Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-26

LATE INTELLIGENCE FROM CALIFORNIA.
The most prominent event in the late California
news is the execution of robber at San Francisco
by Committee of Vigilance; which has caused
very great excitement, the verdict of the Coro-
ner's Jury which sat upon the body was consider
ed TO reflect invidiously upon the conduct of this
committee. From the mass Of details and COM
ments in reference to this occurrence we copy the
following
FROM THE ALTA CALIFORNIA JUNE ID.
Great Popular Outbreak Arrest of a Robber-
Trial by Committee Of characterization Of
the Criminal!
Our city the night Of the 10th instant was scene Of
Of the most appalling tragedies that has been enact
ed within It's lmsan execution having taken place in the
public plaza, known Portsmouth square, body Of citizens
acting as judges and executioners and multitude aiding
and supporting them BY countenancng the deed by their
and nonnteerence. The circumstances connected
with the affair these
Owing to the vast amount Of crime which has been perpe
ated for length Of time, and the impossbiy by due pro-
cess Of law Of procuring the conviction OF the guilty besow
ing adequate punishment when convicted keeping
them in safe custody, number Of citizens resolved take
the law into their hands. They accordingly organized
themselves into detective and protective force, with fixed
QeIermnati0n 10 pun6n tnOee Wuom
Of the commission Of any felonious They accordingly
procured quarters n building the Of Sansome and
Bush The robberes, burglares and
Of ncendarism induced them to form their determination
About o'clock Tuesday night man carrying beg con-
tanning something apparently quite heavy attracted the at
enton of the Whitehall boatmen at their station Central
wharf He jumped into boat with his bag, and pulled
towards the end Of the wharf But few moments elapsed
before Mr.. Virgin, gentleman who keeps shipping ofce
on the wharf came down the boststand in pursuit Of
person who had just robbed his Office Of small iron safe
tanning considerable Of money. The man with the
bag suspected and number Of boatmen started
in pursuit After sharp pull they overlook
him. when be threw his booty overheard After very
we're struggle one party Of boamen succeeded in capturing
him. while another shed up the bag, which proved to
tain the stolen SAFE He conveyed on sho aud aonce
taken possession Of by Of the vgant committee, who
him promptly their headquarters, where be
sitting with closed DOORS by them convicted and sentenced
to be hung in the Portsmouth square that very night
The precise mode Of trial Of course secret During
its progress the citizens had accumulated in large numbers
about the building and in Portland squarethe bell the
engine house at The latter locality having rung signal to
appze the citizens of the proceedings going The pcpu
lace very much excited but more orderly than we ever
recollec have such numerous assembsge on any
similar occasion. Some disapprobation manifested at
the secrecy Of the commtees proceedings but when the
result known there very general approval manifest
ed although there many who deemed the punishment
of death too for the offence, and others thought he
should be executed in broad daylight AS soon as the SEN
tence was passed the bell the California engnehouse
by commenced ringing the prisoners funeral knel Captain
BENJAMIN Ray Of the police orce applied at the door OF the
committee and demanded the prisoner but was refused
several times and although others OF the police were upon
the ground they Of to attempt rescue.
About / o'clock MT. Samuel Brannan came out and,
ascending the bank opposite announced the result of the
committees deberaons stating that be had been fairly
tried convicted upon the strongest testimony and offered no
defence except denial Of the robbery He gave the name
Ickr TanL md tn ha
Mr. B. stated that he had been allowed another hour to pre-
pare himself DEATH and that the Rev. Mr. Mines had been
sent for visit him. The crowd promptly approved
of the action of the committee From that time the excite
ment began to increase and the matter freely discussed
BY knots of citizens the various street around the
committee room and in the square very large majority
were in favor Of the execution.
The prisoner was perfectly composed during this time, and
INDUCED IN cigar The clergyman promptly responded %
the request pray with the prisoner and remained with him
for nearly hour If correctly informed bis presence
had no particular effect upon the condemned man, who doubt
less confidently anticipated a rescue by the police.
About o'clock the doors Of the committee room were
opened and the condemned for the first time presented
the popuace. He tall man. Of very great muscular
Developments and with rather forbdding counenance He
smoking cigar, and appeared rather pale but composed
His pinoned and his hands tied behind him. while
he surrounded by thcky manned by armed men,
many others closing them, determined to prevent his es
cape. In this MANNER followed BY large crowd be was
conducted to the public square, His arrival was announced
with shout and description OF vOClferatonthe Wild
est scene of confusion and excitement prevailing we have
witnessed for long me The moon, obscured by clouds
shed light and the picture presented was wild and awful
in the Some person climbed the liberty pole to rig
block for the execution, but loud shout Of "dont hang
him on the liberty poe Voices screamed out "to
the old adobe and rush made for this ed6ce, upon
the of the square, formerly occupied the CUSTOM
house. rush made for the end of the build
ing block rgged and long rope run through it. In the
time number of the police who were on the ground
made several attempts to obtain possession OF the prisoner
but they were roughly handled and prevented had they
persisted they would have been rdded with balls Several
citizens denounced the execution and sought to aid the
police. a
The prisoner by this time 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 felon swept
through the air and danged from the block few fearful
struggles, quiver of the hempen cord few nervous
wche and the crowd gazed upon the eess corpse OF him
upon whom such speedy and terrible vengeance had been
executed by an outraged people, As he swung and fro
and turned round and round feeling Of appeared
spread through the crowd who could not be otherwise than
impressed by the terrible occurrence Slowly they Dispersed
but when day broke there still many gazing upon the
swollen purple features Of the doomed man. AT six o'clock
the marshal Mr. Crozie repaired to the spot cut down the
body, and consigned it to the dead-house. ss N,
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 population
n the Union without one instance Of adequate punishment
OF the guilt Of Jenkins there doubt He has been
known the police for months desperate character from
the penal colonies where he had passed many years
transported convict.
FROM THE PAPRR.