The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-15

CoUnuuitJ 10 nAlt. bS0a ft0Au0
that the object Of whoever perpetrated the deed was
robbery, the safe in the ONCE having been opened and
The first impulse Of the people was to hold a meeting,
which accordingly took place, the result being the imme-
date despatch Of riders to all the ferries Of Tuolupne
county, to stop the egress from the county Of any Jus
In the meantime a cOroner's jury was summoned to
make an examination, and IL possible find some clue
which might lead to the detection Of the perpetrators OF
The jury sat for six hours patiently, taking testimony
DIR. Manning made an examination Of the body. Eight
wounds were found on the head OF the deceased, don't
with an axe. The skull was broken on the crown, and
had been inflicted ON the left temple, and another on thu
right temple, either of which was sufficient to have
caused death. The face Of deceased was awfully dis6'
was the head thus mangled, but, more horrible still, the
mouth, throat and nostrils were stuffed with paper-the
prevent the deceased making any noise.
Our space win not permit us to % into any further
particulars; therefore, we win but briefly refer to the
GrifRths, who had of late been somewhat familiar IN the
Nee of Mr.. hesiep. II appearing from his own testimo.
last person seea in the Office converting with Mr.. Heslep,
suspicion very soon rested upon him, and he was sub
four different times. Each examination seemed to
strengthen the suspicion, until finally theJustice was
about 70 commit him, when constable Phillips came 10
and announced that the stolen money had been found in
. carpet bag, and in the pantaloons pocket Of Griiiths,
which were discovered iuhis bed in the boarding house
where he was staying. The pantaloons were All bloody.
Confronted with these evidences OF his guilt, the priso-
ner now acknowledged the commission OF the crime, and
made a fun confession OF all the circumstances, which
nv name is Edward Griniths; I was born in Liverpool,
England, In 1924. / went to Ireland when a boy. and
have been ut sea since / was eleven years OF age; / came
70 California from Australia in November last. / first
went to Callao, from thence to Panama, by steamer, and
then came to San Francisco on the steamer Golden Age;
was in San Francisco since until l anne to Sonora, pre-
yious to New Years day. First conceived the design of
the muIds. last night; J asked MI. aesleP to loan me
tanning gold and silver, which he had taken from . par
1ition in his desk. When / asked deceased to loan me
the bag, with no intention OF taking II, upon which he
arose and struck me on the breast. My blood being
aroused, Immediately picked up the axe, and struck de.
ceased with it on the temple; i then struck him again
with It two or three times when he was down. He
continued to make Q noise, and then put the paper in his
no had in his hand, unlocked the safe, and took the gold
out OF II. ! then replaced the key OF the safe npon the
.nOiss o ne,v out Sas ,ne ngnt' a ana a. lett the mouse: on va a. 0 0S,
room, placed the money in my carpet bag, changed my
aud walked out. went down to the Long
time the murder had been discovered. When l placed
hand upon the bag, l had to intention to take the
i said to Nj. Hssiep, @Yos might as well Ma me shis.*
! saw that had killed him, I took the money, for
then thought that I could make the matter no worse.
The paper which / put in his mouth / got from the
liable. Five minutes before doing it, / had no idea of
the act. acknowledge this to be te whole
accord, without fear, threats or compulsion from any
person. This is made before the Coroner's Jury, at fifteen
minutes to ?, A. NJ, Friday, 10th January, 4; DI1stS.
