davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23
Sentence Of Lake.


The sentence of Lake, one year in the
State Prison, was heard with regret by a
great number of the citizens of this place,
though every one admits that no jury of
honest men could have Drought in any
other verdict than guilty" With the evil
dence before them. A petition to Govern
or Bigler, praying for the pardon of Lake,
is now circulating in this county, signed
by several members of the bench and bar.
and if we mistake not, by some of the jury
who found the verdict. Many of our citi-
zens expressed desire to sign such petit
ton; an opportunity is now offered, and
it is thought that the Executive will re-
ceive an appeal in behalf of that wretched
old man, SO numerously signed by respect
able, law-abiding citizens, that he will
think the petition worthy of notice, as an
expression of popular opinion.
1t is very far from our intention to at
tempt to justify an assault with deadly
weapons with intent to murder, but there
are mitigating circumstances in this case
that are very different from common street
shooting or bar rencounters. We have
not room to recapitulate the evidence, but
must refer the reader TO last weeks Citizen
where it is reported at length.
John Lake is an old man, gray-headcd
has almost reached Heavens statute of
limitation, three score and ten years; he
has been deserted and disf onored by his
wife, the mother of his children, and he
has brooded over his wrongs until he has
become desperate and crazy. Laboring
under sort of madness oceasioned by the
PLAUSIBLE story of the woman, and this ag-
gravated by the presence of two helpless
children, who every hour reminded him of
their mothers shame, what wonder tLat
he should seek to be avenged of the man
whom he thought the desolator of his
hearth I?
Lake is evidently the wreck of high
minded, honorable man; his previous char
acter was good, as will appear from the
evidence; he is now filter subject for the
insane asylum than for the State Prison.
Any one who witnessed his dignihed, man.
ly and respectful bearing, must be con-
WINGED that he is not murderer at heart
did not attempt to shed the blood of the
man he thought his greatest enemy until
he believed himself and his children to be
the objects of scorn and ridicule, that must
follow them after he was dead. We have
heard and read his insane rawlings on the
subject o, his wife's in6delity, and they
never seemed to US like anything else than
the babblings of senility.
But Lake has attempted to take the life
of fellow-being. and the law in his case
does not recognize a Justification; he must
therefore expiate his crime in company
with other convicts who have made MUIR
der and theft and burglary, the chief OBJ
ject of their lives; if he were allowed to
tell his story to his fellows, he would be
laughed at and tainted with his unsteady
hand, and uncertain aim, and faint heart, |
and want Of experience in the work of
murder
We think-and we only speak for our
self, the names on the petition will speak
for the community-that Governor Bigler
will never find filter subject for Execu-
tive clemency, convicted of the same crime.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

1PIzERINCrUM' DEFINED-The Balti-
more Sun gives the definition of the word
sPizerinctum." 1t is said to denote "a
class of politicians not to be depended on. y
In Pennsylvania it is applied to a class Of
broken down, ringboned and spawned po-
litical hacks, who have been flying the
track on the Democratic race course
There is "smart sprinkIing" of them in
California.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

RELIGION OF THE PREsIDENrs.-The re-
igious belief Of fourteen Presidents NAV
be given as follows Washington, Madi .
son. Monroe, Harrison, Tyler and Taylor
were Episcopalians; Jefferson, John ADJ
ans, John Quincy Adams and Fillmore.
were Unitarians; Jackson and Polk were
Presbyterians; Van Buren, was of the
Dutch Reformed Charch, and President
Pierce is Trinitaria n Copurepationalists
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23
Road Meeting.

1t will be seen by reference to the pro-
ceedings of the Sierra and Yuba Turnpike
Companys meeting, that our citizens are
In earnest about the new road. They are
going about the matter deliberately and
with the determination to carry out the
project. The Yuba Turnpike Company
have offered to make the road from Fos-
ter's Bar to Oak Valley, near the county
line; we have not learned whether their
proposition has been accepted. If so it is
hoped that they will find means to i'm
prove the road up Fosters Bar Hill, which
is very good road now, except the rising
scale is too abrupt. A gradual ascent of
that hill can be made north of the present
road. That hill overcome, there is moth
ing to fear above. We look with some
anxiety for the report of the Engineer
Mr.. Scott, of Marysville, who has been
making various surveys of roads and water
ullcheS, Is well acquainted with the con-
templated route, and he thinks the road
can be made at much less cost than
what it has been generally estimated
at. 1t will be perceived that the Turn
pike Company have designated fifty thou
sand dollars as the amount of its Capital
Stock; from what We have just intimated
we think the sum quite ample, and we
doubt not that the full amount will be
subscribed before the books are open very
long, as the road will be of immense adj
vantage not only to the people of this
county and region, but also to the mer.
chants of Marysville, as well as the people
| generally on the line Of the proposed route
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

10y A venerable clergyman, aged nine
ty-nine years, recently preached in New
Hampshire. What number of yellow
legged chickens must have been decapitated
in that time
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23
Change Of Venue.

