Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-10-29
cr,rr PRrsoN AFFAIRs.-Several of the S

Francisco papers have recently intimated the
prospect of a general disagreement of State
Prison inmates on habeas corpus, on account OF
inormality of commitment Frank NJ. Pixley
was indicated as the attorney who would make
the wholesale application on the grounds above
stated. The San Francisco National has the fol-
lowing in regard to the matter;
Mr.. McCauley, the lessee of the prison. in
formed us that having ascertained that the com
mitments of Mulhare aud Connor the express
robbers were defective, he had fresh ones made
out, so that there will be no likelihood of their
getting out, as it was reported they would attempt
to do. Some sixty other commitments from this
county have been amended and sent over to the
State Prison, SO that in case any of the convicts
from this county are taken before the County
Judge (Frink) of Marin county, McCauley will
only have to present these amended commitments
in answer, to justify the Judge in remanding the
applicants to the lessee's custody. Whilst we
are talking of this matter, it would not be out OF
place to advise the clerks of our interior courts
to follow San Francisco's example, and send
down amended commitments. The most common
fault is in stating that the prisoner is convicted
of felony" without specifying the kind of fell
ony he is sentenced for. Another common fault,
by means of which the purposes of the law are
defeated, is this A man is convicted on two
charges of grand larceny, for instance, and is
sentenced to three years imprisonment for each
offense. In nine-tenths of such cases the two
commitments read that the prisoner be imprisoned
in the State Prison for term of three years
from date, and the date being alike in both the
convict cannot lawfully be held by the lessee for
more than one term of three years, instead of
two. The criminal is therefore punished for only
one ofense.
We did not learn until few days since, that
Commodore" sent to the State Prison some
two and one-half years ago, from this county,
had been released, on account of Informal com
mitment, his crime being felony, but the commit
ment not par ticularly designating In what the
felony consisted. Commodore" was released
previous to the election. and has since been en-
poyed on a ranch at C0rte Madeira.
County Judge Miller Informs us that Murray,
sent from here to the State Prison last spring, for
attempt at incestuous marriage. has been granted
new trial by the Supreme Court on points to
which Judge Miller objected during the trial,
but was overruled by his associates, and will be
returned here for such purpose.
We imagine that very small number OF the
prisoners at San Quentin will be liberated on
account of informality Of commitment, as the
Interior counties will follow the example of San
FIancisco--prepare and forward corrected com,
milments to the State Prison lessee.
MOUNTAIN lIOMEs.--A recent number of the
San Andrea3 independent contains u sensible ar
tcle, entitled " The Ranching Interest in the
Mines" from which we make the following ex-
tract
ave may safely assert that nothing has con
tributed SO much towards humanizing socicty Y
throughout the mines Rs the ranching interest.
In every mining precinct now see flom one
to half dozen beautiful little spots nicely en-
closed, planted in vines, fruit trees, vegetables
and grain, where live, for the most part. the ear
]iest pioneers Of the mountains, surrounded by
their families. They are renowned for their hos
paity, almost without exception ; their houses
are the resort OF the wayiarer and the miner,
who never have cause to go away dissatisfied
with the treatment of the host. They a class
who do not rapidly grow rich nor indeed, do
we think, that, a class, they are very much
troubled by the pangs of avarlce. They are
content to live in humble independence, and
wait with fortitude, the dawn of brighter day"
pporpnrIoN Enp NUN nr, n Pr ,cr Tho NJ