New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-22
CALIFORNIA.
Progress of Crime in San Francisco-The Com
mittee of Vigilance.
Correspondence Of The Tribune
SAN FRANcIsco, Saturday, June IA

Correspondence OF ne lrlOune
FRANCISCO, Saturday, June IA.
MEssRs. EpIToRs The news by the pres
ent mail is fanature calculated to alarm some IN
acquainted with the state OF society IN Callior
MIA. Were the scenes which have been enacted
in San Francisco since the departure OF the last
mail to transpire in Paris, we might look with
dread to the results but with Americans, e1-
elements are generally controlled more by rea-
son. Instead OF looking forward with fear to the
final results of the present movement IN regard
to the administration of justice, we confidently
expect 10 soon see the horde OF villains who
have so long gone at large brought to punish
ment or driven from the country.
For a long time the citizens of San Francisco
have forborne to take the law into their own
hands, notwithstanding the utter imbecilNy Of
the authorities. Forbearance has ceased to be
virtue. Nearly all the criminals arrested during
the past SIX months have been allowed to escape
from prison the trial OF those that remain be-
ing postponed from month 10 month In fact,
the lax administration OF Justice operated as
premium on crime, and soon after the ire OF the
4th ult. private Police was organized by the
citizens.
| he immediate cause OF the present tACItt-
ment was the arrest on the night OF the 18th alt.
of a man named Lewis, who was caught setting
fire His guilt was fully proved al his examlna-
ton before the Recorder, and the Grand jury,
then IN session, brought IN a true bill against
him. His trial was set down for June Q, when
by some technically this, with numerous other
indictments, was quashed, as viii be seen by the
following
STATEMENT OF THE GRAND JURY-The body Of
men brought together the Goth day of MAY last by
order OF his Honor Judge Robinson - serve a. Grand
Jurors FOR the County OF san Francisco, and SUNNI
ry discharged by his Honor. Judge Parsons. Oh re-
trng from their supposed position As jurors. deem II
uroper TO make a statement OF few facts. for the IN
formation Of the public, IN regard 10 the state Of
criminal matters IN this County.
We find, upon investigation. that there nov re-
mains upon the docket the following number OF cases
In which indictments have been presented, that nave
never been tired, and N which, as they ascertain
from investigation. no opportunity has been gwen oy
the Court having jurisdiction thereof, for trial There
are persons IN confinement ever since December ana
January last awaiting trial. Until May |. the only
authority try these cases. was vested IN the us
trict Court and this Court should have gwen or1vfHa
cases their attention, We think 70 the exclusion OF
cliIl ones as II is well known that n majority OIL
criminal cases after delay OF two months, the VII
nesSes VII be 80 scattered that II VIII be utterly
,nposSlble 10 get a conviction.
We learn that there were handed down nom tue
former 10 the present Distinct Attorney Tor pro>ecu
ton. IN which there has yeti been no trlal; IN
clCtmeEtS for larceny indictments Tor fraud IN
ClciMelts for LIBEL | indictment Tor burglary