour for the execution drew nigh, the crowd
around the station-house became immense, and there
was evidently a fixed determination in the minds of
the populace that the prisoner Robinson should suffer
the same penalty as the other two culprits, and that,
too, in spite of the governor's proclamation. Sheriff
Ben M'Cullough then mounted a cart and commenced
reading the document forwarded by the Hon. John
11I'Dougal, the crowd continually crying out, "Hand*
the rascal !" "He's the worst of the lot!" " String
him up!" " Lynch him !" tic." The Stark Guards
at this time marched down K-street to Second•street,
wheeled about, and formed a square in front of the
station-house. The Sheriff, after reading the
reprieve, ordered the two prisoners Gibson
and Thompson to be taken to the place
of execution, and likewise cornman,i,d the
ebrreought out " Guards" to convey the prisoner Robinson to
about the sta-
the prison brig. The two former were then placed in
a waggon, with their arms securely pinioned, and
driven rapidly off in company with the officers to the
scaffold. The crowd rushed after, and in a few mo-
mtioenn-thsosucsaer.cel
hundredYThae'
Rc-
binson, and attempted to convey him to the prison
brig, but were compelled, at the corner of Second,.
street, to deliver their prisoner to the people who
Guar
"Guards"
persons
the
then
placed him in a cart, and thus surrounded by' the
" Guards " they were escorted to a grove near the
place where the scaffold was erected. Very few of
that immense assemblage knew that Robinson was, at
that early hour, already in the hands of the people. A
committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, was
appointed, and who were to take charge of the execu-
tion of Robinson, after the legal authorities had per-
formed their duty :—Messrs. Beard, Scranton, Milne,
G. Wheeler, Miller, Bayley, Olmstead, Rightmire, N.
Smith, Bond, Barren, INPGilvey, Stiles, C. H. Smith,
Joseph Grant, S. Bruce, Bisco, Freeman, Curtis,
Fowler, Norton, and Conrad.
While these proceedings were going on at the grove
the final preparations for the execution of the unfor-
tunate men Gibson and Thompson were progressing
under the management of the sheriff, at the scaffold,
which was built at the corner of 0 and Fourth streets.
The Catholic clergyman and officers, together with
the prisoners, alone occupied the sceffold. The grave
clothes of the prisoners were then put on, and Thomp-
son, whose real name is I\l'Derinot, came forward and
made a brief confession, which elicited no information
of any great interest. He stated that he was an
Englishman by birth; that he sailed from Manches-
ter, and had committed many robb:ries, but was
never guilty of murder. He was
particularly severe
Nall® sae k• e , •
r mg of Aownsoo, but would not inform

At the moment the cord was cut a cry was heard
" Now for Robinson." The shout went up from
the dense throng—" Hang the scoundrel !" "Bring
him here !" " Let him hang toe !" The scene which
followed was the most terrific we ever witnessed.
The thronging crowds rushed for the station-house in
the greatest excitement, Bnd on all sides was heard
the same thrilling cry, " Hang the rascal !" A gen-
tleman came forward upon the platfz,rm, and an-
nounced that Robinson was upon the ground, and as
soon as the bodies of Gibson and Thompson were
cut down would be brought forward to meet his
doom. Colonel Grant also addressed the crowd, and
stated that the prisoner deserved richly to die, and
that he was happy to see that the public coincided
with him.

In the meantime the sheriff, having performed his
duty efficiently and faithfully, retired from the scene,
as did also the officers with whom he was connected.
Too much praise cannot be awarded this officer for the
manner in which he has conducted himself in the
responsible position in which he has been placed. He
summoned early in the morning hundreds of citizens
to assist him ; but, as might be expected, scarcely a
man could be found who would volunteer his services.
He therefore ordered the Stark Guards to conduct
the prisoner to the prison brig, and, having performed
his duty with reference to the other prisoners he could
do no more.

The muffled drum of the Guards announced that
the culprit Robinson was approaching. The crowd
gave way, the committee with their prisoner slowly
and solemnly ascended the scaffold, and the Guards
formed a hollow square around it below.
Robinson appeared perfectly cool and collected,
and, on being requested to address the crowd, came
forward, and in a clear voice made another confession.
He evidently appeared desirous of creating a sensation,
and accordingly commenced by alleging the grossest
and most unfounded charges against men who stand
high in this community, implicating them in transac-
tions of which there is not the slightest probability
that they were privy to or knew anything of. At all
events, we no not feel ourselves justified on such evi-
dence as this in prociciming to the world that officers
who have heretofore been deemed perfectly upright
and honourable are no better than felons.
After many discontented and incoherent remarks,
in which he attempted to throw the blame of many of
his own acts on others, he concluded by exhorting the
young men present to beware of the company they
keep, and also of the intoxicating cup, which had
caused the ruin of so many.
The Rev. Mr. Benton offered up an exceedingly
fervent and appropriate prayer on behalf of the pri-
soner, and Robinson himself knelt down and invoked
Heaven to have mercy on his soul, and to support his
mother and sisters under the painful affliction which
his dishonourable end would inflict upon them. He
then rose, and with the utmost self-possession and
firmness adjusted his clothes, bared his neck, and
prepared to meet his fate. The fatal noose was ad-
justed, the president severed the rope, and the crimi•
nil dropped below the scaffold. The prisoner being
a very powerful and muscular man, the fall did not
kill him iustantly, as in the case of the others, but
his frame was convulsed and his limbs moved for
some moments after. He breathed for five moments,
and then the body, after hanging for twenty minutes,
was delivered to the undertaker, and decently inter-
red with those of the other prisoners in the City
Cemetery.
Robinson was born in the city of New York in
the year 1819, on East Broadway, and lived in New
York from that time until he was 11 years old.
It was the most exciting day we have ever passed in
the city of Sacramento. The unprecedented and pe-
culiar circumstances connected with the execution of
the culprits, added to the high-wrought curiosity of
the thousands assembled to witness the demonstrations
of the legal authorities on the one hand, and the
greater and more potent authority of the people on
the other, was enough in itself to excite the mind to
its utmost tension. Business was entirely suspended,
the streets were deserted, the city was at the scaffold.
Every house, shed, or elevation from which a view cf
the scaffold could be obtained was crowded with
human beings ; and there must have been 7)000 or
8,000 persons on the ground.

