The Empire County argus., 1856-06-28
SACRAMENTO, JUNE 22-4 2. NJ.

We are again called upon to place upon the record
of these eventful times the occurrences of another
exciting day. The events Of the past month do not
present an equal to the scenes Of yesterday in San
Francisco. The cause of the excitement and move
ment which will be found detailed below, was an at
tempted assassination Of Mr. Sterling A. Hopkins a
member Of the Police department of the Vigilance
Committee by d. S. Terry, one of the Judges of the
Supreme Court.
THE ASSAULT.
The particulars of the assault, which we gather
from an eye Witness and are consequently reliable,
are as follows:
An order was issued for the arrest of one J. R.
Maloney, better known as Rube Maloney, and well
known as political trckster, which was placed in
the hands of Mr.. Hopkins with instructions to take
him into custody. About p. NJ, Mr.. Hopkins
went into the Naval Office Of DR.. Asche, where the
Dr., Terry, Maloney Bovee, and some Others We're
Mr. Hopkins desired to see Maloney DR.. Asche
told him that that was the Naval Office. and at the
same time Judge Terry drew knife and would have
used it upon Hopkins had not DR.. Asche nterfered.
Hopkins then left and joined his companions and the
other parties at once armed themselves with double
barreled guns and went into the street to defend Ma
oney. The two parties, consisting of DR.. Asche,
IL. Bowie, j. R. Maoney, d. S. Terry and Martin
Reasd on one side, and 5. \. Hopkins, j. 5. Bovee
and three others of the committee on the other side
!
Barney streets. MIR. Hopkins approached Terry and
saluted him in a gentlemany manner, when he turn
ed upon him with his musket, which II. seized to
prevent him from using it, and succeeded in wrench
inc it from him. Terry then threw his knife and
stabbed Hopkins in the neck
Dr. Asche facing the muzzle of his musket against
the breast Of Mr.. Bovee, asked him if he a
friend he replied that he was and at the same time
forcing the weapon from him, drew his pistol and
,,roson+od II o+ The head Of DIR 4 schp cOmmandinO
him to surrender his arms, which he did instantly.
During the time, one or two shots were fired, ac-
cidentaly or otherwise neither of which took effect
FLIGHT OF THE ASSASSIN.
As soon as the first blow was struck Terry and
Maonev fed to the Armory, at the corner of Jack
son and Dupont streets and were attended by several
of the law and order party, who rushed in to pro-
tect them Several Of the Wig. boys were in the
vicinity and they at once locked the iron doors of
the entrance to the building, preventing any Of the
officers entering the building and the entire block
upon which it stands at once surrounded by the
Committee, to prevent an escape.
The ALARM!
No sooner was the blow struck than a swift cour-
er carried the intelligence to the Committee Rooms,
and the alarm was then sounded for the first time.
Thousands at once obeyed the summons The real
facts were soon obtained and crowds began to gath
er in the vicinity of the Committee Rooms and the
Armory.
MOVEMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE.
Tn less than Is minutes after the first stroke of
the hell. the Committee had detailed armed men and
compleelv surrounded the four buildings where the
law and order party supposed to have arms de-
posited This sudden and well-timed move took the
opposition by SURPRISE and prevented them from
meeting in their armory, except few squads who
entered before the guards arrived.