The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-11

Our 'Ienvsr CITY Correspondence.

c,tioas-Sto,.ln Pfvg ati0gs-A Legal Cc@P
dFtat- Miat,,g Aetcs-Hdri Times IN ffvS'
pee Iae Goi don Case Original Anec4o<tS u
Douglas aud Rcoln, de-, DC.
Anoler epoch Of crime, terror snd eAoneihen' %
upon sr community. For the last ten days ueprc-
dat, rs upon The lives and property OF cur ci'lehs'
star X revelations duplicating parues OF hisn po-
ss.ion ia their preparation and Subsequent secret
executors by the Vigilance Committee, have kept
the public mind in a state OF constant irritation.
Tho happy decision OF the enjoyment OF an unintcr-
.uptei moral calm after the days OF violence and
retbution in the latter part CT July has altogether
passed away, and it is all but certain that the
after anarchy under which the fifty thousand in
habitaDts OF this region Gre compelled 20 live,
owing 70 the sins of omission OF the last Congress,
will continue to result in occasional conflicts be
tween the largely aggomerated criminal clemens
OF social body and those that, for the sake OF
self preservation, must from tine 10 time by fosce
secure the respect OF their rights OF both person
and property.
But 70 the record of the events OF the last two
weeks. On the evening OF the Sd inst John shear,
enc Of the pioneer miners Of his region, was called
cut OF his boarding house by two individuals, the
Ssatures of whom not recognized by his land
lord. He was heard 20 engage in earnest ccnver-
sation with his visitors in front Of the building, on
Perry street in West Denver. After while he was
seen walking of in company with the same persons,
N the direction OF the Platte river. Early next
morning his body was found in the river bottom.
about one mile and half above town, suspended
by the neck from branch of cottonwood
tree. Pinned - his vest was slip of
paper on which the announcement was written
that he had heen executed tor having been fe-
Al e LAD aud NF
horse thieves, highway robbers and assassins.
Great was the surprise produced by the disc J.
very OF Shears body. He had been known TO
many, and although lie was ayerse TO hard work
and rather INSCRIPTIONS in some of his business
Gansa c,ions. In: few suspected him cf being
professional criminal II now appears, however,
that he victim of the Regulators had met but
well deserved fate. John Shear, indeed, came
here in April, 1859, afugtve from justice. lie had
BED from the town of Newaggo, in the State Of
Michigan, where he had been arragned on the
charges of seduction, bgamy and forgery Short
~ after his arrival in this country he arrested
and ired for theft. Subsequently he was often ae.
sused OF participa alton in horse and cattle steaings
hut want OF evidence and the absence oil all laws
protected him from punishment.
Recently, however. horse thief, caught in
119rdnte de}tcto, made some disclosures which
hnally enabled those who had taken the vindi-
saaon OF justice into their hands 70 fasten his guilt
upon him. and hence tie tragic end of his career.
Shear is said 70 have LEFT two wives and two chill
dren in the States.
Aear's body had hardly been cut down, when
Ne news Of another tragedy 1rst upon our people.
A. G. Ford, well known limb Of the law, aud
sounsel for nearly al the blscklegs and despera-
Soes that had ii times been summoned before the
Vigilance Committee, had secured a passage ~ one
Of the. coaches OF tie Central Overland Express
Company with view 20 proceeding TO Leayen-
wegth City, where he proposed Joining IN the de-
fDOCp of Gordon, The notorious murderer. lie was
doubuessly contemplating the gratifying prospect
Of his coming enjoyment OF the long missed COM
1orte Of civilized lie, when suddenly hall dozen
ugly marpois, in the shape OF Regulators,
armed to the teeth, surrounded the coach.
VIXEN abou, six miles from Denver, and command
I'd Ford % alight aud follow them. Ford bad,
.sol9ls roi,Js 20 comply with the III bodsng
Sme. 100 80 - - = w y - ~
Ford could hardly be SAIL 70 be a citizen in good
standing, yet nobody ever dreamed Of his being the
aecomphcc Of he thicves that have infested and
ytundercd his country for long period. Aud yet
b II now positively asserted that such was the case,
and that kis arrest was solely due - his criminal
connection II IL supposed that shear mad. a
confession before being swung az, ia which FoTd's
relations 10 the gang were revealed.
Many are the cOujecturcs ~ % what was done
vfh lord. The general belief IL, however, that
ne was ss summary dealt with as shear. lie was
srmerly resident Of and practitioner in Council
Bufis.
Since the sudden yjsita;ions upon Shear AMI Ford,
che mysteries Of Denver" are beng uuravelled
IN q truly astonishing manner. A number OF pro-
minent citizens. whose regulations have hitherto
been unbemi-hrd, be anne known 70 he involved
In. criminal transactions, and confessed judgment
by an ncontnent tight from the country Among
chem figures even the President " the Denver Town
company.
these disclosures, can be easily imagined. mu
sua drtrust now being lelt tAat : likely 70 eXer
else an unpleasant effect upon social intercourse
People cannot be blamed, however, for being -
served ana cautious when there ia danger of a
IL rfT0sf Nr IN Ntwntuv u4t
criminal IA the course Of the next hour. II the
secedents Of all Of citizens we're fuly known.
still more evacuation o. the country would
probably ensue.
A somewhat humorous contrast To- and refresh.
ing relief FROM the sombrc character Of our present
sceial relations, forms movement lately inangur.
ated b. the legal fraternity u this town. Il
was no less than tie formal announcement
Of their determination not % continue
any longer The thankicss pracuce IN the
mock courts Of the sO-caled provisional govern
nent. II appeared in the shape 81 the following
card:
a. law. convinced from long experience. that the
practice Of our profession u worse than useless,
both 70 ourselves and the public, under the present
circumstances. herewith make public our deter
mnation 20 close our Offices after the 3lst OF the
present month: and thereafter, our professional
business ceases until such time regular and con.
stitGiional tribunals justice arc established In
midst"
Your correspondent would gladly publish the list
Of the signcrs Of the above document, who have
immortalized themselves by this surprising act Of
legal disintcrestedness entirely withou, parallel
IN the annals OF the Western bar were not the ar.
ray VI names too long.
The condition Of the different quartz and placer
minee, Is s,d unsatisfactory. The pockets OF the
owner Of most quartz mills are still being depleted
by unsuccessful attempts 10 get them In paying
order Their discontinue and dependency ia daily /
Increasing Nearly all are disposed 10 sell out al
loss and resign the chances Of grinding fortune
cut Of the quartz rock 10 Others. The reports of
heavy runs in the dailies and weckCs OF this
- L. 81 -.
the quart rock Is now universally expected TO
rorove disastrous 10 nearly all concerned.
The placer digginvs are likewise undergoing a
reaction. The number Of paying claims - steadily
decreasing In the old mines on the eastern slope
and even In the gllches. along the headwaters Of
Che Arkansas and Grsnd rivers the yield i said 10