Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-12-19
Jelg RAF AFJsmAnes JouRnAl..
From tie San Frqnciseo H<raia. /

From tie San Francisco Herald
MURDER OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHALL.
One of the most cowardly and heartless acts
| of murder that we have ever been called upon
to record was committed ON Saturday even
| ing November z, in public thoroughfare in
| one of the most frequented sections of the ci-
! ty. The victim, William II. Richardson, was
gentleman highly esteemed by large circle
| of friends in this city and occupied a high Of
| fetal position in this State. From all We are
able to gather, it appears that Mr.. Richardson
had some triling difficulty the night previous
wit a man named Charles Cora Mutual
| friends interfered in the mater, and it was
| supposed the difficulty had been amicably ad-
justed. About half past six O'Clock last even
ing Messrs. Richardson and Cora We're noticed
standing in front of McAllister's building on
| Clay street, below Montgmory street. Sever
| al persons to whom both parties were known
were standing near by, and presently Mr..
Richardson was heard to remark; ssWell is it
all right 20 Cora replied: "Yes.'' They
continued to converse in low tone, for some
minutes, and by this time Cora had taken hold
of the coat collar of the other with the left
hand. Richardson suddenly exclaimed =
s.What are you going to do! Don't shoot me-
/ am unarmed." At this instant Cora produ-
ccd small singie-barreled pistol and before
he could be prevented, shot Richardson thro'
the heart The action was so sudden and un-
expected that the witnesses were for a mo-
ment paralized, and Cora held his victim
against the wall OF the house for the space of
few seconds, then suddenly relaxing his grasp
walked away, but was arrested and placed in
the custody OF officer Russell, who hastened
with him to the police station. Richardson
was taken into the drug store of Messrs. Keith
and Co., at the corner of Montgomery and
Clay streets, where he expired almost imme-
diately. An immense crowd Immediately con-
gregated in that vicinity and it was found ne
cessary to take the body of the murdered man
to some more secluded place, and il was final
ly taken to the private Office of the Clerk of
the United States District Court. By this
time very large and excited crowd had as
semblcd, completely blocking up the passage
Of Montgomery street for a distance of two
blocks.
At this time there could not have been less
than three Thousand persons present. The Ut
most excitement prevailed. The fearful cry
OF Hang him hang him - was raised. The
public pulse beat at rash rate, and it is more
than probable that if Cora had been within
reach he would have been executed on the
spot. Several persons addressed the assem-
blage in favor of hanging Cora at once, while
others counseled submission to the laws, mad
spoke in favor of the maintenance of law and
order. 1t was finally put to vote storm of
ayes and noes followed. 1t was found impos-
sible to decide whether there had been ma
recourse to law. The assembly shortly after
wards broke mp into little knots, in which the
enornity OF the crime just committed was
discussed in very excited manner. Others
rushed 10 the Station House in order to ascer-
tain what disposition had been made of the
prisoner.
Meantime Cora was conveyed to the Station
House, aud on being searched, two deringers
were found on his person, one of which had
but recently been discharged. When the
crowd began to gather about the Station House
the offers became alarmed for the safety of
the prisoner, and determined on placing him
in IT, county Jail for greater security. He
was accordingly taken there. During the
whole OF these proceedings, Cora displayed
the utmoS' coolncSs, and seemed never to have
lost h. presence of mind During the walk
from tht Station House 10 the County Jail. he
app -arei somewhat agitated, and apprehend-
c that lie might be taken out of the lands of
the officers By the excited people, frequently
looking back To ascertain il he was pGrSuct.
Tllc body OF General Richardson was con-
Yeyed, a stated above, to the Clerk S Office OF
The United States Circuit Court, where a post
mortenl examination was held on the body
He only livel for about four minutes after re-
ceiving tue fatal wound, and, it is said never
spoke word. The post-mortem examination
was held by Drs. 4. Z. Sawyer and Rowel
and 1t was found that the ball entud the body
about two ana a half inches above the left nip
pie. 1t perforated the fourth rib near its Juno
tion with the cartilage of the rib, passed thro'
the thin margin of the left lung, the left auri-
Gle Of the heart, the middle lobe of the right
lung, and was found under the integument
over the eighth rib toward the posterior por-
ton Of the body.