Washington sentinel., 1854-04-28
DUELs, MURDERS, AND GRIMES IN
CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA.
Like all new countries which are settled by
mixed population Of men from every quarter
ofthe globe, who 90 to embark in hazardous en-
terprises, and who aim 10 amass great fortunes
in the shortest and easiest manner, California
presents many striking features. In sueha couu,.
try, where conflicts and collisions occur between
men who have no sympathes in common, and
who have grown so habituated TO danger ard
strife as rather TO court than avoid them, it IS
not surprising that there should be many
brawls, fights, and murders. Hat California
has latterly been the scene Of 50 many crimes,
as to have excited the liyeliest apprehensions
in the minds Of the more soberm;uded ard
orderly Of her citizens. The California papers
TEEN with accounts of shocking crimes and
brutalities. We group some that recently oc-
Cured in the space of a few days, which We
extract from California papers. Some were
affairs Of honor; others plain murders.
IA duel was fought March 20, at Volcano
Bar, on the middle fork of the American river,
by Messrs. j. S. Landon and David e. Hacker,
publication, made by Mr.. Hacker, relative to
the senatorial election, was the cause Of the.
duel. They fought with pistols--distance ff
teen paces-and at the second fire Mr., Landon
was killed
"Messrs. McBrayer and Park, members ofth
assembly, were prevented from fighting duel
by the interference of the Masonic lodge, Of
which they were members.
"Thomas Burke, of Sonora, was shot by
James Smith, of the same place, in the Union
Hotel, San francisco, on the 10th Of March.
Burke survived about forty-eght hours The
murder was the result of a drunken quarrel.
g man named Schwartz Swiss, having
stolen horse at Jackson, Calaveras county, was
pursued, arrested, taken back to where he COM
mitted the larceny, and hung March 22) upon
the same tree that at different times six other
men have been suspended from without Judge
or jury. The orderly citizens of the place were
very much incensed at the proceedings of the
mob, and the county Judge issued warrants for
the arrest OF all parties connected with the
lynching
:" In an affray at Fiddletown, El Dorado
county, March p, Mr.. w. Baldwin was shot
and instantly killed by man named Whitney
An attempt was made to lynch Whitney, but he
succeeded in securing the sheriff7s protection,
and is now awaiting trial.
"a few days ago about four hundred Chi
nese, imperialists and rebels, engaged in O
pitched battle in Greenwood valley, Ell Dorado
county. After fighting several hours with sticks
and stones, the imperialists ran. Two were
mortally wounded, and fifteen others received
wounds more or less serious.
Two convicts escaped from the State prison
last week. They have not been recaptured
In an election afray, at Parks Bar, March
10, James Mulloney was stabbed aud killed.
"a fight occurred at Bear Valley, Mariposa
county, March IL, between two parties of Mex
leans. Four persons were killed.
"The punishment Of Peter Nichols (sen.
fenced to be hung at Sonora on the 7th Of
April, for the murder Of Parrott1 has been com
muted to Imprisonment in the State prison for
the term of seven years.
"a Mexican was stabbed and killed in this
city, March 10, by Peruvian. The assassin
escaped.
Thomas Cowan, a gambler, murdered Mr..
William X. Newman at Carsons creek, Mari
posa county, March Is. Cowan was indicted
by a special grand jury, convicted and SEN
fenced TO be hung on the 7th of April.
Stockton is infested with gang of bur
glars. few nights since dozen dwelling
houses were broken open, rooms were ransack-
ed, and many valuables carried away.
"DuEL.-A duel took place on Tuesday, be-
tween Mr.. B. F. Washington, editor Of the
Times and Transcript, and Mr.. A. G. Wash
burn, of the Alta California, in which, after
three shots, Mr.. Washburn was seriously wound
ed. The circumstances, as briefly related by
a person who was on the spot, are as follows:
The parties, accompanied by their seconds and
surgeons, repaired to the ground at an early
hour, but were attended by so many spectators
that the place of meeting was changed, and the
pffn EpnI " nnIT NJ,
sion Dolores, and all was not arranged until
about s, a. m. The attending physicians were
DR.. Wake Briarly, for Mr.. Washington, and DR..
Williams, of Sacramento, for Mr.. Washburn
The weapons were Wessons rifles: distance,
forty paces-to fire at the word. There were
about one hundred persons on the ground. The
seconds were Messrs Benjamin Lippncott end
George Wilkes, for Mr.. Washburn and Messrs
Wake, Briarly and Philip L. Herbert, for Mr.
Washington. At the first fire, Mr.. Washburn's
rifle went off in the air, and his antagonist
lowered his weapon without firing 1t was
taken by one of his seconds and discharged
Atthe second fire Mr.. Washburn's ball struck
the ground, some yards in advance of his ad-
versary, and Mr.. Washington again lowered
his rife without discharging it, owing to some
mistake in the word. At the third fire both
missed. At the fourth, Mr.. Washburn's hat
was shot from his head and the fifth and last
Mr.. Washburn was shot under the shoulder
blade, the ball passing along the back and
shattering the right shoulder severely. We
are informed the wound is not mortal The af-
fair grew out of some remarks exchanged
through the two journals, of which the princi-
pal parties were the editors"
--~>~s~-
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.