Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-27
MODEL CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS.

our readers some idea of the necessity of the
Vigilance Association:
Who are our Supreme Judges Hugh G.
itIurray, who was elected last year for term
of six years, had a majority of a few hundred
votes, falling some four thousand below his
ticket. Ned MCGOWAN, under indictment as
accessory to the murder of Mr.. King, pulled
the wires for him in this city. Judge Murray
is known in every part of the State as fire.
quentcr of brothcls and gambling houses. he
has been known to win $4,000 in o single
night at n gambling table, and then to loose
the whole of it at faro the next day. The pa
pers, since they have dared to speak, charge
that he is often seen drunk in the public
streets, and sometimes on the bench. n few
weeks since he made murderous assault upon
q merchant in Sacramento, who had merely
expressed an opinion of tho Judges unfitnoss
for his high and responsible station, was con-
victed of the crime in the Court of Sessions,
and fined only $50.
Judge Terry, his associate on the Supreme
Bench, not long since attacked witness in
open Court, at Stockton with q bowie knife;
and, but for prompt interference on the part
of the spectators, would have beer murder
or in fact rs he was in intent. 1 believe he was
fined one dollar for the offence
Our present Mayor, Van Necs, is openly
charged with having negotiated bribe OF So,
600 for Judge Murray, TO induce him to de-
eide the case Of Peter Smith VS.. The City of
San Francisco, in favor of tho plaintiff, and
then with pocketing the cash instead of pay
ing it over to the Judge.
David Scanned was promoted from the keep
er of the Osceola gambling-housc, owned by
Casey, to the responsible trust of High Sher-
i'll. One day a capper inveigled miner from
the mountains into Scannell's den, where he
was solicited TO stake his bag of gold dust
upon three card monte, or some other swind-
ling game. a gentleman, who had watched
tho motions of the fraternity, assaulted by
one Of the Sherif7s undertings, because he
quietly warned the young man against the
theft sought to be practised upon him.
The United States Marshal for the Northern
District, whom President Pierce appointed to
office, was professional cumberland when
he heard of Mr.. Kings assassination, a respcc-
table gentleman says that he heard him OK
claim ssd-m my heart ,-I'll give Casey q
thousand dollars 20
]. NJ. Bagley, who has been ordered out of
the State by the Vigilance Committee, for
his many crimes, was an influential member
of the Legislature and is besides, noted for
his murderous afiray with Casey eighteen
months since on dispute about ballot-stuff1ng
| between them.
The Vigilance Committee in their investi-
| cation into the case of Thomas B. Cunning
ham, have elicited satisfactory evidence that
| he was in the habit, while connected with the
Office of Coroner of the county, of disintcr-
ring the bodies of persons who had been bur-
| led, for the purpose of dropping them in the
| docks, and thus receiving the fees attending
an inquest. In this way, it is said, one body
has been made to do service three or four
times, or Us long as it would hold together.
Sam. White, who shot the police officer last
week in Sacramento, was n genteel kid glove
gambler, and came near being elected, two
years since, to the Legislature, by the Rose
water wing of the democratic party. Sam was
the financial agent of Belle Cora in the late
Cora trial and principle witness for the de-
| fence. The question was asked him by the
Court eWhat is your business 20 He ans
wered: esI am Copywritcr Clerk in the Hall
of Records" .sWhen did you get your APP
pointment % "In October last.'' sDo you
spend your whole time there 20 sSI don't
know" ssHavc you spent two months ?''
.sDon't think 1 havc.' ssIave you spent
twenty days 7'' ssDon't think 1 havc."-
ssHave you copied twenty pages there a''-
ssDon't think have.' ssHave you copied two
pages there 2'' ssDon't think have.'' ssDid
you ever write your name there 20 eyes, i
receipted for my pay" 'sDo you draw your
pay regularly eyes do.''
During the last seven years, fourteen hun
dred murders, it is said have been perpetra-
! ted in and about San Francisco, and the city
| itself has been burned down seven times.
Now, suppose one of this class does get In
to the State Prison. Let US see how he i:
| punished there. Some seven or eight month.
Dodman n. Bacbus, gambler and rowdy
without the least provocation, at the command
of French woman, his mistress, shot poor
German apothecary dead. Backus, by some
hocus-pocus, was only tried for manslaughter
He was convicted, but laughed at the idea OF
being sent to the State Prison, in accordance
with the law.
/ His counsel, on some pre-arranged flaw III
the indictment, had made motion to set a
side the verdict. He was awaiting the dcci-
sion in the county jail at the time it was be.
sieged by the Vigilance Committee, but wa.
so fearful he wonid meet the fate he 50 richly