The Trinity times., 1854-12-30
\ Dreadful Irageey.

by the name Of johnson, commonly kuo~r
A. 81 Long Johnson stabbed another persor
by the name OF Montgomery at Iowa HiH
and ~ae hung the next day by mob, al
though his victim VAS yet alive.
We gather the following particulars from
The faiurn Wig, Erta.
We are not informed OF the cause Of The
quarrel, and only that il occurred on the
morning after the tireman's Ball. and iha
johnson knocked Montgomery dov n, ana
that the latter subsequently procured a pts
to which upon ,he Two again meeting, be
fired AZ the former The pistol hang fire
aud Johnson avoided the shot by dOdging.
aud immediately drawing u knife. he stabb,
sud cut Montgomery in terrible manner
IN several places.
1t seems hat after the affrav resulting IN
the mortaily wounding Of Montgomery, John
sou fed, bat was pursued, Overtaken, aud
placed in the hands If Dcpuiy Sh, riff Sin
clair, in whose custody he remained untd
about 10 O'clock in the evening. At this
time large crowd of people had assembled
aud a call WAS made for jury, whcrrupon
ont uf this numbtr twelve persons were cho
sen to try the prisoner. The jury thus en-
pannelled, retired TO the Queen City Hall
where they remained until about sunrise
yesterday morning, when they brought in a
verdici Of guilty" Upon r,nd tiun Of the
verdict, the crowd proceeded to choose oh
GERS ior the occasion, and about noon The
prisoner WAS taken short distance from
town, 10 a convenient trep. fhaVIng been in
formed II The fate that awaited nin) where
upon rope WIS produced. aud also a couple
kegs-One placed upon the top Ot the oil er
for the prison Ia stand upon, aud after
the cord was ali usted t. hs OK, an oppor-
tunity WAS given for whatever remarks he
might desire to make.
Our informant was too far distant 10 dis
tnctiy hear all that was said but states that
AT tins time johnson called for writing % ate
rials, but HE hands being confined, a gentle
man present noted for him the remarks which
he made for the purpose. The prsonsr then
stated that some person present owed him
500, which he wished paid to some one to
whom he (prisoner) WAS indebted. lie also
wished y ring to be taken from his finger and
sent 20 hi. mother and sister but hs hand
was found TO De ~ mach ~ II from be ng
bound. az TO r uder il impossible to remove
it, Several remarks Were made bv him 10
different persons present about this time.
which our informant was unable to hear
The prisoner then requested that the ropr
should be properly fixed, and that he be per-
mittrd to climb 70 the limb Of the tree and
Jump off. This eng denied him, he a,kcd
permission 10 give the word himself, which
was granted. whereupon he was placed upon
the keg- and the rope being tghtened. he
distinctly counted one, two, three, and Jump
ed, thus partially becoming his own eXecu-
toner.
During the whole Of the proceedings he
appeared perfectly cool. and entirely ludih,.
:. =: 20 ~ f.:e T'>"re was about two thou
ea,d people present but no rowd>ism or
drunkenness was manifested during the en-
tire day.
This johnson once before in 81. we think.
came near meeting the same fate AT C0lorna,
but hy reason Of his entreaties. was released,
upon condition that he should leave the place
Immediately. which he did
According 10 our latest information, Mont
gomery was s'l alive. bat no hopes were
entertained OF his recovery, the knife with
which he was stabb d having penetrated the
lungs. We understand that he was clerk
Of the last Legislature Of this State.
We look upon the above instance OF mob
law a. one Of the greatest ou,rages on law
order, and justice ever committed in any civ
ilzod community. Rife as California has
heretofore been with is barbarous eufurce-
monts Of these infamous ourages, we cannot
cal to mind an instance in the annals of our
history, 90 revolving to all feelings Of human
ity and justice.
Here has been a private quarrel in which
one party seems il have been about as much
to blame as the other--and one Of them falls
IN the rencounter. before the phy ysiCians
could have had time 10 form correct opinion
rs to ,pen the probable effect Of the injury re-
ccived these admirable cit zens, these worthy
protectors Of public rights, and rectifcrs OF
pr vaie wrongs--snaich the poor wretch from
z ardauship Of the constituted authorities
hurry him through = mock tral-rush with
him % the nearest tree, and there with
brutality that chlls the blood 10 think Of they
terminate the existence of n fellow creature.
without thought OF the weight Of moral re
sl,onsbliiy that tests upon themselves and
thus closes the scene.
I}y papers received since writing the above
we see that Montgomery is likely 10 recoper.