THE NEW OMNIBUS ASSOCIATION, AND

CURIOUS OMNIBUS STATISTICS.

A large meeting of what are called the ‘sitgle-
handed" omnibus proprietors (individuals working
their own carriages and unconnected with the great
companies), took place yesterday evening, at the
Duke of Wellington, Bathurst-street, Argyle-square,
for the purpose of consulting upon the best means of
finding employment for their vehicles now rendered
hors de combat by the closing of the Exhibition ; also
to consider the proposals submitted at a preliminary
meeting last Monday by Mr. Crawford, the originator
of the Hungerford and Camden Town lines, for
choosing new routes, and working them by combina-
tion at reduced fares ; Mr. O'Brien in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by pointing
out that they had a capital already in their heads in
their unoccupied " busses," while no power of mono-
poly could withstand their combined force, working
with the public support for the public accommodation.
After a very practical speech from Mr. CRAWFORD,
the following resolution was unanimously agreed
to :—" That in the opinion of this meeting it was de-
sirable that an association should be formed for the
purpose of working omnibuses on different lines of
road by new routes at reduced fares, for the further
accommodation of the public."
Several proprietors proffered at once their assist-
ance with their omnibuses and stock. It appeared
there are in various parts of London from two to three
hundred omnibuses now laid up in ordinary, each of
which employed from eight to ten horses daily, and
three men, all of whom are paid good wages—the
driver paid from 21. 2s. to 2/. 55., and the conductor
1/. Bs. By the plan of the association any proprietor
can put an omnibus on the new route until twenty
are running, when another route is chosen and filled
up. The first line to be opened is from Bayswater
to Tottenham-court-road, at 2d. ; thence to the
Bank,at 21. The second line, from the Great
Western Railway to the Great Northern Railway,
for 31. ; and from the Yorkshire Stingo to the King's-
cross, for 2d.
Mr. Cox, who stated himself to be unconnected
with omnibuses, except as a passenger, made a very
useful suggestion—namely, that day tickets should
be issued, at 6.1. per day, to be taken half-yearly or
quarterly, whereby passengers could travel anywhere
on the various lines for the day at that one fare.
The association may now be considered as fairly
started, and the following rules have been agreed upon
for its internal regulation
That all the omnibuses be painted one uniform
colour, each omnibus to have the name of " Craw-
ford's Association" painted in large letters on the side
panels. That the coachmen and conductors wear a
coat as nearly of one colour as possible, which will
he furnished them by the Association for the sum of
it. lOs. That all money be paid into the office of the
Association every evee jog. '
Mr. CRAWFORD then entered into a statement of the
expenses and profits of each omnibus per day, week,
month, and year, together with the per centage per
annum. The expense of one omnibus per day is, it
appeared, 21. Os. 9d., and the receipts 3/., calculating
that each omnibus, with its ten horses, will travel sixty
miles daily, and is licensed to carry twenty-four pas-
sengers, and to obtain one half, or twelve passengers,
at 2d. each per journey. The profit of half full is
thus 193. 33. a day ; at two-thirds full, 1/. 198. 3d.
at three-fourths full, 21. Os. 3d.; and full, 3/.195. 3d
giving to the first on the working of 100 omnibuses
a profit of 30,035/. per annum ; on the second,
and on the fourth,
66,435/. ; on the third, 84,635/. ;
139,236/.

DISCOVERY OF TUE DEAD BODY OF A CIIILD.—
On Saturday an inquest was held bcfur.!.. Mr. Wakley, at the
Angel Tavern, high-street, St. Giles's, on the body cf a
newly-born female child. From the evidence it appeared that
a Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were passing through the passage of
their house, No. 12, Parner's-street, St. Giles's, between
twelve and one o'clock in the morning, when Mr. Sullivan
stumbled over something, and on procuring a light discovered
it to be the dead body of a child. The jury returned a veri
diet of " Found dead, but from whet ca= there Wag XlO
glawieat eyidoucci t 9 4hONT•''