The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1851-04-15
Lynching in California.


The San Francisco papers of the 4th ult..
give the particulars of a lynching affair which
took place at Sacramento City on the 9Th
February. and which had caused the great
est excitement IN The whole community:
A young man, miner, got into quarrel
win gambler named Frederick J. hoe, III
well known gambling hell. The gambler
grievous!y and unprcyokedly insulled the
miner; the latter struck him IN the face. A
fight ensued; Roe had the worst oil 1t. His
iell0w-gamblerS Joined in, and all together
fell Oh The miner.
Mr.. Chas. Ii. Myers, blacksmith, pass
ING by, Interlered To save Roe. He struck 10
one, out succeeded in drawing oil Roe. who
drew Colts revolver, aud hred at Myers, as
the latter was running away. The ball hit
Myers In the back OF the head and lodged
there. Myers fingered about four hours and
died ct = O'Clock. Roe, it appears. had been
drinking and irolicklng the night previous.
He was Immediately arrested by the city
Marshal and placed in jail. An immense
crowd soon assembled. filled with Indignation
and determined 10 inilict immediate punish
ment. A meeting was organized, char
man appointed, twenty-five persons were
deputed To aid in guarding the prisoner, and.
alter several citizens had made Intellectual
attempts TO dissuade The people from their
purpose. commitie was appointed TO inves-
tigale the facts. Myers was SOBER indus
trlous man. from Columbus, Ohio, where he
leaves family.
The committee met at the Orleans House
at O'Clock T.. NJ. A Judge and sheriff were
appointed, together with counsel for the pris-
ouer.
Alter the witnesses for and against Roe
had been examined, the committee unani-
mously came 10 line verdict that ''F. J. Roe
shot e. II. Myers"
On The outside the Marshal addressed the
crowd, protesting against the course they
were pursuing. and insisting that the prison.
er should rot be taken'irom custody until he
was tried by court of law. Only three or
four persons answered this appeal lavorably;
the crowd loudly called for vengeance on the
murderer
A committee was appointed to wait on the
Jury, 10 see what they were doing, and to re-
move the lawyers from the room where the
investigation was going on. The lawyers
.. were removed and additional guards placed
over the prisoner. Finally, in response TO
several addresses, the crowd decided to take
the prisoner by force from the iail, and hang
him. Despite the remonstrances of the off
GERS oil justice, the immense crowd, now rous-
ed TO the utmos, fury AMI excitement, rushed
10 the Jail, drove away the sheriff and his
posse: broke open the cell, seized on Roe, and
carried him away 10 the place of execution.
4 he doomed man gave his name and ms
age, twenty years. He was born in Eng
land, where his mother and sisters now re-
side.' He WAS entirely Frustrated. A scat
folding erected unuer tile trees was occupied
by the prisoner. the marshal appointed by
tie crowd, and a clergyman.
1t was now after . o'clock at night Il
rope was procured aud the prisoner provii d
with n class Of water. lie stated that he
had done the deed in {. moment of passion
and had nothing to say for himself.
The crowd to witness the solemn scene
numbered not less than ) 600. The rope was
thrown over limb, a handkerchief adjusted
over the prisoners head. his hands and feet
tied. Alter the clergyman's duties were
over, the unhappy man was launched into
eternity, amid profound silence that per
vaded the great multitude. As he was
drawn up lie uttered a groan and said: LORD
=! have mercy on my soul.' His body was de
livered 10 his friends.
Myers was buried few days afterwards
with the lnost impressive ceremonies. The
citizens attended generally, the stores were
shut and after tic funeral. a subscription was
raised Tor funds for the relief Of his family.