Subscribed and acknowledged before me, this 10th day
r. +. SULLIVAN, J. p, Acting Coroner.
wrote the above confession for the said Griffths, and
After it was read to him, he signed it in my presence
The said Grifaths was adnsed BY me, before he confessed,
nat no force or compulsion would DO resorted to, In or
der to induce the confession, to which he answered, 81
do it freely" 2. Med. COLLINS.
we're rung, and enraged citizens gathered from all quar-
ters, ~bes,eging the building where the examination was
taking place. Finally, an immense ~assemblsgc. having
o series of resolutions was passed to the effect
that the prisoner should be hanged the next morning by
daylight. and a large committee was chosen to watch
around the building until morning. Not . dissenting
Daylight at length came, and with 1. the citizens re-
assembled in large numbers. Sheriff Solomon made q
speech to the ~assepSlage in favor Of law, but it had no
The Sheriff and his deputies then made an effort to
soner was seized on the moment he was brought forth
from the building, and marched off, surrounded by arm
ed men, TO the outskirts Of the town, The crowd be.
-ss.TS1 II d very cool and determined manner. Finding q
suitable tree, a rope was adjusted TO one Of Its limbs,
and very soon this miserable murderer met the dishonor-
able end which he SO richly deserved. He went out Of
this world without one sympathifing word being heard
around his galows-wretched and accused mankind.
What adds to the enormity of his crime is the fact,
auction to the Messrs. Heslep from their brother, Judge
Heslep, Of San Francisco, the consequence OF which vas
here. ne Il had BEEN a v i at their % Office, and acknow.
lodged before his death that they had acted with great
Kindness and friendship towards him. Truly, a greater
demon never existed in human shape.
The following two letters to his wife, be wrote after
his confession. Throughout the whole of the proceed
,nss he displayed no sign Of nervousness or fear, pns on
session to the last.
SONORA, Jan. 10, 1855.
you, for / die under q just sentence, and although the
BLOW was struck in a moment Of passion, ! am, never
theless, your now guilty but ever loving husband,
SONORA, Friday morning-6A A. NJ.
Ny DEAREST wRE-one hour more and ! viii cease to
BE- a. IL never was; but, thank God, | feel happy under
my present circumstances, in firm reliance on that God
whe has so long protected me. little thought, when
hst we parted, that it was for ever but my hopes are
frm In our meeting again in another and q better world.
II my dying could but return my victim to Life, what a
source Of happiness It would be-. Pray for me, my dear
you may depend that, that though black and badlook-
ing, IL was not premeditated. The rowd are impa-
tsntly waiting for daylight and me. SO, forever, fare
well in this world; and that you may be happy is the
last wish Of your unfortunate and dying husband:
telegrsphic despatch dated Sonora, January 20, says:
"Grimth was hung by Judge Lynch yesterday morning,
between 7 and s O'Clock. He was . native of Liverpool,
England, and was thirty. years Of age; He emigrated to
frAheiscos -
Execution OF Brown and Alvltre, ut Los
Angeles.
From the Los Angeles Star, Jan. 1871
Last Friday, the 18th instant, was the day appointed
Cor the execution Of Brown and Alvitre; but as Sheriff
Barton had received an order from Judge Murray staying
the execution s0f Brown, he proceeded at the hour de-
siguated 10 put the extreme penalty OF the law into exc.
cution in the case Of Alvitre. As great excitement ex-
listed and loud threats made that Brown should be hung
with Alvitre, the Sheriff considered it necessary TO SUN.
mon q large number Of citizens to assist him in doing
his duty. Many OF them answered promptly to the cali,
but q large majority refused TO interfere. Nevertheless
the sheriff, with his usual energy, and assisted by Or.
Osburn, under the protection n Of a citizens guard, com
manded by Col, Shelley, conducted Alvitre to the gal
lows at ten minutes TO three o'clock p NJ, who ad.
dressed the multitude in q few words, f~orgiviug all his
enemies, and asking forgiveness from all whom he had
injured. At three o'clock the drop fell, and In conse-
quence Of the moose untying, the poor outcast fell to
the ground. IL was n moment of intense interest,
and shouts OF a rescue were heard In the immense
crowd outside the prison yari. Some stones were
thrown at the guard, who were well armed with rifles
and revolvera to resist TO the death a rescuee OF the
prisoner. At this moment the guard were ready with
rifles cooked and presented tor any emergency, expo IT.
iug every Instant that a rush would be make by the