Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-15
soUATTER RIOTS IN CALIFORNIA.
FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE OF JUNE

FROM THE FRANCISCO CHRONICLE OF JUNE O.
Another riot to gain possession of fifty yara lot on
Green street, between Stockton and Powell took place
about half nine o'clock last evening It seems that
John Murphy claimed possession Of the disputed pre-
misses, but lived directly opposite. person named
Mooney, with force of fifty MORE went to the pre-
misses and commenced tearing down the fence and pitch
ing lumber the lot with view Of erecting building
Murphy seeing this, objected when firing of pistols
commenced and he Mrs. Murphy went to the door
called for her husband, and while standing there ived
ball in her breast woundng her seriously, and perhaps
fatally. Some twenty shots were fred four OF
which took effect Mooney, the leader of the aggressive
party. He was taken and carried to the hospital As
as news could be got to the police Capt Monks
rested three of the party-Wrght, Duffy and Murphy.
They will probably be brought before the Recorder this
morning.
What is to be done! Are men tostake the law into
their own hands and settle title property with the rife
and revolver? Are the lives of all citizens not men alone
but women and children, to be eoparded by those who
are greedy to get to hold land that they do
who is slain their desires be grated For what
are courts constituted judges elected ures summoned
Where is the ument Of the national boast that we are
law-abiding people? Battles fought in the streets
Notifications erected shot down like dogs and
let. When thu battle is the police arrest person
two, take them to the station house. and lock them MP
The wounded 80 to the hospital the murdered to their
graves.
But we have Recorder to deal out Justice Judge
Baker has resigned the Boards of Aldermen meet and
say nothing about election Of another to fill his place
lnulHerence why 10 the authorities
do something to prevent these riots instead Of leaving all
rioters perperate the acts of murder and devasa
don? snot necessary to inquire whether the parties
who thus act are squatters antsquatters. If they
murder they murderers and should be treated as
such. The parties who make the attack without autho-
rty Of law the aggressors and should be treated as
such. Neither the the other should be allowed
to over ride oil lsw and humanity, hooking the courts
and destroying property and life.
What should be done then? 1t may not be SO easy to
what should be done, but it is evident what should
not be DONE The courts the proper and only power
capable Of deciding the claims to land and they alone
should be allowed to do SO. Guns will not do it, armed
bands will not do it. All such decisions will but be tenn
porary To the law and the testimony all must come at
and is the business and duty of the authorities
OF the city to prevent all Of these awless ourages be
they perpetraed by whomsoever they may The law Of
might will not do; the decision of blood should not be
allowed. If there be civil authority and power in the
Corporation ought to be exerted prevent such
as are occurring daily If there be not sufficient force
in the civil arm if the police cannot enforce order let
us have out the military until these disgracefnl
shall have been stopped and the courts come to the
rescue 1t is fair to infer that he who will not submit his
claim to judicial investigation and arbtrament has not
confidence in his cause prefers force to law. win he
be allowed to take his into his hand and
Judgment even the taking offe It matters not
whether il be squater anti-squater the course is
execrabe and dsgacefu to the city government which
| allowsit and to the whole community. a rs7t