Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-07-26
CALIFORNIA NEWS.

stea'her, and IN large quantities. Owing
to the vast amount of crime which has |
been perpetrated for length of time, a
number Of citizens resolved to take the law
into their own hands. The following is
short sketch of case of terrible and sum-
mary punishment, by Lynch Law, at that
place. a.
This city on the night Of the 10th inst,
was the scene of one of Tee most appalling
tragedies that has eyer been transacted with
in its limits,
About O'Clock on Tuesday night, a man
carrying bag containing something appa-
rently quite heavy, attracted the attention of
the Whitehall boatmen at their station on
Central Wharf, He jumped into boat with
his bag and pulled ou, toward the end of the
wharf But few moments had elapsed be-
fore Mr.. Virgin, gentlemen who keeps a
Shipping Office on the wharf, came down 10
the boat stand in pursuit of person who had
just robbed his Office of small iron safe,
containing a considerable sum of money
[ The man with the bag was at once suspect
ed and number of the boatmen started inn
mediately in pursuit After sharp pull
they eyerAauled him, when he threw his
booty overheard. After very severe strug-
gle one party of boa,men succeeded IN cap
turing him, while another Gshed up the bag,
which proved to contain the stolea safe.
He was conveyed on shore, and at once
taken possession of by some Of the vigilan,
committee, who conducted him promptly TO
their Headquarters, where he was tried in
presence of about eighty members of the
concave sitting with closed doors, by them
convicted and sentenced 10 be hung in the
Portsmouth Square that very night.
About o'clock the doors of the Commite
room were opened, and the condemned was
for the first time presented to The populace.
He was a tell man of very great muscular
developments, and with rather forbdding
countenance. He was smoking cigar,
and appeared rather rale, but composed.-
His arms were pinioned and his hands tied
behind him, while he was surrounded by a
rope thickly manned BY armed men, many
vent his escape. In this manner, followed
by large crowd, he was conducted to the
public square. tiis arrival was announced
with shout and every description of vocf
era,ion-the widest scene of confusion and
excitement prevailing we have witnessed
for loug time. The moon obscured by
clouds shed no light, and the picture presen-
ted was wild and most awful in the ex-
ircme.
Some persons climbed the liberty pole 10
rig a block for The exception, but Il loud
shout of "don't hang him on the liberty poIeH
arose. Voices screamed out, 'o the old
adobe" and rush was made for that edi-
fee, upon the corner of the square, formerly
at once made for the end Of the building, a
block rugged and Z long rope run through
it. In The meantime number Of the Po-
lice, who were on the gronnd, made several
attempts TO obtain possession of the prisoner,
but they were roughly handled and preven-
ted-had they persisted they would have
been riddled with balls. Several citizens
; denounced the execution and SOagld TO aid
5 the Police.
The prisoner by this time was nearly
dead with fear and rough handling, when L
rush made toward him, a moose thrown over
his head, the rope manned by twenty ready
hands, and the heavy form of the convicted
feIon swept through the air and dan9Ied
from the block. A few iearfal struggles, a
quver Of the Eempen cord, few nervous
Witches and the crowd gazed upon the life
) less corpse of him upon whom such speedy
, and terrible vengence had been executed by
an outraged people. AS he swung TO and
fro and turned round and round, Z feeling OF
awe appeared to spread through the crowd,
who could not be otherwise than impressed
by the terrible occurrence. Slowly they
dispersed, but when day broke there were
still many gazing upon the swcl!en, purple
features of The doomed man.
More OF Ir The Washington Union,
referring 10 the fact that the Grand Jury had
found true bills for perjary against Dr.. Gardi-
ner, who is now in Europe, and against bis
brother, in the matter of the Mexican claims,
says:
) eve have heard many complaints against
, the late Mexican board, and of Tie wrong
funess of many of the awards made by it ;
but, as we have no authority TO send for
"persons and papers," we must wait for fur
, rher developments before we can venture to
give currency TO the statements which have
; reachnl Us Cnnnress will lnnhlless sill The