The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-14 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT SAN FRANCISCO.

James P. Casey and Charles Cora were hung on the
22d of May, by the Vigilance Committee, at half-past 1
o'clock, at the bead-quarters of the Executive Committee,
in Sacramento-street, near Davis. Both prisoners bad
been tried before the committee, or a portion of it, and
had been found guilty. These trials were in secret, and
the reporters of the press were reused admittance, and
were un:.ble to acquire information from these present,
who, as it appears, were sworn to secrecy. A promise
had been made to Casey, before he was taken, that he
shou:d have a fair trial, and be permitted to speak ten
minutes. These conditions were doubtless ob,erved.
Casey was informed, on Weinesday afternoon, that he
had been condemned to be hung. While under charge
of the Vigilance Committee his spirit appeared to be un-
broken. When awakening after a sleep, he would, fre-
quently strike the floor with his handcuffs and swear
fiercely et his fate. On Wednesday afternoon, a young
married woman, his cousin, was pi mated to visit him. '
They had some conversation together. He told her that
he was to be executed, and she swooned on hearing i:;„
During the evening, the Right Rev. Bishop Ailemany
attended Casey, who had been educated in the Catholic
religion. During the night he was restless, and passed
a portion of the night pacing iip and down. He was
heard to exclaim, " On, my GO ! has it come to this f
Must Ibe hung like a dog r Durirg the arse two or
three days I might as well have escaped from the jail as
not, and I only stayed there fir Scannell's sake."
Casey made a will, the particulars of which are un-
known to us. He had considerable property to die-
pose of, estimated by rumour to be worth $30,000.
Casey was thin and pale, and his expression was hag-
gard. .;
His face eppeare.l coarse for the want of
,shaving,
no razor having been allowed him for shaving. Cora
attracted less attention, and conducted himself more
quietly. Report says he was married to his former
mistress, Belle Cora, but the rumour obtains but
little credence. At 8 o'clock, the General Committee was
notified that Casey would be executed at half-past
and ordered to appear under arms. During the morning
preparations were made for the execution. Beams were
run out over two of the windows of the committee-room,
and platforms abort three feet square extending out Un-
der each beam. These platforms were supported 'next
the house by hinges, and outside by ropes extending up s
to the beams. Along the streets, for a considerable dies
tance on each side of the place of execution, were ranged
the committee, more than 3,000 in number, some on foot-.,
with muskets and others on horseback with sabres. No.
outsiders wers permitted to approach within 100 yards..
Beneath the place of execution were several 'cannon and
caissons ready for use if necessary. The houses in the
vicinity were covered with spectators, and in the streets
were collected probably not less than 8,000 or 10,400
preens. At a quarter-past one Casey and Cora were
brought out upon the platforms. The former was at-
tended by the Rev. Father Gallagher. The arms of both
were pinioned at the elbows, and both wore white caps,
intended to be drawn over the eyes before the drop fell.
Cora walked composedly, and stood stiffly, while his
companion addressed the crowd. Casey exclaimed, "Oh,
God, pardon and forgive me. Oh, my mother! my
mother ! I hope she will never hear of this. Oh, God,
have mercy on my mother ; comfort her in her affliction.
Oh, God, have mercy on my soul. Oh, my God ! my
God !I am not guilty of murder—l did not intend to •
commit murder." Some one here said, "It is not neces'
sary to repeat that again." Casey was confused at,this,
and, mentioning the name of his mother again in a low
tone of voice, he drew back. As he did so, the drop •
beneath Cora was withdrawn, and his body fell a dis-
tance of about five feet. He did not move—his neck
was n.. doubt broken by the shock, and there was one
soul less in the land of the living. The rope was ad-
justed around Casey's neok, and ho weakened in the '
knees so that a committeeman had to support him. He
was placed on the platform • a moment afterwards it
fell beneath him. He struggled a little, but at the end
of about three minutes he ceased to move, and he too
was dead.—California Chronicle, May 24.