The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-10
LYNCH LAW In CALIFORNIA.
scenesin Sacramento City-One Man Hanged


George Myers, respectable citizen Of Sacrame
following the occupation of carman or teamster,
was shot down and mortaly wounded by, Frederick
site the Mansion House, corner Of street and the
levee A difficulty had occurred at French
Monte table, which resulted in personal scuihe
between two or three parties. Mr.. Myers, who
happened to be near by at the time, endeayored to
separate the combatants, and succeeded in taking
away Roe from man whom he had most cruelty beat
en-, when the latter drew his revolver and dscharg
ed it, the ball entering the head at the ear, and Gre
ating mortal wound.
Roe was Immediately arrested by the City Mar
shall and placed in the lookup. An immense crowd
speedily congregated, filed with Indignation, and
determined to infct immediate punishment. The
meeting having been organized, and chairman APP
pointed, twenty two persons depued to aid in
guarding the prisoner, and after several Intellectual
attempts by various citizens to dissuadc the people
| from their evident purpose, committee was APP
pointed to investigate the facts, Myers was So
ber industrious citizen from Columbia, Ohio, where
| he leaves family.
The following jury, Cor committee Of inyestiga-
\ tony was selected H. Scranton, j. L. Bayey,
| W: +. Prettyman, DR.. V. Spalding, Ogden Mills,
| J. u. Starr, ID. b. Milne, H. G.. Langley, Dr. Gro
min, p. B. Cornwall, Levi Hermance, Gen. Winn,
/ and Il. u. Wright.
The jury met AZ the Orleans House at three, p.
| VI. Levi Hermancc chosen judge, and Mr..
John Cleal, sheriff. COL kewen appeared as coull-
| sci for the prisoner.
several witnesses were examined for and against
Roe--those for him being mainly gamblers.
| The proceedings Of the committee were frequently
| interrupted by messages from the crowd without,
demanding dispatch and that the lawyers should
be hustled out" as they were only making delay.
The witnesses having concluded, Col. kewen, Roe's
| counsel, said if the committee judged il case of
murder, the law would not.
The then closed for the jury TO dcbc-
rate. The evidence was summed up, and a vote was
| taken as TO whether +. J. Roe shot c. H. Myers |!
Ii was decided unanimously III the affirmative The
| committee then agreed upon and signed report,
simply setting forth the facts of the affair Gas We
| have above stated them).
SCENES OUTSIDE.
| While the committee taking testimony, va
| rous scenes enacted outside.
| Mr.. Cunningham, the Marshal, addressed the
crowd protesting against the course they were pur-
suing. and insisting that the prisoner should not be
| taken from his custody until he was tried by the
courts OF law. lie called all good citizens to aid
him. lie was listened to with great impotence,
however and only three or four gentlemen answered
his call, who were greeted with loud cries of disap
probation, and calls for vengeance upon the pri-
| soner.
\ committee having been appointed to see to the
| safe keeping of the prisoner,
| Mr.. Kightmire addre sscd the assemblage, calling
for vengeance on the prisoner and stating that Myers
| had left wife and four children. He said . lie
| had killent innocent, nofensye man. Cd
| d-n him /; hang him !" Vociferous applause)
The crowd, which had greatly Increased. showing
symptoms of impotence Ut the length Of time occu-
pied by the jury, and Mr. Clymer having said that
| jury sham, committee Of three, consisting Of
Mr.. Rightmirc, DR.. Taylor, and Mr. Woodward,
| were appointed 10 that the prisoner wa safe,
and wait on the jury and sec what kept them SO
| long.
| The committee reported that the prisoner
| safe, and the jury were doing their duty, and re-
| quested that the lawyers who were interfering
might be taken out, as the jury were capable OF
| getting at the testimony without them. The meet
| ing resolved that the lawyers should be removed;
| and amid intense excitement, committee Of some
L IL l.t.t
that purpose. They shortly returned and reported
that the jury bad removed the lawyers Dr. Taylor
recommended the crowd to wait half an hour, and if
the jury did not BY that time decide, be would head
| party TO take the prisoner out and hang him.
| These remarks were greeted with loud cheers.
Then Mr.. Clymer said he believed the committee
OF citizens appointed to guard the prisoner had been
| turned out OF the room where he was.
| This, of course, created great ferment, and a
committee was Immediately appointed, with Dr.
Taylor ut their head, to examine into the matter
Dr. Taylor soon reported that the prisoner was safe
and that a committee of three n sufficient guard.
| Addresses from Mr.. Queen and other citizens
| followed, gentleman, whose name was not
known, saying -" Fellow citizens, the man who
| has been shot las wife and family. The deed
was deliberate cold blooded-the prisoner should
BE- hung. Let those who in favor Of hanging
him say aye. (Ihc very air was rent with the loud
ayc)
Again the crowd grew tired Of waiting, and Mr..
Rightmire and two others, were again deputed to
wait on the jury. Mr.. X. reported that the jury
would probably give their verdict in fifteen minutes.
lie was satisfied decision would be made.
Voccs-Iiow
Mr. Rightmirs-on the right side
Voices-Which is that
The crowd-To hang him-to hang up the muir.
dercr.
Mr.. Clymcr believed the jury would find vcr-
diet Of guilty, and advised them 10 prepare for the
denouement, while Or. Taylor called on them to arm
Themselves, and dcluge the street of Sacramento
with blood if the officers dared to interfere between
the people and the Murderer.
Deputy Sheriff Harris and Judge Sackett ex-
hor,ed to obedience to the laws, and called on
citizens TO aid them in protecting the prisoner, while
DR.. Taylor called on those who wanted TO
justice administered to fall in. lie would lead them.
large portion of the crowd responded by following
the Doctor to J street,
The crowd were, however, urged to moderation by
several speakers, and kept together until o'clock,
when, becoming impatient, another committee was
appointed to wait on the jury, who reported that
they thought there Vas too much indecision, but
recommended patience and moderation to the crowd;
that they should "fr's be sure they were right,
then go ahead
Dr. Taylor still urged immediate action, and was
loudly cheercd, and the crowd shouted " Lett take
him oct, &c"
Mr.. Queen, however, pacifcd them for a time
and until o'clock, when IL announced that the
jsry had found the prisoner guilty, they kept
moderate by reports from the jury, and speeches
from various Individuals.
AFTER THE TRIAL.
Directly il was known that the committee had
agreed upon r'IoIN. lht among Tue
crowd became uncomfortable. and when Mr.. r. y.
Cornwall had finished reading the report from the
front Of the Orleans House, it was Immediately put
20 vote that Roe be hanged, and carried unani-
mou.ly.
After the report Of tho committee read, the
Gro ~d Immediately proceeded, amidst the greatest
excitement and urroar, TO the eaaboosc, dctcrmn-
Cd on taking the prisoners but they were resisted
for mt least hour by the Marshal and his aids.
II was now about nine oclock-thc night was
dark-the muttcrings Of the people deep, yet loud.
some of them rushed 10 an awning. pulled up the
posts. and at once attacked the door Of the station
house With these bsttering-rsms. Soon the door
yielded, being demolished by repeated blows De-
putty sheriff Harris stood in the door way. and
with his posse in the rear. held the crowd at bay
for some tine-remonstrating and threatening.
Finally the crowd in the rear made a rush for
ward, which placed those in the front ranks in
connection with Mr. Harris. when he wa pushed,
josled from his position, and the popuace brought