The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-04-28
JUDGE LYNCH.

SATURDAY Notwithstanding % 1855
JUDGE LYNCH.
His Honor, Lynch, formerly presiding jus
tice of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, has
a much more extensive jurisdiction than
formerly. in his present residence, Caiitor-
mia. OF all the magistrates of this new csn-
tinens, more so prompt and vigorous in the
discharge of public duties as Lynch. There
Is a wonderful simplicity, honesty and di-
rectness in his mode of proceedings. For
new countries, no is indispensable. As soon
As such are opened, the rogues of old coun-
tries fee thither, but Lynch, who in old coun-
tries, is out of place, and pines for life in
the woods, follows close upon the heels of
departing rascality. exclaiming. whittier
thou goest will 60; thy home shall bs my
home; naught but death shall part me and
thee" Accordingly, we find Lynch among
the earliest emigrants to California, ana
there his proceedings are of the SIMPLEST Du.
most effective character. A grassy knoh
answers him for judicial bench; the jury
may sit on horseback or be stretched out
upon the turf; somebody holds the prisoner
By the back of his collar till the Judge has
heard his case, and then if guilty, which he
generally is. he departs this life forthwith
and without benefit of clergy. The Bslti'
more American remarks that there is won
derful similarity in all the many published
cases Of popular vengeance in California
They are all alike. "At some place somebody
shot. stabbed or beat somebody-or stole
somebody's horses, mules, cows, merchan'
die, or other chaitels-and thereupon, the
FIRST mentioned somebody attempted to make
his escape, but was promptly arrested by the
Indignant crowd, who appointed from their
own body jury, which jury incontinentiy
ordered the murderer or thief to be hung
upon the nearest tree And then the culprlt
is carried to some convenient place-one END
of a rope is tied round his neck and the other
end thrown over q limb-he is caused to
mount the head of barrel and after an in
teresting autobiography delivered soto poce,
aud manifestation of extraordinary courage
and GOODNESS, he either jumps off the head OF
the barrel or is swung off-and then the
Lynch court, judge. jurors, prosecutors, wit
nesses, executioners, and spectators, adj
journ-to the tavern, to congratulate each
other and mankind generally, that "the world
is richer by a rascal less!''
Such is the mode of administering law and
executing justice in California. No long in
dictments, no oratoricsl lawyers, no pleas of
insanity, or if such plea be offered, Lynch
having no lunatic asylum to secure crazy
men, thinks it safest for society that they be
put under the sod. 1t possible thatunder the
jurisdiction of Lynch, innocent men may
sometimes suffer, asthey sometimes suffer I'M
der regular jurisdictions, but the guilty never
escape This prompt and energetic mode of
Lynch is even more humane to the criminal
than the regular mode. The only suspense
the convict suffers, is that which arises from
the cord. He can scarcely comprehend that
he is to be hung, before his neck is broken,
and he has left California forever. The GER
tainty and expedition of these proceedings
must have a wholesome effect upon trans
gressors. Until that period arises in Califor-
mia when the law can reach its most obscure
recesses, and visit just punishment upon
crime, Judge Lynch will remain the only
magistrate on whom society can place the
least dependence.
The moral influence Of this august tribunal
upon new society, cannot be estimated
Wehesr of very trifling people in the old COM
munities, who sometimes become in Califor-
MIA, models of evey virtue; nay, who rise to
responsible stations. and are regarded as pill
lars of Church and State. 1t is not unchar-
liable to suppose that many of these remark
able conversions have risen from the terrors
which Lynch holds out to evil doors. More
evil has he punished and more good accom-
plished, than half the big wigs of Christen
dom.
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES