Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-17
From the National Inteligencer
The Late Murder at San Francisco.

From the National Inteligencer
The Late Murder at Sam francisco.
The latest California papers are almost
exclusively occupied with articles and state,
ments relating to the murder; by shooting, in
the public street, in broad day, of James, King
of William, editor Of the Evening Bulletin, by
James p. Casey editor of the San Francisco
Sunday Times. The facts appear to be that
Casey published communication rejecting
upon the character of Mr.. King, and Mr. King
sought the name of the author, which Casey
refused to give saying that he would assume
the responsibility himself. Subsequently an
article appeared in the Bulletin exposing the
character of Casey, and stating, among other
things, he had been an inmate of Sing Sing pri-
son in New York. Casey went to the Office OF
the Bulletin and demanded an explanation,
which was very decidedly refused by Mr.. King,
who showed Casey the door. The same day
Casey met Mr.. King in Montgomery street,
and, it is said without giving any warning,
except hurried cry of come on" deliberately
drew revolver, which he pointed at Mr.. Kings
breast and fred. The shot passed through
Mr.. Kings body.
The atrocious act reused the Indignation OF
the whole city. The better class Of citizens
were not only Mortified by the assassination in
the street of one who had won their esteem and
confidence, but they regarded Mr. King as the
victim of a conspiracy against his life plotted
in the vile haunts OF the city. The antecedents
and associations of the assassin favored this
belief, and as Cora, who shot Richardson some
time ago, had as yet escaped punishment by
the constituted authorities for his crime, they
determined that Mr.. Kings murder should not
60 unavenged. The old Vigilance Committee
was soon revived, and Casey was taken from
the public officers and put on trial before the
committee. Down to the latest date May 2lst)
Casey had not been hung;, but it was supposed
he soon would be, together with Cora.
The following letter to the Editors will give
the reader some idea of the intensity of the
excitement which prevailed at San Francisco
at the time Of the departure of the last steamer:
SAN Francisco, May 20, 1856.
To the Editors Of The National Htelligencer:
GENTLEMEN One of the most remarkable
events connected with the settlement and ope
rations of the people on this side of the cont
nent has just taken place. We are, to all in
tents and purposes, in the midst Of revolu-
ton. On last Wednesday afternoon as James
King of William, the able, bold and conscen-
tious editor of the Eoening Bulletin, of this
city, was crossing Montgomery street. near
Washington street, he was shot at and DANCE
rously wounded without any previous warming
by man by the name of James P. Casey, the
proprietor of the Sunday Times, of this city.
Mr. King had no chance for his life, as Casey
shot him before he was aware that he was to
be attacked. His assassination was premed-
itated affair, and originated with class of
men who claim to be respectable and infuen-
tial. That Casey was employed to commit the
deed is now generally conceded. The tremen-
dous assaults which Mr.. King had made upon
the strongholds of corruption and vice forced
large body of men to organize for his over.
throw and destruction. Various attempts were
made to get him into a street fight that he
might be assassinated. All these attempts,
however, failed. He and his friends we'll I'M
derstood their game, aud avoided being thus
ensnared This made them desperate, for they
well knew that if James King lived he would
finally succeed in hurting them from the places
they held and disgraced. Hence the employ
ment of this Sing-Sing convict to assassnate
him.
As soon as Mr.. King was shot, Casey's friends
suddenly appeared in the street and took pos
session of him, and with immediate dispatch
succeeded in carrying him to the Jail before an
outraged people were able to seize him and
lynch him. he was placed in the jail about
one minute before the people reached there.
All the city and county officers were immedi-
ately on hand to defend the prisoner against
the enraged populace. Here great confusion
prevailed; but as there was no concert of &C
ton, and as the multitude we're without arms
nothing was done. Various other movements
were made to avenge the assassination of Mr.
King, for he was and is overwhelmingly popu-
lar with all classes. None of these sudden and
impusive movements amounted to anything.
These failures led the friends Of Casey, Of Cora,
and Of other vile men to boast that nothing
could and nothing should be done to rescue
the assassin from the Jail; but before Saturday
evening they began to tremble and weaken.
Many Of them suddenly left the city; but they
will be brought back and punished. Others
remained at home that they might keep out of
the sight Of the peoples conquerors of corrup-
ton.
But now for the cause of all this commo.
ton. The assassination Of Mr.. King was not
alone sufficient to produce this revolution, for
revolution il is. The city now, and we may
say the whole State, is in the charge of the
Peoples Vigilance Committee, and they will
remain so for some time. After the old Vigil
lance Committee Of 1851 had cleared the State
of numerous official and private thieves and
murderers they suspended operations on the
ground that the courts were pledged without
fail vigilantly to protect the lives and the
property of the people. But the committee
never disbanded.
In the course Of fifteen months the courts
forgot this pledge as well as the politicians
Many murders began to take place, robberies
burgaries became common. In addition to
these facts over FIVE hundred DULLES and ballot.
box suffers were quartered on the city to control
the elections and browbeat the people. The
revenues arising from taxation we're all absorbed
to support these DULLES and ballot.box suffers
and TO screen them from the law. Regular
lawyers we're engaged to defend them. For
the last five years 1t is well.known fact that
not fifteen persons during that time have ever
been elected to Office by the people, All have
been stuffed in after the polls were closed. The
people thereupon, owing to these facts have had
no voice in the Government and no protection
from the laws to themselves and property.
AT the time that Cora killed Gen. VIM. H.
Richardson there was great excitement. II
was cold-blooded assassination, and il was
then supposed that some action would be taken