, 1862-11-15

Willamette, and the great country north,
it must be apparent that the growing de-
mands of the upper country have had ma
terial influence in placing her in the firm
position she now occupies.
News items are scarce. Vinton, the
temperance lecturer, has spoken here for
several nights in succession, attracting
crowded houses. At the last meeting the
pledge was introduced, and several men
went forward and signed it, after some of
the ladies had signed They will stick to
it Of course.
A concert was given a few evenings
since, by Prof Sedlak's amateur band, for
the benefit of emigrents. 1t was well at
tended, and the receipts were quite respect
able. The weather is most delightful.-
The rainy season usually sets in much ear
lier than this, but there is apparently as
much prospect of snow as rain to-day
No news of great Importance from the east
the season of "masterly inactivity is not
yet over.
Hanging of the Highwaymen at Lewiston.
David English, Nelson Scott and VIM Peo-
pies who were arrested here week or two
since on a charge of highway robbery were
hung by the citizens at Lewiston, on Sat-
urday night last With reference to this
transaction we have heard but one express
sion in this community "If guilty the
retribution was just-that they we're guilty
there was not the remotest doubt" The
evidence produced against the mon their ex-
animation here was the most positive, and
we could not but congratulate the commu-
nifty that none of their fellows were here
to come forward with the small sum of ff-
teen hundred dollars as security for their
appearance at the next term of tie District
Court in Idaho county, and thus give them
an opportunity to resume their places on
the highway In consideration of the fact
that the jails throughout the upper country
have heretofore only been so many escape
places for the villains lodged in them, and
the disposition of juries to listen too much
to the pathetic appeals of quibbling law
yers, after the excitement of murder or
robbery has died out, we endorse the course
adopted by the citizens of Lewiston as just
and right; for it seems the only way to rid
the community of such men as are a terror
to it. When men can go out upon the
highway and demand of travellers their
money or their lives, the punishment of
hanging is not too severe for them, and
where legal course fails to meet their cases
the first law Of nature justifes a communi-
ty in taking the law into their own hands. 1t
has become a matter of self preservation
with the people of the upper country-and
especially those who are compelled to travel
the roads from here to Florence-to regard
the lives of highwaymtn as of no more
value than that of the wild beast which
awaits in his lair to spring upon the un-
wary, and to see that they are placed in po-
sitiOns where they may not add murder up
on muder to their catalogue of crimes
We extract the following particulars of the
robbery and hanging from an extra of the
Golden Age:
GA short time since Mr.. John G. Berry
and his brother, we've stopped on their way
from Florence to Lewiston by three robbers,
and their money or their lives was the watch
word-although well armed they could not
see any chance Of escape, and were thus
compelled to surrender twelve hun
dred dollars to their foes These men Mr.
Berry AMI his brother knew ve1y well,
having known them all in Florence during
the previous summer, and lad known Mel
son Scott for seven years. !" &
VIM. Peoples was the one who stopped
them, and David English was the one who
kept his double barreIled shotgun aimed
steadily on them. Scott had yager and
Peoples a double barrelled shotgun.
Mr.. Berry and brother lad their plan i'm
mediately to capture them. They laid their
Plan SO perfectly and followed the robbers
so closely, that with the aid of their friends,
they caught them all in the vicinity of
Walla Walla, and were on their way with
the prisoners to Florence.
They arrived here in the Walla Walla
stage, on Friday evening last. Immediate
ly after their arrival, notice was given to the
community that public meeting would be
helu at once at the Luna House.
Our citizens turned out en- maSse and as
the house was too small, they organized the
meeting by appointing Geo. E. Cole, Presi-
dent, and then adjourned to Arcade Hall.
The crowd was increased to thousands,
aud upon Mr.. Cole taking The Chair, Mr..
E. B. Waterbury was elected Vice Presi-
dent,an Mr. L. H. Thompson as Secretary
The President then stated the object OF
the meeting, and called upon gentlemen for
any remarks, that they might have full
understanding. Several persons addressed
the meeting. A committee of twelve were
appointed to guard the prisoners, and
twelve other citizens volunteered to see JUS
| tice done. .-... ...
The next morning the citizens met at an
early hour, and appointed committee of
fifty others to make the necessary arrange
ments for their trial. The committee con
sisted of our best merchants and citizens
generally. They took possession of the
prisoners and carried them into the vacant
saloon of Hays & Trevitt The citizens
then appointed Mr.. R. H Johns the Judge
to try them, and the President of the meet
ing Mr. Cole, drew out from hat Jury of
twenty-four names out of list of two
hundred and eighty. The prisoners were
to have the privilege of objecting to any
juror for private or any other reason. The
prisoners selected DIR. E. B. Stone, Charles