The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-30
One OF the California Exsies

One OF the California Exsles
From the New Orleans Delta June 22l
JOHN GROVE AND THE SAN FRANCISCO VIGIL Asce
COMMITTEE.
The following card explains itself, end goes 70
show, that however laudibe the original purpose.
and however just the leading acts of such an extra
ordinary tribunal the Vigilance Committee OF San
Francisco it liable to abuse its authority and in
individual instances, at least, to into the cx-
IRENE OF persecution, oppression and cruelty. We
are entirely Ignorant OF what Mr.. Grove may have
done, or what character he may have borne in Cali
fornia though every one IS presumed to be innocent
until the contrary is shown at least charged and
we have seen no charge yet made against him OF
criminal conduct in California. But 10 appears
that Mr.. Grove was peremptorily ordered out Of Ca
lifornia by the Vigilance Committee, not in conse
quence OF any act committed there, but because he
spotted to use significant phrase "a fugitive
from justice for 0feDc committed in New Orleans,
and the card below is intended TO prove the ip lstce
of his summary expulsion by showing, from the
records Of the Criminal Court, that no charge ever
existed in this city against him; by publishing the
certificate OF some OF most respectable citizens,
including the Mayor, the Judge Of the Fourth Dis
trict Court, the late Judge OF the First District
Court, the Sheriff and several city and police OH
GERS, TO his uniform character for honesty and indus
try while he resided in this city; and, lastly, by pro
ducing from the files OF the New Orleans Delta an
Official advertisement of Columbia Fire Company
No. s. to the effect that his really did forfeit
his good character in New Orleans, by misappro-
prating the funds of the company while Secretary
OF the same His case Is well presented and appears
to be fully made out We commend the card to
perusal, for the benefit of all it may concern The
Committee will doubtless reconsider their hasty ac-
ton, as they must to the conclusion that no
such certificate as that published below could have
been procured If Mr.. Grove had labored under any
criminal charge or suspicion in this city, which was
assigned as the reason for his expulsion.
CARD TO THE PUBLIC.
The people Of New Orleans are aware that ar
rived here on the last trip OF the Daniel Wooster
from san Francisco, being one OF those ordered TO
leave the latter city by its vigilance Com nltce,"
and that | was arrested on my arrival here, but
promptly released and honorably discharged by the
Recorder OF the First district when brought before
him, there being no charge against me- Against
the members OF the San Francisco Vigilance Com
nor do impugn their motives, however widely good
men may differ as to the propriety of such an 0rga
nZation under any circumstances, in country pre-
sumed to be governed by laws enacted and sanction
ed by the people themselves. That the Vigilance
Committee, however, from being at first body Of
well meaning men, soon became an instrument OF
private vengeance, secret conciave OF despots, TO
whose lawless banners some OF the vile5t and most
abandoned characters in San Francisco 1ocked, is q
fact that no decent man in San Francisco will now
question. When left there il was only neces-
sary for some OF the wretches composing 1t to point
out or "spot" any man in the city, no matter what
might be his calling his antecedents, and he had
to quit the city at the sacrifice of his property and
his business, OF be the means of shedding the blood
-
conflict between bis friends and the civil authori lies
the side and the forces of the Vigilance Com
mittee on the other When ordered to leave, I pre-
ferred to do rather than 10 be party TO the latter
alternative. was accused Of no crime by the Vigi-
lance Committee. No member OF that body pretend
ed TO charge me with the commission of any act I'M
worthy of good and law abiding citizen during my
residence in California. No; ! was charged with
being fugitive from justice from New Orleans!
And who, think you, was my sole accuser. Why,
a fellow, member of the Committee named John
w. Whaling, himself one OF the most notorious char
acters in California fellow well kI.oan to the
people OF New Orleans, as one OF the most despica
bic wretches that ever left it; who formerly the
partner In protiigacy OF the once notorious 'Dr.
Hunter" in the disgraceful "Model Artist ex-
hibtions in this city, and who crowned his exploits
in New Orleans by running away with the funds of
Fire Company No. s. OF which company he was
then member, will be by the official pnbli-
cation OF the company, in the Delta Of the 4th of
| September, ls49, published below.
| For the people OF New Orleans, who have known
| me from childhood, consider defence OF my cha
| racter unnecessary. In justice however, TO my
friends in California, and to those members OF the
| Vigilance Committee who urged me to visit New
| Orleans TO obtain proof Of my innocence Of the
charge preferred against me by Whaling, and who
pledged themselves that they would be the first to
have deemed il my duty TO procure the following
authenticated record from the First district Cri-
mina Court Of this city, and the endorsement Of my
character, signed by some of the most prominent
who would be most likely 10 know IL ever had
been charged Of any crime during q long residence
In Louisiana. JOHN GROVE.
State Of Louisiana. Parish Of Orleans, Frat
Dfsfricf Court Of Nic Orisans.-I. Norbert Ire
pagnier, Clerk OF the First District Court Of New
Orleans, do hereby certify that have examined the
docktts OF this court from June, 1885, to July Ia,
1856, and that have not found any indictment or
inform, ton filed registered in the aforesaid dock
ets against John Grove. In testimony whereof
have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal Of
our said Court at New Orleans. this 18th day Of
July, in the year Of our Lord Que thousand eight
hundred and Of y-sx and the eighiy6rst year Of tho
Independence Of the United States OF America.
N. TREPAGNIER, Clerk.
John B. Robertson sole Judge Of the First Dis
trct Court OF New Orleans, do hereby certify that
Norbert Trepagnier Is Clerk OF the said Court, and
that the signature N. Trepagner Clerk t. the fore
going certificate Is in the proper handw riting a
Of him, the said Clerk, and TO his official acts, ~
snch full faith and credit are due and owing and
further certify that his attestaton In due form Of
law.
Given under my hand and seal at the city Of New
Orleans. on this 18th day OF July, In the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six and
OF the Independence Of the United States OF Ameri
ca the eighty first. JSo. b. ROBERTSON, Judge.