New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-18
Lynch Law In tho g old Diggings.


A correspondent Of the Journal Of Commerce
writing from Nevada City, California, Ian. "a, has
the following:
Some of my previous letters have given you
peep into our election scenes, aud our Acaldes
method of proceeding in civil cases. Here are
one or two instances of a very common mode Of
administering Justice to criminals in our midst.
drunken Englishman, named Divine, MUIR
dered his wife under circumstances OF unusual
cruelty. During their whole residence in George
town, she had supported him and their children
by her own industry. He asked her one morning
for some money to gamble with, but she told him
to wait until he was sober. he rushed across
the room for pistol but she anticipated him and
threw it into bucket Of water. He then leaped
into the street, snatched rifle from the shoulder
of passerby, returned and shot her through the
heart.
1t was Sunday, and as usual the places Of re-
sort were filled by miners, who invariably spend
that holiday in town. The report OF nile in the
street was nothing unusual, but the tale OF horror
flew as only rumor fly, and IN i've minutes the
house was filed. In such a country as ours, and
under such circumstances as these, men act ra-
Their than speak a neighboring Round Tent
Jour gambling houses are often turned into court
rooms on account Of their size) was selected as
the scene of trial. The prisoner was led in, and
then, before word was spoken, another party.
brought in the body of his wife, Just as she fell
was gently laid on a large table near her husband
This sight stung the people into frenzy No one
thought of wasting words in trial The prisoner
was seized and hurried toward little eminence
overlooking the village, where the moose OF larat
swung significantly from tree.
Just at this moment, man OF great influence
with the people of that vicinity attempted to per
susde them to postpone their design until Coro'
ner's inquest should be held upon the body, and
summary trial, but still trial, had, alter their
verdict. With much difficulty he succeeded, on
condition that the inquest and trial should both
be held upon that day; and, as the Coroner was
at Couma, four O'Clock was given as the last mo-
ment. An express was sent to Columa, and, to
save time, a jury empsnneled, to act instantly
upon his arrival. They sat together in the tent
with the prisoner ard the body. The mob waited
outside, but were not unemployed. A deep pit
was dug at the foot Of the tree and all the solemn
furniture Of the grave prepared.
AS four clock approached, the silence OF the
mob was broken by deep whispers and hoarse
murmurs Rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives were
freely displayed. This did not escape the notice
OF the jury, and they began, not unnatufaly' 20
fear for their own safety. At last when the sun
was low in the west, the mobcould waiE noionger
but tore up the sides Of the tent ana rusnou ~
just in time 10 see the last juryma escaPin5 y
backWay. They went at their task "ISnouH a
word. At the head of long procession Tue muir
derer marcbe d TO his gsllows, and me o0uy VI us
wife was borne close behind him. Inc cnlGren-
thank Heaven were not there out even Ia suaI
stern scene, they were not iorgot'eh' "A smau
box, marked &" For the OrDhGHs, was naiied 20
the tree. and many an ounce was poured lato II
from the purses of those who followed the father
10 his death. ,-.
The bodv of the murdered woman was lowered
into a vide nit and even while the wretched man
gszedupon il. and upon that empty bat significant
box by bis side, the cord suddenly frightened
sround his neck and he swsyed in the air The
mob sat on the hill side and sternly watched
bin.
AT the end of half an hour, he was cut down
and laid in the grave by the side Of his wife. In
five minutes Georgetown was as still as that
lonely grave upon the hill. Not man was to be
seen 10 the streets mo one knew anything oil
that lawless mob
In the evening, the Coroner arrived, and upon
bearing the story, summoned his Jury for morning.
They met at sunrise upon the bill, and stood
around the untitled grave, while the end OF cut
cord danged above their heads They exchanged
a few words, and after lsyiog slip OF paper upon
each OF the bodies proceeded TO fill up the grave.
Upon one of the slips WAS written, Murdered
by - Divine, her husband" and upon the
other Died according TO the will OF God by the
justice Of men,"
Yesterday evening, Doctor Lennox. from Scot
lard, was shot while sitting In his office. This
morning, man who had often mensced his lie,