The Placer herald., 1856-05-24
Proceedings at San Francisco in relation
to the Assassination of James King OF
Wm.---Action of the Vigilance Com

i to the Assassination of James King of
s Wm.---Action of the Vigilance Com
a mlttee.
81 In our last week issue gave an account OF
q the shooting of Mr.. King by Casey, and the as
Asembling of the Vigilance Committee. The daily
papers have ere this Informed the most OF our
Il readers of the intense excitement the murderous
Hact produced in the public mind wherever the
u news was received. The press of the State. with
Trare exceptions, have stamped the act of Casey as
Ma vlianous murder,-sustained the course of the
SVigance Committee: and have advocated the
il summary punishment of the offender.
81 Up to Sunday the Vigilance Committee We're
aengaged organizing their men preparatory to ia
4 king Casey from the Jail for trial On that morn
owing to some news they had received. 260O
&men marched to the County Jail and took posses
q sion of the cuprit. We condense description Of
the scene from the columns of the .4ita:-
q The committee number twenty-six hundred
Emcn who were selected from the most reliable of
q the city. all of whom vouched for by some
Swe known citizen to the original Vigilance Com
xmittee. Upon imitation they were organized into
TcOmpanes of one hundred men each. and OF course
Ethere were twenty-siX companies. Each company
EelCcted its captain and four LieutenantS and each
Shad a regular drill room, where they were made
Unfamiliar with the use of the arms and military
smovemrnt. by almost constant drlll night ana
ssday. They had a stand of two thousand mus ketS
Ehesdos large number OF rifles, toWllng-plcceS
Nand other arms belonging to private citizens, as
&well as nnumerahle knives and rcvolvers and
b one field piece belonging to the California Guards
81 The intention of the Committee was not known
xbeyond the circle of the Executive Committee,
Switch is the controlling power of the whole oper
Ration and whose orders are imperative. The en-
II. .i.a4 ia cuIia t6 he O1l cd
Faction. Al an early hour orders were given to
H the different commanders to appear at the general
b Hhuad quarters of the Committee, at fl Sacrament
81 to street, ready for duty. at 9 o'clock.
81 "By y clock all the companies had assembled
I az directed. and were placed in charge OF field
e officers who had been chosen, and all subject to
Il the direction of Chief Marshall Charles Doane."
"a During the gathering OF the forces, large num-
Eber of spectators were assembled anXiously look
Eing for the result of all this mysterious and ter
Erible prep prration.
b In the mean time, a detachment vas sent to
3 the store Of Messrs Macondray &Co, to take pos
session of the field piece OF the First Calforula
Il Guard and prepare it for use. This was soon
Il accomplished and they stood guard over the
E piece to wait further orders.
"a AT II o'clock the several companies were
q marshalled into the street, and formed into a
H solid body heading up Sacramento street with
e the citizens guard, consisting Of sixty picked
IL men to act as an escort
d at was strange sight men of all classes, ages
9and nation. men of wealth and poverty, the man
B OF business, the clerk the porter the father and
4 son, the Christian and patriot, the man OF God
Hwith a prayeru heart, were enrolled IN tins
Evolunteer company of citizens soldiers ana bent
ZION the accomplishment ola certain Object.
81 The movement was in the direction OF the JAN
Eanl an immense throng on all sides contusedly
&c rolled along with the march Of the army. The
81 main body passed up Sacramento street 10 Mon
e Etgomery. along Montgomery to Pacific. thence
Eup to Kearny, and along kearny to Broadway to
&the Jail grounds =.
s. Several Of the companies were directed, it
Escems to approah the spot in different dlrectlons
b and simultaneous the bayonets were seen coming
& from Stockton Dupont and kearny stretsand the
& whole campaign seems to have been so well
q planned that not a mistake was committed.
= after the proper disposition of the infantry
the artillery force came up kearny street ana
Bplanted their cannon in the center OF the street
lin front OF the Jail and aiming its muzzle directly
Hat the front door of the prison, deliberately load
Eed it with powder and ball.
81 "According to the stipulations previously en-
Etered into. the Vigilance Committee had with
Edrawn its guard from within the jail before bring
ling its forces there, so that the Sheriff mad tht
&entire control Of the prison. But 1t was soon
Eobserved that he had determined to make no resls
Htance to the wishes Of such an array as ne saw De
Flor. him. There were three or four police officers
Eand one or two deputy sherfs on top OF the JAIL
Mwthout arms who appeared only as spectators 1t
.Ethe great scene before them and In the JAN were
NSheritf Scanned, Deputy Harrison. and one or two
Hother erunder-sheriffs together with Marshall Nortt
Eand one or two policemen, all OF whom were
Hwatchinp with considerable interest the move
Ements outside, and with no disposition to thwar
Ethe will Of the applicants for the prisoner. Iheil
8countenances wore a serious aspect. which PLAINLY
Hevinced that they felt that the people who cloth
x led them with authority now were about TO dlctate
Hterms which they could not resist =,
IS las the army approached the jail. the Sheril
3went to the cell of Casey and said, JAS there
Eare two thousand armed men coming Tor you
Xaud have not thirty men about the jail Case!
&replied as that all? Then do not peril your me
b. and that of the officers in defending me- VIII
&go with them"
The Executive Committee sent deputatlon &c
the door of the Prison to demand the delivery o.
casey into their hands.
Without any hesitation the Sheriff repaired 70
1.-THE cell of the prisoner and informed him that the
0Vigilance Committee were waiting at the door
land demanded his person and that he was compel
BED to yield him up; and that they wished him
to be hand cuffed. Casey peremtory refused 70
#allow them to hand-cutf him. This was reported
ITO the committee and he WAS requested to again
&endesvor to persuade him to yield peaceabiy to
&their demands
p "Deputy Harrison then made an effort to in
d,lre hin, IN copscnt 10 bc honed. hut he still