The following is copy of the affidavit
filed by Judge Barbour, asking for a
change of venue, from Yuba County to
some other County in the Tenth Judicial
district. We hardly think the eau ses
| assigned sufficient to take extra trouble to
adjudicate common case of assault and
battery, that under other circumstances
would be summarily disposed of. The of
fence was committed in Yuba County, and
there let it be settled.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, CoURr OF SESSIONS.
YUBA COUNTY DECEMBER TERM, 1854.
The People VS.. ". I. Bdrbour-This
aifant being first duly sworn, deposeth ard
saith, that he does not believe that he can
have fair and impartial trial in the coun-
ty of Yuba, for the following reasons:
That since the day charged in the In
dictment upon which the offence is alledged
to have been committed, one 0. p Stidger,
the prosecuting witness, and others, to
him unknown, have written and caused to
be published in the Marysville Herald
many articles concerning said alleged o.
fence that are wholly false and slanderous,
and that if these were to be believed by
the public as true, would greatly predju-
dice the trial of the case; that he expects
to prove that the said Stidger has devoted
much of his time and energy in giving
publicity to these garbled misrepresenta-
tions OF the affair; that affiant, but for
this unfair and unjust course pursued
against him By editors and parties in inter-
est and feeling, by discussing in the news
papers the merits of case before it is
tried in a court of justice. would have
greatly preferred trial in the city of
Marysville; that these things have been
done during his absence from Marysville
on official duties.
For these reasons your affiant most res
pectfully asks that the venue of this case
be changed to some other county in the
Tenth Judicial District of the State, and
such as the Court may designate.
And in duty bound he will ever pray.
(Signed w. I. BARBOUR.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

TRAVELLING NEws-DEpor. - Charles
Barnes, of Langtons Express, left Dow
melville yesterday at IL o'clock, met the
Express at the Sleighville House, carried
the States papers to Forest City and re-
turned to Downieville by 61a O'Clock, p. m.
This was spreading information rapidly.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

SAN FRANCISCO HERALD-The Herald
of Dec. 18th, contains large engraving
Of Sevastopol and its Notifications. 1t is
worth volumes Of written descriptions,
and does infinite credit to the enterprising
proprietor of that correct and reliable
iournal-John Nugent.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

Lorrr.-A San Francisco paper speak
ing of the Soule difficulty, says =" The
speck of war has suddenly faded out OF
the Eastern horizon, and the hopes Of
Young America, which went up like a
rocket, may now come down like a stick. :,
In other words, went up like sparrow.
grass, and come down like hopper-prass
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

A Coop YIELD.-The potatoes, alone,
raised in Fetter's garden this season, are
worth two thousand dollars. What would
down-east truck cnltivators think of that7
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

gsATHE only way to keep woman's
disposition from souring, is to sweeten it
with the sugar of matrimony, as soon after
she reaches twenty as possible.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

EMPLOYMENT FOR COUNTY PRISONERS
In short time the prisoners confined in
the loggery on the other side of the river,
will be employedin clearing off the grounds
belonging to the County Buildings. Three
hombres are in for it," on account Of the
adhesive nature of their fingers, and while
stopping there, the Court thinks they may
as well make themselves useful.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

PLATTsBURG n. Y. REPUBLICAN-This
valuable exchange, now in its forty-fifth
year, we receive regularly -none more
welcome. 1t is edited by Col. R. G..
Stone. who, though he is a veteran in the
profession, seems to have lost nothing OF
the brilliancy aid playfulness of youth.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

ONLY THINK OF Ir.-The New York
weekly Tribune charges fifty cents line
for advertisements. An advertisement Of
not quite column, costs 1851.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

OPPOSITION THE LIFE OF TRADE-The
San Jose folks are hard at work on their
State Capitol The Sacramentans have
finished theirs. Sacramento two lengths
ahead
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

CHARGED ON HM.-At the late review
of the Sierra Guards we observed the sem
tinel charging on pig. The pig fed in
continently, having no other object in Wis
iting the field than to get at the roots and
grounds of the affair.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

ABOUT four hundred copies of the Gold
e. Era are sold weekly in Downieville.-
So much for an Original paper.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

The SIERRA GUARDS made very cred
liable appearance at the review last Sat
urday. Gen. Miles took occasion to cor.
pliment.oficers and men very highly, ex-
pressing much establishment at their pro-
ficiency in so short time.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

