The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-04-05
ANOTHER INSTANCE OF cALIFoR-
MIA JUSTICE.

A California correspondent OF the New
York journal Of Commerce gives the follow
ing thrilling and fearful account ofA lynch
ing scene in Georgetown
~ drunken EnglshmAn, named Divine,
murdered his wife under circumstances Of
unusual cruelty. During their whole reel
dcnco in Georgetown, she had supported him
and their children by her own Industry. lie
asked her ona morning for Eome money 10
gamble with, but she told him 90 wait until
he wAs sober. lie rushed arruss the RON for
pislol, lat shs anticipated btu, Sss tl,re~ "
into \ of water. lie then leAped into
the street, snatchod rifle FROM the shoulder
of passcr by, returned aud shot her through
the heart
II was SUNDAY, and as usual the places &c
resort were filled with miners, who inyAria-
bly, gpcnd that holiday in town. The report
OF rifle in the street was nothing unusual
but the tale OF horror flew NJ only rumor can
~, aud in five minutes the house was filled.
lu such n country ~ ours, aud under such
circumstances NJ thcEc, mun act rather than
speak. A ncighboring "ltound Tent" (our
gambling houses are often turned into Court
Rooms ON account at their sizc) was selected
as che scene Of trial, The prisoner was led
in, and then before word was spoken, AN
other party brought IN the body of his wife,
just as-she.- fell with the dark blood ooxing
from her breast She was gently laid on a
large table near her husband, This sight
stung the people into frenzy. No ono thought
of wasting words in trial The prisoner was
seized, and hurrled towards little eninencc
overlooking the village, where the moose of
a lariat swung significantly from a tree. just
az this moment man Of great influence with
the people in that vicinity, attempted TO pcr-
suAdc them to postpone their design until
Coroner's inquest should be held upon the
body, and n summary trial, but still n trial,
had, aftcr their verdict With much difficult
! " he succeeded. on condition that the inquest
and trial should be both held upon that day
and As the Coroner was ut Columa, four o.
rtrrt-rzz-
press was sent to Column, and, to aavG.time,
/ jury was empaneled To act instantly upon his
arrival. They sat together in tho tent with
| the prisoner and the body The mob waited
outside. but were not unemployed A deep
tpit WIS dug NJ tho f0ot of tho tree, aud an The
solemn furniture Of the grave prepared.
IN As four o'clock approached. the silence Of
the mob was broken by deep whispers aud
hoarSe murmuB. Rifles, pistols, and bowie
knives were freely displayed This did not
escape the notice Of the jury and they began,
not unnaturally, 10 fear for their own safety.
At last, when the sun was low in the west, tho
mob could wait no longer, but tore up the
SIDES Of the tent and rushed in Just In tune to
see the last juryman escaping by n back way.
They went at their task without word. At
! the head of long procession the murderer
marched to his gallows, and the body OF his
wife was borne close behind him. The chill
dren-thank Heaven were not there; but
even in that stern scene, they were not for
gotten. A small box, marked "For the Or
phdi.S," was nailed TO the tree, and many an
ounce was poured into IL from the purses of
those who followed the father to his death.
The body OF the murdered woman was low
cred into wide pit, and even while the
wretched man gazed upon il, and upon that
empty but significant box by his side, the
cord suddenly frightened around his neck,and
he swayed in the air. Tho mob sAI- % alo
hill side, and sterniy watched him.
At the end of half an hour he was cut down
and lpid in the grave by tbs side Of his wife.
In 1--WE minutes, Georgetown was as still ~
that lonely grave upon the hill Not man
WINS 80 DC seen IN the st-.,st@---no ono knew
anything of that iawless mob