Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-22

roncr's iury which upon the oonY was oo'eu - "
fleet inv!dousy upon the conduct OF 'S 'o"''oo' R'o
the muss of details comments in reference 10 is occ
renee give the following ACCOUNT "1 ''o " '''
Alta California on the subject:
cpr, At POPULAR OUTBREAK J!
I,o ri T,obbsri Trial by ComntHtee 81 citizens 3!
'' Execution IF the Criminal!
o;, an ~, niunt ii the l0,h June, was 4 OF
M mns nppaing tragedies that has ever been enact
ID within its limits execution having taken place IN inc
pubic plaza known as P'rssmon nd Ii;, T ca id
IT,, and sunpong by countenanclns The deed by Their
nrescnrc und nun-interieencc Inc circumstances con-
nected with the affair are lhese
,d ar enn,h of lime, and the impossiblity by due pro
cess Of law of procuring the conVicnon OF me gu.y
ny douute punishment when convicted or even Keeping
- i; saf custody number Of citizens resolved 10 take
rho ,w 10 their hands. They accordingly organized
into detective and protective force with fixed
linn 10 punish those whom they should find guilty
If hc commission uf any iclonius act lhey accordingly
quarters in building on the corner OIL oansoe and
h The numerous robbcries, oursiires and nets
~ nrrnGarism induced them 10 form their hetemlnatlon-
a.ou O'clock Tuesday night man carrying bag con-
something apparently quite heavy attracted The alien
,,n of the Whitehall b"alIlen ai lher s'i"'h on central
Whlrf H. jumped into boat WIN ms Dag; ana pulled on
towards the end Of the wharf But lew moments elapsed
- Nr VIRGIN gentleman who keeps shipping office
The wbIIf came down The boat stand in pursuit OF
nsrsnn who had Just robbed his office oil small iron
~. containing a considerable sum OF money The man
w;,b m. bag was suspected and number OF hoa
mon started immediately in pursuit Alter sharp pull they
yertok HIM, he threw his booty overheard After
!
too him. while unuhe shed up the bag which proved To
cn,o Inc srulcn safe He conveyed on shore, and
once taken possrssn OF BY some the Vgiant Committee
wn promptly their head quarters, where he
was tried presence uabnut eighty members OF the concave
sitting with closed doors by them convicted and sentenced 10
n. hung the Portsmouth square that very night The precise
mode trial was of During its progress the Cit
liens Accumulated IN large numbers about the building
md in Portland square, The be-. the Engine house
latter locality having signal tn appse the citizens
of The proceedings going The populace was very much
excited but orderly Than We ever recec 10 nave
Il, ciu,iIur paa Som
instrumentation manifested at the secrecy of the Com
mirte proceedings but when the result was known there
very general approval mnnested nnough mere were
many who deemed the punishment oil death toDseVcre tor the
offence AND others thought he should be executed in broad
daylight the sentence was passed the bell on
the California Engine house by commenced ringing the
prisoners funeral knel Capt Benjamin Ray of the Police
force applied door Of the Committee room and de
mnned The prisoner refused several times. and al
though Others Of puce the ground they saw
il vas Of 10 attempt rescue.
| About o'clock Mr.. Samuel Bannan out, and as
cendng the opposite announced tho result Of the
itters deliberations stating that he had been y tried
convicted upon the strongest testimony and offered no de-
fence except denial Of the robbery He gave the Of
iuhn Jenkins and Proessed TO be native vi London Mr.
stated that he had been allowed another hour to prepare
himself for death, and that the Rev Mr. Mines had been
sent visit him. The crowd present promptly approx
ed Of the of the Committee From that time the
cemen began increase and the matter freely discuss
I'd BY knots citizens the various street corners around
the Committee and in the square very large
ritz were in favor vi the execution.
