The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-17
NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Tax ANNALS OF SAN FRAsCIsco.--Appieton x
Co., New York. First circulated in California

THE ANNALS OF SAN FRAsCIHc0.--Appieton u
Co, New York. First circulated in California.
This Ii valuable work, in volume OF about eight
hundred pages. 1t has been compiled rom reliaoie
authorities, by Messrs. +. Soul6, j. ~ choh, D. -,
and James Nisbet and forms q complete history OF
California and Of Its capital city wiz DC 'siuaoe as
book Of reference, but would have been ueh more 30
with rood index II contains two good maps and nu-
erous wood epgravings very airy executed The work
will be found exceedingly interesting II i to be regret
ted ta the historians have been carried away by pero
na seeIine IN many instances and have even gone 50
Gar AZ to defend the action OF the body called the Vig
lance Committee The authors give several cases where
the committee sustained by the people but omit to
describe the where innocent illegally
detained aud put in peril Of his life without due process
Of hw-where accidental resemblance considered
ample eyiaence-when the jury Of the committee stood
eleven for conviction and for acquta and where the
twelfth juror was threatened with hanging Cor his so
called ebstinacy, eager the thirst FOR blood
An occasion happened to test the character and
Of this most extraordinary association On the
evening Of the 10th Of June, 1851 person OF the
Of John jenkins teloniously entered store Long
Wharf, and stole safe. lie subsequently
with a large burthen slung across his back and an
alarm being raised, was pursued. He then got into
boat md scuiied out into the bay, followed by dozen
other boats in keen pursuit The fugitive soon
taken but before his capors reached him he was seen
so throw the burthen into the water. This was soon
drawn up, and proved TO be the stolen safe. The pr
mttee in Battery street the corner Of Pine street
About 10 O'Clock Of the same night signal was given
on the bell Of the Monumental Engine Company, and
shortly afterwards about eighty members Of the COM
mttee hurried to the appointed place. and on giving the
secret password were admitted Meanwhile knots Of
people some OF whom knew ana all suspected what was
going gathered about the premises and mpaently
awaited the further progress Of events. FOR two long
hours the committee were closely occupied in exnmin
ing evidence soon they had TO doubt the
prisoners guilt though this he denied 10 the last. At
midnight the bell OF the California Engine House was
oil aptap If hy I'm
the wrechcd man The solemn sounds a. that unusual
hour filed the anxious crowds With awe The condemn
himself when he answered, NO have nothing 10 say,
only wish TO have q segar" This was handed to him,
ana afterwards at his request little brandy and water.
He perfectly cool and seemingly careless confidently
expecting, IL was believed, rescue up 70 the last mo
ment,
A litte before o'clock Mr.. S. Bannan came out Of
the committee rooms aud ascending mound OF sand to
the east Of the Rasfec House addressed the people lie
had been deputed he said by the committee TO inform
them that the prisoners had been fairly Tried that
he hae been proved guilty and wa condemned to be
hanged and that sentence would be executed within
hour upon the plaza. lie then asked the people
the approved Of the action Of the committee when great
shout q Ay ay burst forth %ngsa WIN ,0 , lew
sent Tor, who administered the last consoaons OF rel-
gion ~ the condemned.
shortly before o'clock the committee issued from the
building, bearing the prisoner (who had his arms tightly
pinoIed) along with them. The committee were all
armed and closely clustered around the cuprit to pre-
vent any possible chance Of procession was
formed and tho whole party, followed by the crowd
ceeded to the plaza through sansome California Mont
eomery ari Clay streets Arrived at the flagstaff, some
thougessy suggested that II might serve to hang the
condemned upon but the proposal was Indignantly over
ruled DESIGNATING the liberty pole Those in charge Of
the cuon then proceeded to the south end Of the
adobe building which then stood The northwest
Of the plaza The opposite end the rope which was
already about the neck Of the victim hastily thrown
projecting beam Some Of the authorities at
tempted nj this stage of affairs TO interfere but their c
forts yailing They civy desired to md
back. and not delay what was still TO he done. The
crowd which numbered upwards Of . thousand, were
and epbdued voice the action Of the committee. Before
the prisoner had reached the building Of persons
seized the loose end Of the rope and ran backwards drag
gns the wretch along the ground and raising him to the
beam. Thus they held him ill he was dead Nor did
they let the body go until hours afterwards, new
volunteers relieving those who tired holding the
rope. Little noise confusion ionk place Muttered
whispers among the spectators guided their movements
betrayed their feelings. The prisoner had spoken
word either upon the march during the rapid pre-
parati1ns Tor his execution Al the end he was perhaps,
strung almost before he was aware oi what was 50
Immediately coming He strong built, healthy
man. and his struggles when hanging were very violent
Tor a few minutes.
II must be terrible state Of thing which justides
secret trial and punishment 50 severe.
The Annals abound in pleasa descriptions, ard we
houid he glad make further extracts of agrcea
able ma ure than the above We content ourselves with
he following report of IN The first civil court
Established OF san Francisco
On this day a case was tried in which physician had
sued the captain Of ship for medical at'eadance upon
.lcL
raseoutor claimed live hundred dollars number of
vnesse were called on both sides The Judge sat upon
,;cey old chair with his feet percri higher than his
head ,,u ANAL mantel over the lire place in which
INV ,ann sticks Of wood were keeping each other warm
by ne AID Of very limited supply Of burning Goals His
honor etn loved himself L. pairing his scrapng
10 nsl Iile fhn ,sloorped com el' briefly presented
the and called the first witness Whom the Judge IN
structed without changing his position, 30 tel all he
knew about matter In few words and ~ quickly
nassble Al Tic same time clnrrfnp M lawyers not TO
in,er,upt HIN with oue.ti1ns. Ibis witness was no
snoper done and he had hut ltllc Ia ,ay when the
counsel caca another; but hi Honor iulorned him that
Il vas unnecessary TO pursue The Inquiry further the
witness had told a PLAIN straightf,rnard story the
court the ne cuts of the and mind
waa made IN, 'But.n .ays i lawyer ''you will at
least hear a. sneak Ia the poins o 49, tThat would
be great wa stc If time which very precious replied
the Judge. Il award the planin hundred and
nfty dollars Mr. Clerk what 4 the next =" Thu
in less than fifteen minutes cqutaby disposed
Of which in an ordinary court Of law might have
pied AZ least as many days: and the Of the day
much business despatched IN The summary
a. would occupy most courts an ordinary guar
plaintiff pockcted seventy live dollars Of Inc award, CIV