The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-21
REVOLUTION IN CALIFORNIA.

MURDER OF JAMES KING OF WILLIAM.
The San Francisco papers are filled. to
the exclusion of everything else, with the de-
tails of the murder Of James King. editor Of
the Bullehin. by James Z. Casey, editor of
the !S"nday Tme> Mr.. King was a native
Of Georgetown, ID. C., and was clerk in q
banking house in Washington till lS4S when
he went to California. lie opened a bank
ing house there in ;S4e, and in the course of
four wears amassed a fortune of $50 900,
which he lost in mining sreculation. Be-
coming sensible Of the rascai,ies perpetrated
under cover Of the law by public men of
all grades. he started the Erening EulIc'n.
in which he unSparingly denounced corrup-
ton in every form, as well as the guilty per-
sons themselves. His paper was very
prosperous and the honest portion Of the
people, especially the working classes, almos.
worshirprd him. An article appeared in the
Sundnv Times. containing charge upon Mr.
King, which he denied and in the denial re-
ferred to the fact tina: Casey had served out
. term at Sing Sing Prison. Casey met
King at mid day. in one of the principal and
crowded streets, and without warning shot
him down. Casey was at once arrested and
taken to Jail; King was conveyed to his home,
where he died six days afterwards. the ex-
citement among the people was intense for
the murdered man was very much beloved.
Large meetings Of the people were at once
held. denouncing the murderer, and threat
ening vengeance. On Thursday, (Mr. X.
was shot on Tuesday the old Vigilance Com
mittee was re- oryanized. and fir, m that time
until midnight on Saturday, appears to have
heen devoted to completing the organiz.tio
!rentV sir hundrCd men were enrolled from
the five or six thousand offered and Differed
and drilled. On SUNDAY morning this Vigi
lance Committee, divided into twenty. il
companies Of one hundred men each and each
company having captain and four licutcn
ants. moved towards the Jail IN which Case,
was confined. There was no rushing of ar
Infatuated mob-no lou,s cries-no :nflanma
tory spcechps-no noise, and no loniusion.-
The streets were unusually quiet, and tn,
Committee moved wiki all the regularity of
disciplined troops on gala-day. Arrivin:
at the JAIL they brought their tirld-piecc t.
besr upon the door. and then demanded Ca
sey. lie was Immediately given up bv tn,
sheriff. who saw that resistance would b'
worse than useless. and taken to the Com
mittee Rooms, whore it is supposed he ha,
his trial on Monday. The Committee re
turned to the Jail, and took Cora. the mur
derrr of Gen Richardson. On Monday ev
sry;hinc was quiet. and the Impression wa
that Casey would not he executed immedi
stely. In the meantime rything had beef
done to save the life of Mr.. King. but o,
Tu.<,.av he died The sensation which fol
lowell this event was profound. The lit,
CMtornid says
1t carried more real genuine sorrow 10 cv
cry true heart in this city and State than an
occurrence ever known in California.
Almost As soon as the news OF the dealt
OF Mr.. King had spread through the city. tn
pinhlem> ct mourning were immediately pu
IN by our citizens and hung ont upon all tn
principal buildings am! Residences IN the CITY
The stores of merchants. the offices of law
yrs, and O,hes places Of business, were i'm
mciiaev closed: the significant sable EN-
blems were every whore visible, and wer
public buildings and many private resitlen
c-s. We observed that tine private residence
Of J. II. Coxhill. Esq. on Stockton Street
formerly the residence of the deceased, wa
appropriately tcs'ooned with crape. in memo
~ of the departed one. Mourning badge
were appended to the doors and over tn
windows OF Offices. and on every hand .hes,
evidences Of the demise of the Iamentcd c;ti
zen were beheld. Front and Battery streets
a. we'll as Clay, Sacramento and California
streets. were completely lined with the mao
itestations of the feelings of hereft people
Members of the VieiIance Committee. an,
a large number OF citizens Immediately an
peared in the streets. with the usual badg,
Of Grape upon the left arm. and the entir,
community went about the streets amentin.
the fail of James King OF William.
Friends met, but spoke not. and the sober
downrast look at once expressed the feelin:
af sorrowinc heart Truly the people wen
mourning about the streets. and sadness rest
ed upon the countenances Of whole com
mDnltv"
One OF The NOS. remsrkabl. tblrgs con