The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-06-05

A writer in the San Francisco Golden Era
rives the history Of certain wooden building
near the corner ii Washington and Stockton
streets, built in le49, and makes the following
startling developments about its former proprl-
eton Who. he saws, is now member Of the
State Legislature. If the facts are correct, the
name of the Individual should certainly be CIV
en- to the public. Can any person inform Us
who he is, or give US any Information on the
sabjeet? We quote the Era's article for the
benefit Of the public, and call upon that paper
for the honorable gentlemans" name:
"As we before said, the individual who built
this house. was by profession gambler, by
the name of H. His father was men,
Der of the Massachusetts, Legislature for many
wears, and in 1929 removed to Natchez, at the
request of number of relatives who resided
near that city.
At this time young H was eighteen
years of age, and an only child. Here keeping
the company of the reckless and dsssipated
characters, for which Natchez at that time was
notorious, he plunged into every species OF
vice, and soon became irrevOcably welded to
gaming.
His father, learning the great danger which
threatened his son in the city, sent him to re-
side with an uncle who lived few miles in the
country, that he might not be subjected to the
temptations that surrounded him in the city,
hoping by SO doing to wean him from the life
of dissipation and vice on which he was fast
vcrging.
He remained in his uncles family, where he
was treated with the affection of son, for six
months, when dishonoring his cousin, the only
daughter of his uncle, he left for New Orleans,
and in six months from the time he landed
there, he was confirmed gambler. His cousin
Lucy, whom he had so deeply wrOnged, shortly
after became mother, which was a severe
blow to her parents, as well as to the father Of
young H. The child did not live, how
ever, and Lucy, unable to remain longer in the
presence of her parents, whom she had forever
rendered heart-brOken, at the desire of young
H, left the house of her childhood, and
Joined him in New Orleans.
Here they remained until the spring of 40,
by which time H had become a proficient
at gambling. He now concluded to try his
fortune in California, and after much persua-
sion on the part of Lucy, he at length assent
ed to her accompanying him.
They arrived in San Francisco in May of
that year, and turning his attention to his pro-
fession, we find young H, at the end of
three months, with means sufficient to build
the house we have mentioned. Into this he
removed Lucy, where for some time they lived
together, with as much happiness US their so
cial condition will admit. But fortune which
had thus far proved favorable, began to grow
tickle, and he lost his money more rapidly
than he had won it and by degrees he lost
every dollar, his house at length being taken
to pay gambling debt. He became desper~
ate, and began to abuse and ill-treat his already
wretched cousin and mistress, not knowing on
whom elese to vent his rage in his msiOrtunes;
and in a drunkea hour he offered to sell her for
panion. Against such an act she at first plead
with fearful eye; but finding this unavailing,
she at length Indignantly refused, whcrcupOn
he struck her to the floor with u stick of wood,
where he left her for dead then locking the
door, he fled to the mines. The blow did not
kill her, and she recovered, finding herself with
out money, without friends, and without home
4
Lucy is now living on Washington street,
leading life of infamy, forced upon her by the
villainy of relative. The rose of health and
happiness has faded from her cheek not ray
of hope beams in her eye, and sckcning DIES
pair sits upon that face which once bOOmed
with joyful innocence.
And where is her deceivcr? We will tell
you. Finding that gambling did not pay, he
turned his attention to politics, and is now a
member of the California Legislature!
The above is not fancy, but true sketch,
as we stand ready to prove,