New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-07
FATAL ARRAY mt White Oak Springs-The
AssaiIant Hung by the Populace.
Of The Sacramento Tunes and Transcript.

Corre.pordehce Of The Tunes and Transcript
WHITE OAK SPRINGS April 2j, 1852
GENTLEMEN The citizens of White
Oak Springs and vicinity have been called upon to wit
ness one Of the most horTd deeds that happened
in any community. On Wednesday evening, while
Abner Spencer and Timothy Chapman were playing
game OF checkers in White Oak Springs Hotel, James
Hughlett came into the room and commenced abusing
Spencer, by caliog him liar rascal, &c. Spencer
paid ue attention; being well acquainted with him, he
thought him beneath his notice Hughleu left the room
momen,-went into the kitchen, and got large butcher
knifs The cook said TO him. "Jim don't hurt any one
with that knife" Hughlet said, am going to scare
Spencer"
He then came back into the bar.room and commenced
abusing Spencer again There some eight or ten
gentlemen in the at the time and the most Of them
susnl Spencer had got through with the game,
and was standing by the stove. Hughlett commenced
him again in the same way, having the knife con-
ceaed Thus repeatedly provoked Spencer caught the
villain by the hair, threw him down and Immediately
cried Take the kI lie away from him" That was the
fret any one knew about knife Spencer soon kicked
tie knife out of Hugheit's hand WhereupOn Hughett
cried murder and take him of" Spencer then
released hn-wss about fnting, AID said ne was cut
II appear ed that he was cut In the arnthe main
artery being severed The knife also went through his
and into his side, striking rib else II would have
killed him instantly he was sss cut very badly in the
leg ard in several places slightly.
Huahett instantly left the house and started Of bd.
was soon arrested and brought back lie appeared to
care nothing about the fatal result OF his nurderous acts
From this time forth Spencer was IN great distress, III
about 10 O'Clock today, at which tine he died.
Justice Hicks hsd Hughett examined, and the papers
made out 20 ,eud him 10 Coloma for safe keeping In
consequence OF the rapid decline Of Spencer, the ct
gems determined not 10 allow The prisoner TO be taken
away till il known whether the wounds proved
mortal not In OF fatal termination II was the
opinion that justice had best be done al tme WhOut
expense 10 the county
Accordingly, when il becsme apparent that spencer
could not live about hundred and hiry miners as
stmbled and appointed a Jury, who knew nothing OF
~ 10 decide the of the
and TX he pensy The Jury were the best men In our
dieeipgs with whom the prisoner himself was satisfied
at least be said he did object to them After pa
tent bearing Of the te,timopy the prisoner was found
guilty. OF murder Justice Hicks then asked the Jury
What should be done with the pisoner, and they said
The people who were present should decide The Gaes-
ton was accordingly put 10 the crowd, whether the
prisoner should be hung, sent 10 Cooma and over
two 10 one voted, Hang him.
The prisoner was taken 70 tree close by, where he
stood on a wagon while the rope was being placed
round bis neck. He did not sppear 10 think ne would
be hung I'LL this decisive step taken a. soon az ne
realized the awful fate which awaited him, he was al
most overwhelmed with terror and confirmation cry
ing in pteous terms, Oh God have mercy on my poor
soul "
TIE wagon was driven from under the miserable man,
leaving him struggling in the cir I'll he died of stranga
lsiOn Al 10 O'Clock to-day, the body WAS cot down
ard burd beneath the tree where the execution took
plaza - sosrcer
took place TO day. The Rev Mr.. Oliver, from Onlon'
was present, and made tome remarks and PIsyye.'
which we've very appropriate TO the solemn occasao.
SPENCER wss from Butler County, Ohio lie was &c u
reH AZ in every Of the word, and OF sresPecs
family, beil one Of TIE most pesceable young men
the State Fever interfering with any ones business %.
his own have known both parties for yesr-ne'es
knew of cry previs quarrel dispute between them
and /, would have been next TO impossible 10 Pck
Quarrel with Spencer. have known him 70 submit 70
p,ults which few would allow, and that perhaps,
ought 10 have been resented which ne suffered 70 pass
ra,ker thsn 10 become involved in quarrel
Hueblett was last from Missouri ] am opposee :.
mob law shall not Attempt 10 justify the proceeans
above alluded TO further than PLAIN ana t
s,xement of the facts makes apparent il Is but Jus
however, To say, that more orderly crowd never -
sembled on sby similar occasion than those VIZ 10
vored The execution Of Hughlett There was no, ~
s,,,e in6oner, sfer sufficient time hsd elapsed to give
ihsn SIMPLE opportunity for consideration TIE pri,on
er had a. fair and impartial trial a. be could nav
| in any Court under heaven LooA