The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-24
CALIFORNIA.

articles and statements relating 10 d hui
der, by shooting, in the public street. In
broad day, of James King. editor OF the Eve
ming Bulletin. by James P. Casey, editor OF
the San Francisco Times. The facts ap-
pear to be that Casey published a commu-
nication rejecting upon the character OF
| Mr. King, and Mr.. King sought the name
of the author, whey Casey refused to give,
saving that he would assume the response
bility himself. Subsequently an article ap-
peared in the Bulletin exposing the charac-
ter of Casey, and stating, among other
things, he had been an inmate of Sing Sing
prison in New York. Casey went to thu
office of the Bulletin and demanded an ex-
PLANTATION, which was very decidedly refused
by Mr.. King, and showed Casey the door.
The same day Casey met Mr.. King in Mont
gomery street, and, it is said, without Civ
ing any warning, except a hurried cry Of
"eome on deliberately drew revolver,
which he pointed at Mr.. Kings breast and
fired. The shot passed through Mr.. Kings
body, killing him almost Immediately. Mr..
King leaves a very interesting family of a
wife and six children, all of whom are less
than fourteen years of age. 1t is estimated
that there must not have been less than ten
thousand persons that saw the corpse after
FIVE o'clock that evening.
The atrocious act reused the indignation
of the whole city. The better class of Cit
izens were not only Mortified by the assassi-
nation in the street of one who had won
their esteem and confidence, but they re-
garded Mr.. King as the victim of a conspi-
racy against his life plotted in tie vile
haunts of the city. The antecedents and
associations of the assassin favored this be-
lief, 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 go unavenged. The old Vigi-
LANCE Committee was soon revived. and Ca
sey 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 he and Cora will both be
hung by the Vigilance Committee.
AS soon as King was shot, Casey's friends
suddenly appeared in the street and took
possession Of him, and with imme date dis
patch succeeded in carrying him to the Jail
about one minute before the people reached
there.
On the afternoon of the assassination of
Mr.. King, number of our most respecta-
BILE citizens quietly met and arranged for a
call of the old Vigilant Committee in the
evening. Multitudes focked to join them,
but none were allowed to be enrolled save
those the most reputable. During their
organization the DULLES and gamblers were
said to be organizing also. They swore the
prisoner should not be taken. On Sunday
morning at twelve O'Clock the troops, COM
posed of the Vigilance Committee, number
ing about three thousand, were formed into
companies, and at one o'clock they took up
their line of march for the jail. On reach
ing the spot cannon was placed directly
in front of the door of the Jail to storm it in
case of resistance 1t was soon found that
nearly all the valiant defenders Of the Jail
had fled. Those who were in it, with the
sheriff, yielded to the demands of the Com
mittee, and they were permitted to enter
the prison and take possession of the per-
sons of Casey and Cora. These two cul-
prits were placed in carriage and convey
ed under the charge of the Committee to
their rooms, where they have been safely
kept ever since.
1t was bloodess triumph of the people,
and it has struck terror into the hearts of
evil doors. The whole scene was one of the
most solemn, imposing and impressive l
ever witnessed.
Casey and Cora will be hung, and many
others yet to be arrested. Many of the city
and county officials will be compelled to re-
sign and leave the State, as they were never
elected, but had themselves stuffed into of
fee. Numbers will be required to leave the
country. The revolution will now be COM
plete, but no blood will be shed and no up
right citizen will be molested.
The ''Vigilance Committee" says one of
the letters, has -upwards Of ,fue thousand
members on its muster roll. Casey and Co.
IA (the murderer of Col. Richardson) would
certainly be executed by this Committee,
on the morning of the 22d of May, the day
after the departure of the steamer. The
Vigilance Committee, moreover, we have
the fullest assurance, had determined to
SIT IN Perpetu'ty, until not only the city of
San Francisco, but the entire State, should
be subjected to thorough publication. Our
informants state that they have prepared a
Black List embracing the names of about
one hundred and eighty of the most notori-
Gus murderers, thieves and -legs-all
of whom will be required to quit the coun-
try, at short notice. or contemplate the con-
tingence of summary judgment before the
tribunal of judge Lynch. Among their
names are said to be the following:
Dave" Broderick, from N. York; Char
ley Duane, t"Dutch Charley") from New