New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-24
CALIFORN MA.
Some Words about Lynch Law In san Fran

cisco.
SAN FRlNcisCO, Saturday, June a.
To the Editors Of The Tribune
In The Tribune for California, received
by the last mail, was an article on lynch law,
referring 10 the condition Of society in this state.
| read the article with attention and satisfaction,
regarding II 80 applicable, moderate and Just
But was surprised 10 find IN the Aha Caht@"f
OF the 4th inst. a violent attack ON both the wHtr
and his production, charging the author win
having slanderCd the citizens of this State, aud
making personal illusions which no gentleman
should be- guilty Of There was but one cKpana-
non of the matter, and the inference was ire
sistibe that the Editor Of the Alta had personal
motive. and that II. I was an object OF dislike.
In the very paper which repudIates 80 indig-
nantly the lmputatlons Of The IubaHe IN regard
10 lynch law IN California - an article referring
TO a nan who had been arrested Tor arson IN TINS
city. and whose person had been sought by Il
mob while his case was before the Court The
man had been conveyed into another room when
the crowd broke into the Court room and the
AHA adds that he may thank this circumstance
tor his existence" In the same breath with
which the Ana abuses " B. T." for his mild AMI
udlciOus counsel respecting law and order, thaI
paper records the attempt Of a band OF men ID
snatch q CRIMINAL IRON Court % Jus'i'o ~
broad daylight
We have recently had more decided evidence
Of the truth and appropriateness OF The 1rbuHss
structures. IN the case Of jenkins, or SYMPTOM
who was hung IN The public square on the night
of the 10Th inst This man, II ~ true, was caught
IN the act OF stealing, and II Is also true that D"
was an old and hardened offender, and that mo
community Is well nd OF hlm. But It Is also nus
that he was tined by 4 secret tribunal, VIE
closed doors, and hung IN the darkness Of nlgm'
for an ofense not capital IN the eye OF the lss'
Had the trial and conviction been the act Of the
citizens at large there would have been sons
excuse for II m the aggravated sulieungs Of our
community, from the depredatIons Of gang
villains long unwhipped OF justice But nine
tenths Of the citizens were asleep IN their BEDS,
and they awOke next morning TO see the deaa
body Of a feon dangling IN the Plaza, and 10 ma
themselves standing before the world as ms mui-
derers Al this the Alta ustIfes, az II must %
after lnstigatlng 10 the deed The murderoos
act has not even the merit OF lynch law. 10 eA-
clude the citizens Oh his trial, unless they gsso
the countersign 10 show that they belonged ~
the secret tribunal, and then 10 accomplish no 10
deed in darkness. fOrbiddIng loren or cal'-lo
10 throw a ray of light on the face OF me ac'O,s,
stamps the deed as a cold blooded ana co"ar1r
murder. and stains with indehDle plood VIC
hands OF the perpetrators. IN 49,. ..
Where the lawless movements VIII enn' 10
one can tell. Already the cry IS occaslonaiy
hoard. directing popular fury against one OF the
rrcro,nent actors IN the tragedy, whose chafae.
ier II II were not covered with broadcloth, wouf
s,ant no ,aireI than that Of the murdered elon'
K !. z