Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-05-31
Hanging of Casey and Cora.


the memory of Mr. King at the church, very differ
ent proceeding going on at the rooms of the
Vigilance Committee. Ii had been determined to
postpone the execution Of these persons until Fri
day, but report of such character as led the
Committee to believe that an attempt to rescue the
prisoners would be made by an organization, at the
time of the funeral when they thought the rooms
would be only partially guarded, gained circulation,
and it was inaley determined to complete the work,
and relieve themselves of their anxiety aud sus-
pense, by carrying out the judgment which had been
already pronounced
Notwithstanding the great gathering at the fu-
neral, the rooms of the Committee surround
ed by about twenty thousand people, who had got
an intimation of the proposed execution, and hur-
ried to the spot
The most formidable guard was arranged, which
embraced all the arms Of the Committee consisting
of about three thousand stand of muskets and two
field pieces. The streets in the immediate vicinity
of the rooms cleared by the soldiers, and the
brstlng bayonets that we're displayed in every
direction, made the scene one OF great solemnity.
One of the field pieces was planted so as to COM
mand Davis street from Sacramento street, and the
other so TO command Front street At about one
o'clock, workmen were seen preparing the dreaded
gallows in front of the Committee room and this
preparation drew together an immense throng.
The plan to carry out the execution of the death
penalty upon the prisoners was very simple, yet
convenient. The rooms of the Committee are in a
tended from each of two front windows Of the second
floor, extending about three feet beyond the line Of
the building and provided with hinge at the out
er line Of the wndow-sil the extreme end being
held up by means of a cord attached to the beam,
which projected from the roof of the building, aud
to which the fatal rope was also attached.
About one o'clock the prisoners were brought to
the windows, in view of the multitude, dressed in
their usual costume and mounted the PLATFORM hav-
ing their armes pnioned. They both appeared to
~. n
fate thatsawaited them. Before placing the rope
upon their necks opportunity was given them
to speak to the people assembled, when Casey said:
Gentlemen--I hope this will be forever engraved
on your minds and on your hearts. am no muir
derer Let no man call me murderer, or an assas-
sin. Let not the community pronounce me to be a
murderer Let not the Alta, the ChrontcIe and the
Globe, which papers have so bitterly denounced me;
let them not stigmatze me a murderer in their
daily and weekly papers, nor send my name to the
states a murderer, for | never did murder, nor
attempt to murder. Let no Editor dare to slan-
der my name or memory. Gentlemen, | am no
murderer My faults are because of my early edu-
cation. Where ! belonged ! was taught to fight,
and that to resent my own wrong, was my prov
nce. If you see funeral train tomorrow, lst no
one dare say there goes the body OF a murderer.
When have departed hence, dare not you nor any
of you call me a murderer, nor send my name to
the world as one. have an aged mother, and let
her not hear me called murderer or an assassin.
have always resented wrong and have done it
now
OIL my poor mother, my poor mother; how her
heart will bleed at this news. 1t is her pain feel
now This will wiring her heart, but she will not
believe that am murderer. | but resented an in
Jury, my poor mother Oh. my mother, God bless
you.
give YOU as hope he will forgive me-Amen oh!
my my poor motherl oh God. have mercy upon
me- MY Jesus, take care Of me. oh Cod with ac-
cumulated guilt of twenty-eight or twenty-nine
years. have mercy upon me-my poor mother!
At the close Of these remarks he seemed to grow
weak. and was unable to stand without support
from those standing by him. Father Gallagher
was by his side as his spiritual adviser, and con-
stantly telling him to stop speaking and pray. He
also offered him the cross, which he kissed several
times When the moose was placed about his neck,
he was deeply affected and nearly tainted away and
would have fallen off from the scatfold but for
those who supported him.
Cora did not say a word, or desire to- He stood
upon the scafIod during Casey's speech perfectly
unmoved, and when the rope was put arround his
neck he was as unconcerned as before. lie also pre-
ssed the cross to his lips often during his last mo-
ments,