E-"We admire woman for her beauty,
respect her for her intelligence, and love
her because we can't help it." That's
quoted.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

Els- VIlLAINoUs RaMARK-An editor
going counting, said he was going "to
press" ()
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

RrThe young man who was drowned
in food of tender recollection, has been
fshed up with gudgeon-hook.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

CoNJUGAL-A man being commiserated
on account of his wife running away, said,
Don't pity me till she comes back again.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

BURIED UP.-A miner was buried up
Thursday evening, by the caving Of =
bank. Net hurt.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

Too NUMERoUs--The Tray and Jowler
family. What has become of the man
with the 'strike 81"
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

NEW BRIDGE.-B. NJ. Fetter is building
new bridge over the North Fork, short
distance above town.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

Eg~ The town Of Crockett, Texas, has
not single manageable lady. Go in
there, lemons and get squeezed!
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

WREFcHED CoUNTY.--There is but one
unmarried lady in Trinity County. ....a
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

A CITIZENS BALL is to take place in
Sacram ento on the 29th inst.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

nDA man has right to scold his
wife about the coffee, when be finds sufh-
cient grounds sl6l
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

B@ Those who go to law for damage.
generally get them.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

estate ALMASAc-W are indebted
to the publishers of the above named PAM
phlet published at the Journal Office. 1t
contains great variety of valuable Stats
tics, tabular statements of State and
County officers, terms Of courts, time OF
elections, &c. Every professional man
should have it-price only halt a dollar.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

WE are indebted to Mr.. Lambert Of
Langton 4 Bros Express, for the Gibson.
ville Messenger and Butte Record.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

On CoNsIGNMENr-I'he Miners Adrc-
cate says that Miss Sarah Pellet has pro-
posed to have Eve thousand New England
girls shipped to California, if the different
Divisions Of the Sons of Temperance will
each receive certain number on consign-
ment. Miss Pellet is deserving Of the
gratitude of all bachelordom for this hu-
name proposal. A cargo Of the sort
would do more toward civilizing Cali
fornia than ten thousand ministers, each
one surrounded by a halo of blue blazes.
If the Sons of Temperance are to be the
consignees, we will very shortly be found
knocking at the door.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

Da- What molasses is to flies, calico i
to corduroys.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

Rich CLAIM-Ihe Jersey Company
took out $500 on Friday; one tub of dirt
yielded ten ounces. These are the claims
that were sold for $50 a piece a month
ago. The names of tie company are Isaac
q. Jones, w. 6. Davis, DR.. A. Chase and
Barney Malloy. They still have large
space Of ground untouched-probably as
much as they can work out in another
season.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

PIcToRTALs-Altogether the best pic
torial that we have ever seen in Califor-
MIA, is the Sacramento Union, for the holi.
days. The engravings are well executed,
evidently from drawings by good artist
and man of sense. We look in vain for
the desperate, piratical looking miner, with
the long beard and ragged shirt, seated Oh
rock elutching convulsively chunk OF
gold as big as horses head, while a
grizzly bear sits Oh the opposite rock
watching the capers he is supposed to cut.
The Union would not afford such infinite
merriment in school-room, as some other
fast pictorials we have seen, not being out
landish enough to please juvenile lovers of
the marvellous, but it is the pictorial we
should prefer to send home, to give to our
friends correct idea of the gold mines.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

"BoBBIN' AROUND" Tonight Mrs.
Chapman will sing her unrivalled song Of
"Bobbm' Around" That song has been
received everywhere with great applause,
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

PREPARING FOR WAR-A Goodyear
Bar correspondent informs us that some of
the citizens Of at that place who were in
the Mexican War, and in whose nostrils
the smell of gunpowder yet fingers, are
about organizing Military Company,
and will hold meeting on Wednesday
night, at the Post Office for that purpose.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

MINING AT GooDYEAR's--Thep rospec-
tors in our upper fat have this week, alter
an expenditure Of over $4,000, struck the
old channel of the river, and are reaping
their golden harvest; with that indomita-
be perseverance characteristic OF Califor-
mans, they have labored for upwards of
two years upon this undertaking. The
claims of the Union & Wellman Tunntl
Co., are at present yielding $50 per day
to the man. They have drifted over 500
feet. c.. F. M.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

TURNED UP AGAIN.-The big wheel 1T
the upper end Of Jersey Flume- w
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

BONNEVILLE Book SToRE.-Almost
everything the ordinary reader wants may
be found at the Downieville Book Store;
from Gibbons Roman Empire down to a
Plantation Song-book. 1t is matter of
establishment to US how they collected such
q variety Of rare books, that one would
not think of inquiring for here. The adj
mircrs of "blood and thunder" literature
can also find there Harrison Ainsworth,
Sixteen String Jack, Guy Fawkes, and for
ausht we know scientific description Of
Symms' Hole.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

