The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-24
THE DAILY DISPATCH

The DAILY DISPATCH.
LATEST FROM SAN JUAN AND CALI.
FORNfA.
The Prometheus, which arrived at N. York
on the 2lst., brough, intelligence from CaIifor-
MIA to the 18th. She left San Juan on The l,h
inst.
CELEBBATIoE OF INDEPEEDENcK.-On the
2nd OF June thr British steamer OF war Albion
arrived at the Port Of San Juan del Norte, or
Greytown, with the British Commodore Of the
West India Sfaiion,. who notified the authori.
ties that the Governments of Great Britain and
the United Suites had agreed to gnaraniee the
Independence OF San Juan. Com. Parker, of
the Safaiac, whom fhr British Commodore
expected TO meet. had not arrived, but there
was no. doubt OF his concurrence, on the parf
OF his Government. Commissioners had bro.
ceeded to Costa Rica and Nicaragua for the
purpose of definitely settling the boundaries
Of the territory Of San Juan. gszS.s
On Friday, june 4, the ladies' and gentlemen
composing tho party of R. u. Folger. Esq, Of
Sacramento, who arrived BY the Promeihens,
" occupied the large building Of Capt. Curtis,
invited the Mayor, Council, Judges of the
Supreme Court, and other funtionaries, to an
entertainment in honor Of the recognition of
the Independence of San Juan del Norte.
Many toasts were given, and the affair went
off finely.
sERf-TRIAL-sESTENCE OF DEATH-Ex-
EcUTIoN.
SAN JUAN DEL. NoRTE, MAY 80, IS52.-On
the evening Of the oath instant, the room Of p.
Lafnrgue, Frenchman from California, en-
route tor the States, at the American Hotel.
was broken into during supper and the trunk
OF Mr.. l.. broken open and robbed of twenty
seven ihosand three hundred and ffty dollars
in gold dust, coin and jeweIry. The loss was
discovered a few minutes after the preparation
OF the robbery and alarm given, and suspicion
Immediately rested upon some of class of
sporting gentry with which our town is in
tested, many of whom were arrested, and tive
of them, named John Philips alias Bill Cliff
ford, and James Powers, held for trial. The
Californians in town, numbering about two
hundred and fifty, were strongly disposed TO
give them taste of primitive California law.
which the authorities here oil course would
not permit.
On the morning Of the 26th, the Californians
determined to capture the prisoners al all risks,
and made an organization for that purpose
The citizens were Immediately called to arms
The Police Station garrison-cannon loaded
with grape and canister, planted at each door,
and every preparations made to defend our city
and our laws. At length it was announced
that the attack would be made at two o'clock
in the afternoon. In the meantime an offer OF
5 DO had been made to the boy who was the
principal witness against the prisoners, to in
duce him to leave town prior TO the trial, which
was fixed for Friday the 28th inst. This pro-
position having been made by one of the Pc
lcemen, and reaching the ears of the Califor-
mans enraged them still more. The Mayor
having heard Of il, immediately arrested the
man and placed him in irons, and sent the boy
under strong guard of to the Y. ;. steamei
Saranac. Toward3 o'clock in the afternoon,
Capt. Pendergras, Of the Saranac, came ashore
and made speech to the excited Californians
recommending them to suffer the authorities to
proceed with the trial Of the prisoners without
| interference from them; to refrain from outrage
of any sort and to disperse quietly. The
crowd reluctantly obeyed the Captain, and
moved slowly of breathing vengeance if the
| prisoners escaped, or the money was not re-
covered. 85f
From this time the police station was gaurd-
ed night and day by the citizens, and on Fri.
| day, the 28th inst. the prisoners were brought
up ior trial, pleading not guilty. The Jury
were sworn from among the citizens Of the
town and the trial proceeded, lasting abou,
eight hours. The prisoners produced two wit
uesses, named John jackson alias Broky
Jack, ana James Thompson, whose testimony
ifaccepted, would have proved an 0li5i ia the
case OF tho accused. The evidence agaiHs,
them was purely circnmstantial, but of SO
clear a nature asnOt to admit OF doubt as to
the guilt of the prisoners. The Jury were out
about ten minutes. and returned with verdict
of guilty. Sentence was deferred until 10
. r.
clearly understood that the sentence would be
death.
!. Early on Saturday morning, Philips, one Of
the convicted. made confession impiicuting
this same "Thompson" and "Broky Jack
The former being already under arrest for the
charge OF perjury; the latter had absented him.
self. Philips conducted the Guard 10 the spot
where the treasure was buried, and after
searching, they found one bag Of gold dust,
containing about one thousand dollars, and
one box OF iawelry, the rest had been abstract
ed, supposed by Broky Jack. Sentence was
then deferred on Philips and Powers, until
search could be made for the other villain,
but he could not be found, and this morning
Sunday james Thompson was brought up
ior trial, and blended not guilty, bat finding
that the confessions Of Philips was SO clear
against him, he Withdrew that plea, Bnd enter
ed plea of guilty.
This afternoon the three convicts were each
sentenced to be hung tomorrow, between ten
and four o'clock. This sentence was impos-.
ed under the English Common Law without
the statutatory resisionsl which had been.
adopted with the new Constitution in April
Iast. Another member of the same ships
Company with Nj. Lafargue was attacked by
high-waymen Americans and Spaniards. IN
the road between San Juan Gel Sur and tr-
gin Bay, and robbed of bis three years earn
ings, about eight thousand dollars. Robberles
have been very frequent on this route, but We
trust we have now got hold Of the leaders Of
the gang and we mean 10 exiirpate the whole
Of them.
The American Commissioner, Mr. Walsh,
and the British Consul General, Mr.. Wyke,
arrived in the Saranac, and will proceed i'm
mediaiely to San Jose, Costa RIGA, from thence
to Nicaragua. The Saranac sailed on the 9th
for Havana.
The brig Frederic, Of Boston from Now
York, sailed from this port sbooi the Oh inst,
for the West Indies, and returned on me Wtn
mat. ali hanes sick With fever. Cspiain died
8, ,he I6sh and wins buried 1T sea. The yes