The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-07-02
Important from Nlcaragua.


will find in the latter country that which others
have pronounced non comati6us--namely, a
government. 1t is said that Mr.. Webster in
struetions are; :" II you cannot find govern
ment, make or imagine one.
On the Oath inst, Frenchman who had
arrived from California on his way home, was
robbed Of a large amount Of money, S21 $50
in gold dust, and a box containing his Wite's
iewelry, the proceeds Of years Of hard toll -
The circumstances are these: On his arrival
| here, with his wife, he went to the American
Hotel and took lodgings. With him were sew
eral friends, through whom, probably, it was
soon whislered about that Lafargue, the French
man, had large amount Of money. 1t sp-
pears that Mr. and Mrs. Lafargue kept a strict
watch on their room and trunk until the even
ing Of the oath, when they were both down
slairs--one in the dining room at tea the other
ia the bar. room. Mrs. l.. states that she heard
a noise in her room, and, supposing that some-
thing had fallen, she ran up and found the door
had been forced open, as we'll as the trunk, and
all the money and jewelry gone, She imme-
diately gave the alarm, and the Mayor, Mr.. 7.
| &. Martin, with the police, was soon on the
spot. Search was made in and about the pre-
mises, but nothing discovered. Several parties
we're arrested on suspicion.
At this time, a boy Of about sixteen years ol
age, named Joseph r. Silva, stated 10 the
Mayor, that few moments previous TO the
alarm of robbery, he was leaning against one
of the posts of the gallery Of the American
| Hotel, sshaving Just come out Of the supper
room, when he noticed two men jump from
the upper gallery to the ground---One Of them
IafrfW n.1 L,vr IL
they then ran swiftly toward the wOods--not,
however, without his recognizing them as two
men whom he had frequently seen in the bar
room OF the hotel, dealing the monte, 10 a
short time, the two men came in, aud com
menced their usual gambling operations, and
were identified by the boy. They we're arrested
and put in the police station. Next day there
was OF course great excitement, particularly
among the Caliiornians, a large number Of
whom were in town. Il was soon reported that
the two prisoners, John Phillips and James
Powers, were 10 be taken lorcibly from the
authorities, and subjected to Lynch law. The
Mayor called on the citizens, the police was
strongly manned, all the windows and doors
barrcaded excepting the front aad back DOORS
at each of which cannon, loaded with grape
shot, stood ready to have the match applied.
The citizens and police, armed with muskets,
remained inside, the prisoners strongly ironed
down to the floor. All day this state Of things
lasted. Night came, and still large bodies Of
the CaliiOrnians could be seen assembled under
the trees, on the lawn in front of the station
house. Daylight came again, and the droWsy
and exhausted defenders Ot the police station
were under arms.
At ii o'clock, A. M, a meeting was called
by the Californians, when it was resolved that
they would give the authorities until , O'Clock,
p. NJ. to deliver the prisoners over TO them, or
they would attack the station house. The
CaiLoruians numbered several hundred, all
armed with revoyers and bowie knives; the
citizens and police about fifty strong. Yet
| from the advantageous position OF the latter,
together with their perfect organization, their
ready command Of the two cannon, and their
firm determination to maintain the supremacy
Of the law, there would have been terrible
slaughter. | do not remember ever having
witnessed a more intensely exciting scene. La
farguG the FrenChman, is a powerful man
about forty years of age, and with his intclli.
gence and stirring appeals to those around him
his utter recklessness and sworn determination
to have revenge, was well calculated to lead his
friends into the most desperate measures. AT
this uncture or crisis, the officers OF the Sara
nae landed on shore, and it was made known to
| the Caifornians that they would be addressed
| by Captain Pendergrast A meeting was soon
called under the trs es, and after being assured
by the officers Of the SaranaC, and the Mayor OF
our town, that Justice should certainly be done,
and a speedy trial given to the prisoners, they
dispersed with three cheers for Captain Fender
grast and the Mayor. On the morning of the
2Slh, Jury Of twelve citizens was enpanueled,
and the prisoners, John Phillips and James
! Powers, we're found guilty of having entered
the room of lafargue and robbing him of 1927, =.
! $50 A third party, one James Thompson, a
noted villain, well known N New Orleans, was
arrested as being connected with the robbery.
He was put upon trial yesterday, and, finding
that Phillips had confessed, plead guilty,
Yesterday, at II o'clock the Mayors court
was organized, and the prisoners were brought
up to receive sentence. On being asked if
they had aught 10 say why sentence should not
be passgd on them Powers replied that he was
innocent; Phillips pleaded for mercy, on account
Of his father and family Che Is said to be Of re-
spectacle ismiIyi) Thompson had nothing TO
say. The sentence Of the court was as follows:
You, James Thompson, you, John Phillips,
and you, James Powers, ! hereby sentence
You, each and all, to the penalty Of death, that
you be taken by the city meSIlaI on tomorrow,
Monday, the 3lst inst, between the hours of 10
| A. NJ and II NJ to such places As shall be by
| him selected and that you then and there be
| hanged by the neck until Iou are acad, and may
God have mercey on your souls. The SEN
| tencc is to be carried into execution at 10
O'Clock TO morrow, and whilst / write uI
| o'clock, F. VI } the carpenters opposite my room
arc making the collins There is one hope
/ for them, and that is that the city council may
commute their sentence; this will probably be
/ done if they all make full confession and
the money be recovered. So far but one bag,
containing $780, has beca found in the woods
at a spot indicated by Phillips.
! will add a postscript tomorrow. ] am
now called to stand by watch al the station
| house.
N0aday, 2 0'ciock, p. M--Jamcs Thomp.
son, alias Conner, has ust suffered the extreme
penalty of the law; he died as he lived, giving
every proof Of villainy. He confessed having
been publicly whipped, branded, having sery-
ed his time in penltentlary, and once escaping
while under sentence of death. He has there
fore met his just dues. Jas. Phillips, alias
Bill Clifford, a good looking young fellow, of
about 22 years, and Jas. Powers, have had
their sentence commuted, while on the gallOws,
with the dead body Of Thompson swinging be-
fore them, and are TO o.mOrrOw to receive fifty
Iaghpg IN hp wnlI laid or tknir hare kacLa IN