Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-07-24
"Although California has been

"Although California has been
regularly admitted into the Union, more
than year now, and although there 10
aseg~Iarly organized Judiciary there,
with all the necessary officcrs TO enforce
the laws, yet, notwithstanding all
these things, there appears to be a la
mentable state Of affairs there. as lar as
the mode OF INJECTING punishment, for
crimes 10 concerned. The last number
OF the Alta California contains an ac-
count Of an execution by the people Of a
noted rOhber. Ii seems that rohberies
have becone 80 frequent, as well az 9th
cr crimes, and the impossibiity by due
process ofiaw OF procuring the convic-
ton oi the guilty, bestowing adequa'e
punishment when convicted, or even
keeping them in safe custody, nun.
Der Of citizens resolved to take the law
into their own hands, and accordingly
resolved themselves into detective and
protective iorce, witk the tull determine
tion TO punish those whom they should
find guilty Of the commission Of any fe-
lonious oct.
On the evening Of the 10th Of June n
man was seen going down wharf, car
ryins a heavy bag. which he deposited
in boat, and rowed off Soon after. a
gentleman came down the wharf and
stated that his safe had been stolen
Several boats were Immediately manned
and went in pursuit OF the thief; they
quickly overlook him, wh,n quite dcs-
perate conflict ensued, during which he
threw the bag overheard. lie was at
last taken. and the bag fshed up, which
proved To be the stolen gold. They
conducted the thiefto the headquarters
OF the lrotective committee. and soon
nscertained that he was noted robber,
who had long evaded the Police he
gave his name as John Jenkins, and pro-
fessed to be a native of London. II 10
said that he went to San Francisco from
one Of the convict colonies OF England.
lie was tried by the Protective Com
hnittee, and, upon the strongest evidence,
convicted and sentenced to be hung
All this was done within the shor, space
Of IN hour. A clergyman was sent for,
who prayed with him. hut the thief ap-
peared entirely Indifferent; at 9 o'clock,
AMID the darkness OF the night, the pris-
oner was taken into the street, which
was filled by u den.e crowd, and march.
81 to the place Of execution. A large
Police force WIS present, and attempted
to take :,e prisoner from the mob, but
nll to no purpose. A rope was fixed TO
pole. and everything arranged for the
execution. The following is the con.
elusion OF the affair, as given by the
Alta California -
The prisoner by this time was nearly
dead with fear and rough handling.
when Il rush was made towards him, a
n"o.c thrown over his head the rope
manned by twenty ready hands and the
heavy form ot the convicted fclon swept
through the air and dangled from the
block. A lew fearful struggles, a qui-
YER of the hempen cord, n few nervous
tsitclies and the crowd gazed upon the
hieIcss corpse Of him upon whom such
speedy and terrible vengeance had been
executed by an outraged people. As
he swung 10 and fro and turned round
and round a feeling OF awe appeared 10
spread through the crowd who could
not he otherwise than impressed by the
terrible occurrence. Slowly they dis
persed, but when day broke there were
stlli many gazing upon the swollen,
|. purple features OF The doomed man. At
6 O'Clock The Marshall Mr.. Crozier re-
paired TO the spot. cut down the body
and consigIed Il to the dead House.
THUS ended the first execution which
ever took Place in San francisco, where
more crime has been committed within
the past year than in any other city Of
the same population in the Union. with. .
out one single instance Of adequate pun.
ishmenr. Or the guilt Of JenAias there
WAS no doubt. He has been known 10
the police ior months as n desperate
character from the penal colonies where
he had passed many years a. a trans.
ported convict
The proceedings Of the Coroner's iu-
ry, aud the report Of the several meet
ings which have taken place in conse-
queDce OF the recent event will be found
elsewhere. Il is only necessary to add
that those connected with the "Vig;lant
Committee" and concerned in the exc
cution, are Of the very hes, class Of our
ciiixens-men Of the highest rcspccta-
buity aud standing.