San Andreas independent., 1857-10-03
The drying up of politics has left

The drying up of politics has left
nothing Of . public mature to interest the
community % large except the efforts
that are being made to bring certain Off
cial malefaciors to trial and mete out to
them speedy and just punishment =
This should be cause of gratulation
among the people to know that more in
dictments have been brought, and more
strenuous efforts are being made, during
the present year, to punish great scoun-
drels for malfeasance in office, than has
ever taken place before in California
This fact does not 90 to show that there
has been more peculation of late than
formerly-for such is not the case-but
that there is an independent press in the
State which dares to do its duty, and
that the people themselves are taking an
interest In public matters, and are de-
termined that great villains shall be
punished as well as petty thieves. First
comes Bates and Rowe, the robbers of
the State Treasury, who were overtaken
In their rascality before their schemes
were fully matured Rowe has been lono
lying in the Prison Brig, and Bates, who
was out on bail, was lately re-arrested lest
ne should escape from the State. When,
we might ask, has such thing been
known to take place before in California,
as the arresting of an individual lest he
should leave the State On the contrary
every opportunity has generally been
granted them to make well their exit, and
it has been almost impossible, heretofore,
to convict and punish any one for NAL
feasance in office Then comes some of
the Hungarians-.fast men-who held
various positions in the San Francisco
Branch Mint, from Haraszthy, Melter and
Refner, down to Bein, the laborer. The
latter, who, from the position he held,
was enabled to steal but few thousands,
no mercy was shown the work was done
up hastily he has been tried, convicted,
and now lies in prison, awaiting his SEN
tence The former, who stole $3.50
the law has been more tardy in dealing
with, but at length true bill has been
found, and he has been held to bail for
his appearance to answer to the charges.
j. III. Szabo, Assistant Assayer, has
placed himself in rather a doubtful posi-
tion and may soon find himself surround
ed and hemmed in by the "meshes of
the law" and his particular friend, Count
Urzney, will probably fall at the same
time, as both are resting under suspicious
of being deeply concerned in matters re-
lating to the "Mint Mystery" j. NJ.
Eckfeldt, Chief Coiner of the Mint, and
Ell. T. Graves, his clerk, are likely to re-
ceive their share of the benefits that are
sometimes justly dealt out by the law,
for the protection of the community
as the grand jury have had their case
under investigation. In fact, cloud of
suspicion, dark and damning hangs loom
ing over the head Of nearly every one
connected With the Mint. Theprcss and
the people demand a thorough investiga-
tion, and it is likely it viii be urged till
the matter IS completely sifted, and the
guilty are brought forth and properly
dealt with, and the honest-if there are
any such about the Mint-are shown to
be deserving of public confidence and
receive the appreciation to which they are
entitled for daring to be honest while
associating with and living in "den of
thieves. " Let the public be thankful
that so much has been, and mere is likely |
to be done hereafter, toward convicting
and Furnishing those who but seek places
of trust to betray the confidence reposed
in them. The people of San Francisco
first set the ball in motion, by banishing
from her limits portion of her scoun-
drels and intimidating others, thereby
showing to the whole community that
"some things can be done as well as
others Since that time, the public
have been more exacting in their demands
for justice; while those who are scoun-
drels by nature and thieves by training,
have become in some measure intimidated, |
and officers whose duty it is to subserve
the ends Of justice, have shown i1ore
energy and industry in performing their
duty If Justice has long slept in our
midst, 1t is confidently believed that she
Is fast awakening, and we shall continue
'Qok forward for the "better time com