The Nevada journal., 1855-06-22
Excitement at Grass Valley!
kn attempt at Arson.
PEOPLES TRIAL.
Prisoner taken in charge by the Sheriff
NEVADA June 10Th 1873


ley vas thrown into great excitement early
this morning by tie report thatan attempt
had been mad de to fire tie town A boy was
sent around town Hith a bell, to summon
the citizens tc L pubic meeting, to deter
nine upon the coursc 70 be taheL. The
facts that transpired in reference to ;he
crime are aa follows: About o'clocl..
:. NJ, Mr.. George V. Foster, tho town
Waterman was eoirg his rounds, and had
arrived on Mil street, when Ae noticad &
slig ight fash in iii nnocelpied building nea''
lie certre of Niii; street lie went e
,he window end iookc. IL, and saw The
cripti;, William Fitzgerald, al Ir;si:i1;.l
rubbing matches, with Tic appa.cai ;nien-
,lcn OF setting fire 10 The cloth lining of
the ROOM. lie rubbed .orr matches
without cffect, and thoL took anothe.',
rubbed it, and Sc; Ere to tho lining OF the
room. Fearing thai tie rascal wouii
escape oct of tle front door # he entered
a; tie 1ea-, CT on. OF tie rear # he entar-
ed at The ircns, and thus escape, +re
V a;chnan waited till he started for he
front door ard arrived at the time he sten-
yed o.. he walk, and shivr;rg lia club on
his head, knocked HIM down. Thc wa.cn-
Il m .hen picked Up the largest piece,
and struck hiE again, an secure: min. -
Wner he had him safe he called ouy
"Firc." "Eo fire" shouted Fitzgerald.
"Watcr," crieG the officer. ''Nu water, >
cried out Fitzgerald When the cit;zers
came, bringing water, the officer rook his
prisoner 70 Jail
When the citizens had collected, various
counscls prevailed. Many of the very
best citizens of the place-men who OBJ
serve the laws, and are known as worthy
and intelligent citizens, were in favor of
hanging the prisoner. Their lives and
property had been wntonly hazardcd,
Their families exposed to death at an hour
when they were utterly dcfcnsclcss, while
tho law contemplated for such crime
only a limited Imprisonment, and they
deemed and declared that they thought it
just and right, in self protection, and as
an example that the prisoner be tried by
the people, and if found guilty, hanged
Other worthy citizens ceunsellcd respect
for the laws, delivery to the authorities,
and that the stigma should not by their
act be cast upon Grass Eallcy-that a
mob was stronger than tho laws Mr.
Justice Sewers spoke earnestly in favor of
respect to the laws.
Upon division of the crowd, about
one half stood on one side, in favor of
hanging, and the other half stood on the
other side, opposed to hanging.
A committee was then appointed to
confer upon the facts, and report course
of action to the meeting.
Meanwhile telegraphic dispatch was
sent to the Sheriff of the county of Ne
vada, and Mr.. Wood Immediately sum-
moned posse and with the District At
torncy fastened to Grass Valley. When
the party arrived the excitement was very
great A crowd of five hundred men was
assembled near the spot where the crime
was committed, and some disposition was
evinced towards preventing the Sheriff
obtaining charge Of the prisoner. The
District Attorney procured from the JUS
tice an order for the prisoner, and the
Sheriff and posse proceeded to the Jail,
followed by the multitude, to take the
culprit to the county Jail. Arrived at the
Jail the Sheriff entered, hand-cuftd the
prisoner, took him out, and surrounded by
the guard, brought him without actual
molestation to this place. Some Jealous
persons called out to 'head them," "take
him away" chang him." but no violence
was attempted.
The prisoner was taken before Recorder
Colburn, examined, and committed for
trial.
We cannot find it in our mind 70 object
to the course pursued by the citizens of
Grass Valley. They are abiding men,
but the aggravation in this case was ex-
ceeding great. Had they hung this man
the justification would have been far
greater than is usual in such cases. But
! it is better to respect the laws in all cases,
and their final yielding of the prisoner is
greatly to their credit
The building fred Immediately adjoined