The prisoner perfectly composed during this time and
request pray with the prisoner and remained with
him for nearly hour. If correctly informed his
presence had no particular effect upon the condemned man
who doubtless cofd nifty anticipated rescue by the police
About O'clock The doors VI the committee room were
opened and the condemned was Tor the hrs :me presented
the pupul,ce He tall man OF very great muscular
deveop and with rather urtddng counenance. He
smoking cigar and appeared rather pale but composed
His arms pinoned and his hunds tied behind him.
while he surrounded by rope hcky manned BY armed
men, many closing them determined 10 prevent his
escape. In this manncr followed by large crowd, he was
|
with shout und every description OF voclteratlon-he
widest OF confusion and excitement prevailing we
have witnessed for long time. The nooI obscured sy
Clouds sned light and picture presented was wild and
awful in the extreme. Some person climbed the liberty pole
rig block for the execution but loud shout OF don't
hang him the liberty poe arose Voices screamed "u
TO abode and rush made for this edce upon
of the square, formerly occupied as the Custom
House. 4 rush made for end Of the build
ing block rugged and long rope run through IT, In the
re number Of the police who were on the ground
made attempts ~ OBTAIN OF the prisoner
iheY roughly handled and prevented had they per-
sisted they would been ddled with balls. Several
ciuzens denounced tho execution and sought to aid the
police
The prisoner By this lime nearly dead with fear and
rough handling when rush made towards him. moose
thrown his head the rope manned by twenty ready
hands, and the heavy form Of the convicted telun swept
through the and danged from the block few fearful
struggles culver OF the Hempen cord few nervous twches
and the crowd gazed upon The leiess corpse Of him upon
whom speedy and terrible vengeance had been executed
oy outraged people AS he swung 10 and fro and turned
round feeling Of appeared To spread through
the terrible Slowly they dispersed when day
broke there still gazing upon the swollen, purple
features o doomed man. At cuck the Marshal Mr.
Crvzrr repaired spot, down the body and con
signed dead house Thus ended the first execution
which tuuk place San Franc-c" where more crime
has committed within the past year IMAM IN any oler
city The population the Union, without nne in
Of adequate punishment. OF the guilt OF jenkins
there was NJ doubt He been known the police for
months desperate character from the penal coiunirs,
where he had passed many Years as transported convict
THE EXECUTION OF JENKINS
The sudden unusual and solemn which was consum.
mated during the night Of the ION June and the succeed
ing morning. produced throughout city yesterday most
ieversh excitement 1he assumption vi authority
body respectable citizens the enforcement
Of Of death upon fellow mortal In the dead hour
night the usual forms ot law well create an
stir any community Deprived Of The benefit OF
have caused enaced powcIess To compe! their
enforcement been at the mercy vi organized gangs
frluns infested ana prcyed upon
Our roocd and murder
cd city destroyed the torch u the endllke ncen
diary, and hudreds 1T honest ulnG men stripped vi their
nurdcarnrd prospects IN lie ruined Such
affairs could not longer or b0rne- was against er.
~ principle cell nom lbraance ieny anu
mercy had absolutely Ceased 10 rlr.uuushe pracuc~
was nIn,s, criminal The time had srrvd when the peo
pie Compelled for the safety their lives and the
lection vi their property ~ lake the law no their own
hands, and nete out terrible punishment 10 the guilty.
Extraordinary circumstances justify extraordinary measures
ami the administration oi SEVERE punishment The hsl scene
The drama has enacted and the frlun has paid
MS HE The penalty Of his crimes. We have been al
lyncn law saachin from the hands vi
leg tribunals uwcrs lcsi in ey Conferred upon
dcpuvlng any o The benefit oil fair impur
ny fellow Yet in present condition o
municipal utalr, cannot cunsclrnti"usly cumdenn
people The they have felt themselves compelled
To uinpt Deeply depule the occasion for Tie exe
else ac,s, necessity absolutely
demanded the assumption o power
Tue Irla and vi jenkins was the OF an
ntlamed excited adudsed CALM
and deliberations his guilt fully established, and the
ulty vi dee by set vi respected and esecu
by their fellows assuming responsibility Imposed
by necessity, WIFI iu perception vi their
countabiy their fellow and 10 their Ma6er Who
but He shall adIudse cund-mn theml We dare mol
There difference of upnlon-there is 5iedy
as punishment vi burglary and win So
penalty death, the ordinary usages vi mdern nes re-
rugnZng capital punishment vi murder and
first Cestre only. Ii must be borne in mind however,
that terrible example was Deemed necessary We sincere
pray il suincen and that city may never
witness the c'enactient vi the scene OF urSday
Yet Tear that II IL almost hoping against hope;
be anticipated That victim Will Dc sufficient
host vi villains nies our city from the com
mission their acts. They may rely upon H.
yerhe!ess prompt and condlgn punishment viii be
visited upon detected in the commission OF crime