Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-12

d
Z The TRTAL-The following Jury (or Committee of
Investigation was selected: J. H. Scranton, j. r..
sa.yyley, " F. Pret'ymann; DR.. Y. spaIdng, Ogden
Mills, J B. Starr, d. B. Milne, H. G. Langley, Dr.,
Cronin, ?. B. Cornwall, Levi Heimance, Gen. Vim
&. G. Wright
The Jury met at Orleans House at P. M, Levi
Hefmance was chosen Judge, and Mr.. John Cleal,
Sheriff. Col. Kewen appeared counsel for the pri-
Isoner
Several witnesses were examined for and against
Roe those for him being mainly gamblers.
The proceedings OF the Committee frequently
interrupted by messages from the crowd without de-
mandng dispatch, and that the lawyers should be
'hused out, as they were only making delay. The
witnesses having concluded, Col. Kewen, Roes
sci, said fthe Committee judges it case OF murder
the law would not.
The room was then closed for the jury 10 deliberate.
The evidence was summed up, and vote taken as
to whether F. J. Roe shot c. H. Myers? 1t was dec-
ded unanimously in the affirmative. The committee
then agreed upon and signed report simply setting
forth the facts of the affair las we have above stated
| them
SCENES OuTsIDE.-While the committee taking
| testimony various scenes were enacted outside.
| MIR. Cunningham, the Marshal addressed the crowd,
protesting against the they pursuing, and
insisting that the prisoner should not be taken from his
| custody, until he tried by the courts OF law. He
called all good citizens to aid him. He was listened
to with greatimpalience, however, and only three or
| four gentlemen answered his call who were greeted
with loud cries fdsapprobaton and calls Tor vengeance
upon the prisoner.
A committee having been appointed to see to the safe
keeping of the prisoner
| II.
vengeance the prisoner, and stating Myers had lett
wife and four children. He said he had killed in
nocent, inofensive man cd d--n him, hang him
| tVociferous apRlause.l
The crowd, which greatly increased, showing symp
toms of impotence at the leng of time occupied by
the jury and Mr. Cymer having said that some thought
the prisoner not safe, and the jury sham, COM
mttee of three consisting OF MIR. Rightmre, DR.. Tay-
lor and Mr. Woodward were appointed to see that the
prisoner safe and wait on thejury and see KEEP
| them so long.
The committee reported that the prisoner was safe.
and the Jury doing their duty, and requested that
the lawyers who were interfering might be taken out,
without them. The meeting resolved that the lawyers
should be removed, and amid intense excitement
committee OF some fifty headed by Dr. Taylor, LETT the
meeting for that purpose They shortly returned and
reported that the Jury haG removed the lawyers DIR.
Taylor recommended the crowd to wait half an hour.
and the Jury did not by that me decide he would
head party take the prisoner out and hang him.
| These remarks were gree ed with loud chee:s.
! Then Mr.. Clvmer said he believed the committee of
citizens appointed to guard the prisoner had been turned
out of the room where he
This OF course created great torment. and COM
mittee was Immediately appointed, with Dr. Taylor at
their head to examine into the matter. DR.. Taylor
reported that the prisoner SAFE and that COM
mittee of three wasa sufficient guard
Addresses from Mr.. Queen and other citizens follow
ed, gentleman, whose name was not known saying:
citizens, the man who has been shot has wife
and family. The deed was deliberate, od-blooded-
the prisoner should be hung Let those who are in IA
vor of hanging him say Aye :" lThe very air was
1
Again the crowd grew tired ofwaiting, and MI. Right
mre and two others were ain deputed TO wait on the
Jury Mr. r. reported that the Jury would probably
give their verdict 10 Is minutes He satisfied de-
cson would be made.
| Voices-How?
Mr.. Rightmre-On the right side.
| Voices-Which is that?
| The crolod-To hang hm-to hang up the muir
derer
MIR Cymer believed the Jury would find verdict of
guilty, and advised them to prepare for the denouemen,
while Dr. Taylor called on them to arm themselves and
deuge the streets of Sacramento with blood il the oi-
dared to interfere between the people and the MUIR
| derer.
| Deputy Sheriff Harris and Judge Sackett exhorted to
obedience the laws, and called citizens to aid
them 10 protecting the prisoner, while
DR.. Taylor called on those who wanted TO see justice
administered to fall in. He would lead them. large
portion of the crowd responded by following the Doc
| tor to J st.
| 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 was too much indecison, but recon-
mended patience and moderation to the crowd, that
they should first be sure they were right then go
| ahead"
Dr. Taylor still urged immediate action. AMI was
| loudly cheered, and the crowd shouted LET'S take
him out" &c. Mr. Queen, however, pacitied them for
| a time ; ond until O'Clock, when it was announced
that the Jury had found the prisoner guilty. they
kept moderate by reports from the Jury and speeches
| from various individuals.
| AFTER THE TRIAL.-Directly it known that
| the Committee had agreed upon report the excite
| ment among the crowd became uncomfortable, and
when Mr.. P. B. Cornwall had finished the report from
the front of the Orleans Hou 9, it mmed atey put
to the vote that Roe be hanged, and carried unani-
| 'n0usLy.
| Mr. Rightmire said the verdict had been rendered
He considered it the duty OF all coed citizens to see
that it was carried out. file ready, for his part.
The prisoner ought now to be hanged, d-m him. [Vo-
ciierous appauseJ
| The crowd, by reclamation, then voted that Mr..
Rghtmre should act Marshal, and that the
| dict was carried out.
SToRMING THE JAIL.-Having been repused in the
first attempt force the door OF the Jail, the crowd
pulled up an awning post close by and with this bat
ering ram, attacked the door, which very soon yielded
Deputy Sheriff Harris with his posse, held the crowd
and the mass poured in. The prisoner Frederick j.
Roe, in the inner cell, chained to post. After
long delay the chain severed, and he was then sez
ed and hurried up the stairs and along the street to the
The HANGING 1T was 81 O'Clock at night and quite
dark, when the crowd with the doomed man reached
The prisoner gave his name as Frederick ]. Roe and
was twenty years of age He was born in England,
where his mother and sisters reside His features
were regular, though careworn and he seemed entirely
Frustrated.
scaholding erected under one of the trees was oc
lied by the prisoner, Mr.. Rehtmre, clergyman.
(Rev. Mr.. Briggs who had been invited and several
Others
a rope provided and the prisoner furnished with
glass OF water
He stated through Rev Mr. Briggs, that he had done
the deed in moment OF passion, and had nothing to
say for himself
A rope was thrown over a limb. handkerchief
placed over the prisoners head his hands and feet ted
and the rope adjusted. The crowd to- witness the
lemn did not number less than five thousand.
Every thing was conducted in an orderly manner.
and after the duties of the clergyman over, the
prisoner launched into eternity amid profound ST.
ence which pervaded the multitude. He was Lifted
from the platform, and as he was let OF, while the rpe
was drawing up he uttered groan and sal. 81 ord
have mercy on my soul" After a struggle he huns.
quietly. When fifteen or twenty ninutes had elapsed
him to the Mansion Hou.s and endeavored to reso e
him. but as we learn Without avail
In relation 10 these transs ctions the Alta California
J remarks
VIII be difficult for the people in the Eastern states