The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-04-24
AFTER THE rRIAL.


Directly il was known that the commit
ire had agreed upon areport, the excite
dent among the crowd beca,'.e uncun,rolla-
lille, and when Mr..P. b. Cornwall hal fin.
ished reading the report from the front OF
Orleans House, il was Immediately put to
vote that Roe be hanged, aud carried unan-
inlously.
After the report Of the committee was
read. the crowd Immediately proceeded,
amidst the greatest excitement and uprOar
10 the calaboose, determined on taking the
prisoner; but they were resisted for at least
one honr, by the Marshal and his aids,
Ii was now about . o'clock-the hight
was tlark---ihc mutterings of the people
deep, yet loud. Some OF them rushed to an
awning, pulled UP the posts, anil at once at
tackled the door Of the staiion-house with
these hatsering rams. Soon the door yield
ed, being demolished by repeated blows
DEPUTY Sheriff Harris stoul in the door
way, and with his posse in the rear, held
the crowd at bay for some iime-remon-
stratng and threatening. Finally, the crowd
in the rear made a rush forward, which pla
eel those in the front ranks in connection
with Mr.. Harris, when he was pushed, JOS
tied from his position, and the popuace
brought in possession of the prisoner. The
prisoner, Friedrich J. Roe, was in the inner
cell chained to a post. After long delay,
the chain was severed, aud he was then
seized and buried up the stairs into the
street. t% ttft tE
/. was then announced that the prisoner
would be hung in Sixth street, between X
and L., from one Of the large oaks. The
crowd Immediately proceeded To that point,
al about half past O'Clock. The prisoner
was strongly guarded, and taken up } TO the
intersection of Fifth street, Mhen he WAS ia
ken down the same, and up X to Sixth, and
then 10 the place of execution.
SCENE At THE GALLows.
The concourse of people 1T the gallows
ut least 1000. A large bonfire
was kindled, stand was erected under a
large oak tree, on which the prisoner was
placed, a rope was procured, n clergyman
called, who had some brief religious exer-
ci>es with the prisoner. The Clergyman
stated that the prisoner had nothing to say
for himself, except that he had widowed
mother living in England, and that he had
been absent from her for a considerable
length of time. A white handkerchief was
then tied over his face, his arms piniunetl,
the rope adjusted 10 limb Of the tree AMI
the neck of the prisoner, he sobbing aloud;
three men then drew him from the stand in.
TO the air-an awful and soIem silence per-
vading throughout the immense concourse
of people. The occasion, the dead hour of
night, and the immense gathering, all con-
spired to make the scene such as we hope
never again to behold. After the body was
drawn up, few struggles and con,ractions
Of The limbs ensued-and thus persisted the
unfortunate prisoner. The body hung
twenty minutes, when It was let down, and
pronounced by several citizens as dead
Thus ended one Of tn. greatest tragedies
ever witnessed in California.
Mr.. Myers, the man who was shot, we
are informed, came from the vicinity of Col
umbus, Ohio, and has left wife aud sever
al chihren. Fred. J. Rowe, the n,an who
was hung, was about twenty-five years of
age, and an Enylishnan 10y birth.
TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT IN SAN FRANCIS
On Saturday, March Ist. two mcn, Stu
art and w ihlred, who were arrested as the
persons charged with committing the as
sault with the intent to kill MIR. Janson, an.
who robbed bim Of $4,000, were examined
before Justice Shepherd, in the Recorders
Court room. The place was literally jam
med. Previous to this, the criminals were
carried before MIR. JanSon, " bu testified ui-
that Stuart was the man who,
with another man, spoke of purchasing
blankets, anil who was Immediately behind
BIN at the time he was struck With the
s. that, to the best of his knoml-
edge and belief, WilIred was the man who
was with him.
The prisoners had their witnesses. well
drilled to prove an aIibi. John Wilson,
Sidney bird, was the first one brought for
ward by II. McAlIister, the .efrndan;'s at
torney, TO testify. He swore that Wii,ired
was at the ltalIan Saloon, on Long Wharf,
from seven to eleven O'Clock, gambling, on
the night Of the assault, AMI robbery. Jus
tice Shepherd had the good sense to con-
slider his testimony entitled to no credit
whatever, as he contradicted himself in ey-
cry particular. Marks was another witness
for the defence. He proved that Mildred
was with him at the time the assault was
committed, and for one hour and half nf-
forwards; and that Mildred was a most in
nocent and proper citizen. The keepers of
the Italian lansquenet room could not testi-
iy that Mildred was at their saloon on the
evening Of the robbery.
AT this stage Of the examination, there
was a strong disposition on the part Of the
people to seize the prisoners and hang them,
hut they were defended by the military, IN
der the order Of the authorities, and were
again removed to prison. This act created
great sensations and excitement among The
people outside, weo had increased by this
time to some thousands. Before any pre-
limnary measures could be adopted to or
ganize the meeting, and determine upon
some plan of action, the following handbill
WAS circulated through the crowd:
CITIZENS OF SAN FRANCISCO
the series Of murders and roI,leries thai,
have been committed in this city, without
the least redress trOn the laws, seems to
leave us entirely in state of anarchy.
"When thieves are left without control to
rob and kill, then doth the honest traveller
fear each bush thief" Law. il appears,
is but nonen,Ity, to be scofIel at; redress
can I've had for aggression, but through the
never-failing remedy SO admirably laid down
in The code of Judge Lynch. Not that we
should admire this process for redress, but
that 1t seems to be inevitably necessary.
Are we TO I've robbed and assassin ate,i in
our donicils, and tie law to let our ag-