Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-16
WHOLE NO. 500

w A4NJ1/1I 4NOs OUUt
Special correspondence Of the N. Y. Daily Times.
Revoiution In san Fraacises. 81.
Fan Particulars Of as Murdsr ef szs Esssor
SAN FRAsosco, TUESDAY, isi
g May 20, 1856.
We are in the midst of revolution which viIl
be recorded as one Of the most remarkable m the
annals OF history--which was designed, and Ia de-
stined to effect most Important change in the
social, moral, and political character Of the State
SKETCH OF JAnEs KING.
James King OF William is q native Of George
own, District Of Columbia. His father was one of
the most respectable men Of the District, and an
o,duental member Of the Southern division of the
Methodist Protestant Church He died, think,
about year since.
James King Of William commenced his business
career a. clerk In the banking house Of Corcoran
4 Riggs, In Washington, and by his probity and
lndustry gained theif entire confidence. In the
ary part of 1s48, some years after his marriage,
and before the gold discovery, Mr.. King came to
California. f7 t.s,s =
Mr.. King was remarkably successful in his bust.
ness, having smassed fortune, in less than four
years, OF about tl60,O0O. Something over year
since, he established branch Office in tue town Of
Sonora, mainly for the purchase OF gold du.t His
agent there, II stead of srcking to legitimate
business, was led to advance considerable sum of
money to Ditch Company, on the security of the
,roperty, and. finally Mr.. King consented to fur
ther advances TO this company, until, indeed. he
had sunk in it his whole fortune At this juno
ure, Mr.. Isaac O. Woods, Of the Grm Of Adams &
Co., having . good deal of confidence that the
speculation only needed larger capital to make Il a
A.
OF Mr.. King, and offered him place In the bank
Of Adams h Co., at salary Of $1,000 . month.
which he accepted Mr.. King sold his beautiful
house and elegant furniture to dischsrge his few
iemainfng debts commenced his career az clerk
and adopted most economical moda Of lls. In
!. few months after, the great house OF Adams 4
Go. failed. Mr.. King was thrown out of employ.
nent, and with his wife and six children was left
destitute. Mr. E. has frequently said, that st this
time he bad not dollar to purchase his DAYS ru,
ketng with.
Mr. King had nearly made up his mind to 20
again to the mines when from observing the rss-
calities of j. @. Woods and Cohen, the recsfyerfof
the firm, as well of others employed IN the eet-
tlement of the husiness Of Adams Co, and knew
Ing that the San Francisco pr had either NOV the
knowledge to enable Il, or the win to exposs the
purpose II Was printed on small sheet and cali
ed the Evening Bulletin. Mr.. King, honest, fra, K
md straightforward, thor nghiy dstssting vic..
whatever form Il might assume, and possesssd Of
moral and physical courage thst has never he. a
questioned, was just the man 70 stack the hyrra
monster corruption, which was sapping the v,ry
of society, and he did Il with an rn-
I Thousands of honest miners, labofens, meci,n-
cs and merchants -indesd Of all tlasses who lad
,een swindled by Woods, Advertisers Aock4d 20
his desk, and in short time he was obliged TO en-
large his sheet .se.F s as 81 .spsias
AR. King not only attacked the perpsAstoss Of
these fauds, but commenced an onslsughs upon
ne vices Of our judges and juries our men In high
political position, our bands Of ballot.box stuff re-,
our hosts of gamblers scores Of dishonest and
oettifogging lawyers, and indeed upon Ill Who had
outraged and were ouh aging public morals. In
this crusade he did not deal in g.neralitiss, but
when he had fastensd crime or corruption upon
any man high In power, he impaled him, singly
and by name, a. upon spear, and held him up 10
the gaze Of the people. OF course In . commu-
nifty ike this, where the vlest criminals, gamblers
and political chests hold the majority Of the ofces
aud can control nearly all the rest he had hosts Of
enemies. But the honest portion OF the people,
particularly the Lboring casses, literally worshiped
aim. His paper had double the circulation Of any
other In the State, and was making money rapidly.
1t was known that Mr.. King was conscientiously
opposed TO duelling 1t wss also known that he
was stranger to fear. To the many threats OF
personal attack he listened with . contemptuous
smile, and would then eject the man from his sdi-
toral room. He always went well armed, however,
and would have defended his life by killing IN open
assailant. But his courage and his arms were not
his only protection. It bad come to be generslly
believed that he held so firm place In the affec-
tons of the people, that none would dare attack
him for fear that instant vengeance would be me-
ted out. .,. -,e4. slrlAs faRs5
a E a THE HURDKR. ~ a4
On Wednesday afternoon last, at about Ave
o'clock, the whole city was reused by the report
that James King Of William had been shot dead
in the greatest business thoroughfare Of the city,
by James p. Casey, Sing Sing convict. Casey
was known a . successful ballot-box stuIer-so
successful that counting the votes in his ward,
u was found lie was elected of the supervisors
of this county by large majority, although he was
not even known by the voters as candidate. He
was also well known as the man who had been en-
gagged in . murderous ARRAY growing out Of one Of
these political operations. His name was prom
inent one among the many hundreds Of gamblers
and shouIder-strikers that have alwsys ruled this
city, and the house of every harlot opened, - IL
by magic, when his wellknown knock echoed
through its halls. v,ss, assd aaa at gs.t
95{s t.t.sf THE MURDSRxR. aYsa 9s3. e
4 James r. Casey was also known - the proprie-
tor and ostensible editor Of Sunday paper, tho
Times, which paper assumed grsst respectability,
and had hundreds, ~, perhaps thousands OF inhu-
entisl supportsrsl What fear bad he, then, with
all that has imbodied the power Of this city In hi
favor, with the knowledge that no man Of bis class
had ever been punished for murder in Ssn Fran
what fear had he of the laws rstsioetionss
The only danger to him was, OF instant sxecstion
at the hands Of the people. But this was provided
araipet His friends stood around hin, sAd ear
riage was ready to bear him - ths jsil, which Il
was supposed would be an ssk of safsey % him. z
But Casey wofhlly misoaleulated the spirit and
courage Of the bsttsr beseloa ii ear people. vii
not detail to you sn The hsoos ef this oswardIy as