INDIsPosEp.-Gen. Allen of the Marys
vile Herald. is dangerously indisposed
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

To CONSEQUENTLY unpardona-
BILE carelessness on our part, we lost the
names of some of our last weeks cores
pondents hence we could not send them
copies of the paper-a mishap that we
very much regret. Please send the full
name written plainly on the manuscript
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

THEATRE-Our Theatre-going folk will
have an opportunity Of hearing the cele-
brated chapman Family" tonight
Whoever has heard them before will not
fail to go this evening without any porsua-
sion. This is probably the last entertain
ment of the sort that we will have until
spring, and it is advisable to make the
best of it. They appear again tomorrow
evening.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

DAMAGES FOR LIBEL-The jury in the
case of George Thatcher and wife, agai st
the publishing committee of the Christian
Advocate, rendered verdict of $4,000 for
plaintiffs. In July last, communication
appeared in the Advocate, over the sigma
ture of ''Dottings Down." in which CON-
claimants were charged by inuendo with
living together as man and wife, al hough
unmarried, that their house was tie resort
of women Of disreputable character. and
that they had been instrumental in endeav-
oring to ruin young female in the vicini-
ty. The article was written by Rev. NJ.
q. Briggs, who ayowed the authorship du-
ring the trial
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

The PICK AND SHOVEL department has
nothing Of Importance this week.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

STATES PAPERs-The States papers
by the last Steamer were delivered first by
S. w. Langton, yesterday afternoon
Left Marysville at 30 minutes past seven;
arrived in Downeville at 20 minutes past
4, p. M, by the same time consulted on
starting-ten minutes to FIVE O'Clock By
the Downievile time. This is fast tray
cling; who would be "mula ~
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

BALL AT EUREKA.-We very much re-
greet that we could not attend the ball Civ
en- at the Pacific Hotel, Eureka, on We'd
nesday night. We are informed by a
gentleman from our Office who had the
good fortune to be present, that we lost a
rich treat by not going. Couldn't help it |!
Copy hook empty, and printers clamorous!
The supper is said to have been the most
elegant and tasty affair ever got up there
abouts. We are convinced of that fact,
basing our opinion on the area of a pound
cake sent to the Citizen Office by the fair
mistress Of the entertainment, for which
we all respectfully tender our thanks.
HUssEY's MINsTRELs-Some time ago
we printed several hundred bills, pre-
grammes, etc., for Hrssey's Minstrels, at
the instance of one St. Clair, for which we
never got the qu,d pro quo. A day or
two since we received letter signed by
seven of the MINISTRIES, stating that they
had nothing to do with the payment Of
hills-were employed by St. Clair at so
much month, and that ST. Clair informed
them that he had paid all bills; also that
he had decamped, leaving them penniless.
They offer to pay the bill themselves, and
send card for publication, denouncing
st. Clair in very srtong language. We
think its publication would do no good;
we are satisfied those young gentlemen did
not Intentionally defruud us, and that the
bill will be paid, when they are able.
The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-23

~ Sevastopol has $4,000 inhabitants
The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-15
MIndian Matters. y


We deem ia sufficient reoinder to the article which
appeared under the above caption in the Int sgsncer OF
yesterday, to state briefly that the intention OF article
cannot be MISUNDERSTOOD. being statement of facts
in reference to the convention of 1887 between the Choc
taws and Chickasaws for the information OF those who
might be led into the belief that the connexon
between those tribes forced one, and that "redess
OF grievances is not provided for and therefore, the
forcble Intervention of the government Of the United
States 10 necessary We have not denied the right OF the
government nerpose On the contrary have point
ed the mode and manner provided in the convention
Of 1887 for its nterposi,ion We have expressed no
opinion whatever the merits OF the controversy be-
tween the Chckasaws and Choclaws; whatever a.
to the policy proper to be adopted in reference 10 their
future government We deem proper TO state that the
reports from certain officers OF the Indian department,
90 largely drawn upon in the Inlsuigenesr, written
before it was known that the Choctaws and Chicka
had agreed upon basis for settlement Of all mat
tiers in dispute between them.
The opinion was advanced by us that the two tribes
should be left to determine for themselves the form OF gov
eminent under which they shall ve-separate united
and that the United States interfere force seps-
ration In this fully sustained by the 5h article Of
the treaty between the United States and the Chocaws,
concluded September 1880, in which it stipulated st
the United States obliged 10 protect the Choeiu,0s from
domestic strife and from foreign enemies."