The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-02-10
Lynch Law In California.

county, relates tho following fearful incidents
connected with the enforcement Of this law
less proceedings:
| Another and more glaring instance OF the
blindness of Lynch Law may be- found in the
circumstances under which my debut was made
| in Ophir. After being twice burned out OF
| otnce and business in six weeks at San fran
cisco. was travelling through the middle coun-
ties of the northern district in search OF a pro-
fessional location. Almost the first thing l
heard after my arrival in Ophir, was the news
that in an hours time man was to be tried
and hung for stealing at little village about
mile distant thought Of lockwood justice
and with my companion, n knightof the scolpel.
place hunting like myself fell into the crowd
which streamed down the ravne.
Three hours bofore the prisoner was free
and untanted man. Now he sat on log per-
fectIy immovablc without even casting an oc-
casonal glance around upon his guards. his
| whole soul and will concentrated in himself.
| And there was a most infexible will. breathing
from his thin. tight lips, his massive brows, and
his square. sharply cut face as still life-scup'
tured in marble. The general expression Of
his features was not pnpeasing. II he was
not unpeasing. II he was Innocent, he had
evidently bound himself within his will to stare
upon death without blenching, and give no tr'-
uin ph to his iudges. IF ho was guilty. there
was that in his face which showed that he
would die like Spartan dog
| The meeting was called TO order, and the
trial commenced, jast out Of hearing 0 fhe
prisoner. All reclined classcally upon the
prisoners guilt and punishment at the same
time. The loser of the money, and all who
knew or had heard anything about it we're cal
led to testify. No cath was administered
| The witnesses were requested TO promise to
| take an oath hereafter TO the truth OF what
! they said. There was no DISCRIMINATION.
Such an ignorant disregard for the first rights
of an accused man, never before saw, and
could not have let pass without opposition,
wore it not that we were strangers in the place,
and chiefly that the proper moment had not
come.
All this informal evidence was purely circu-
mstuntial. and though bearing hard upon the
accused, was hardly sufficient in law 10 con-
vict him. even had il been armed with an oath.
There was much in il, also, which showedthe
possibility of anoiher's agency, while the pris-
oner was asleep. But have not the patience
to 90 through the details of this execrab.e tai
al. Enough that he was suggested that the
! prisoner be brought before them, without lib
erty to make an explanation in defence. The
man was accordingly brought forward. and
put upon h'mscf for his life before that crowd
| of Judges. Under the circumstances, it was
striking scene. He seemed as ignorant as
the majority of the others, but there was
native strength Of mind in his eye which shone
out in more contempt than anguish upon those
who stood around silently booming him 10 death.
| He attempted no argument, not having heard
tho evidences: bnt desired simply to state, for
the upholding of his good name, after his life
was gone, that he was sleeping at the time the
| theft must have been committed, and was igno
rant in thought as in deed. His words were
short and plain, unimpassoned. yet eloquent,
nndefed, but calm hard, and self-sustained.-
IIe then Withdrew, and left in the hands Of the
Peoples Jury. Heaven save the mark!
| The opinion Of the crowd was divided as to
measure OF punishment. Some, and they were
the most influential and active would hang him
outright Many were in favor of hanging
him for a moment. then lowering him down
and repeating the operation until he confessed
where he had hidden the money. This, the
most merciIul plan. was especially dangerous,
volunteered to lay hold of the rope--were in
the first party. am3 seemed 20 haue a stricly
concerted plan among themselves.
| For bystander 10 remain still and see such
an outrage consummated, without opposition.
was to almost become accessoryto murder,
and three persons accordingly prepared them
selves TO interfere at the moment But that
tim. could not come upon the passions OF the
multitude until they awed by the solemn
presence Of the apparatus for death, and the
result proved that were right 10 the delay.
The pris lner was taken IN procession 10 the
Summit Of hin near by, where fine old oak
cast broad shade ftom the setting sun.
cord, ending 10 The .hangmsn's knot daDgled
loosely from a projecting limb. The moose was
cast abont his neck. Boioie the signal was
| given, he drew a small purse from his bosom,
| and gave il 10 a friend for his wife at home,
charging him at the same time not to write the
mode of his death, or, If she shonld chance TO
hear Of il. to say from him that he had died in
nocent. II then knelt on the seward. near
the edge OF the shade. aud when the sun wrap
ped him in its yellow rays. offered up last
prayer. II was a frigh,ful thing TO see that
hard featured. strong minded man, sill in the
garb in which he had been torn from his labor
four hours before PRAYING, mol for mercy from
man and hardly even from God, but rather ST.
| fling his emorions. aod only asking from the
Omnpoeni little more strength. The most
| Of this might have been the effuslon ot an ig
norant man, yet native master OF hypocrisy.
striving TO obtain sympathy by protestation Of
| innocence. but i, was also precisely the prayer
in which an Innocent man would have poured
out his soul before God and men. He prayed
| Tor his family. and Tor pardon TO his execution
| ers, touching feelingly npon his early lie and
| Instructions given then by his mother Hith-
erto his voice had been low but strong, aud he
was evidently labo,iug 20 keep every feature
aud emotion under control; but suddenly he
turst into an sgouized cry, that his stony heart
which he could not soften. might be broken
Enthusiastically Heaven! at the same time
convu ulsively bowing his head thrice TO the
ground. with every feature working IN the
keenest agony. He rose from the ground, look
ed hard at the setting sun, and closed his eyes,
bending his OK over on the cord.
The mass Of the spectators were not wholly
unaffected by this. The time had come. and
an energetic interference was made. few
words Induced the crowd TO draw aside for de.
liberation, and 10 that state Of thei, feelings. IL