Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-02-19
Further particulars of the Recent
Vigilance Committee DOings in
Monterey County.

Monterey County.
A correspondent of the Monterey Gazette,
writing on the 18th Of February, from Natiy.
idad, says:
There have lived on the Natividad Rancho for
wears past some men who are welEknown to have
no visible means Of support, yet who maintain
their families, dress WELL and frequently been
known 10 have money. They have been from
time to time here and elsewhere, suspected and
accused of rohberies and other crimes; yet from
the fact that witnesses have always been rela-
tiyes or friends, no testimony could be elected
sufficient to convict AT last, some three weeks
SINCE Chileno, harmless man, named Rafael
-, living at the Alisal was murdered, being
shot BY pistol, the ball passing through the back
merit Of the head and his horse was also found
with him shot, The corpse was found where the
act was committed, in the Canada Verde. At the
Coroner's inquest no testimony could be found to
implicate any person. II was, however, after
wards ascertained that two men, Patricinio Lopez
and Salvador Mesquite, were drinking with him
about 500 yards distant from where he was muir
dered. only quarter of an hour, or twenty min
utes before his death. It was also known that
the deceased had with him sack of barley, and
that barley was used BY Lopez and ms orofneI
Francisco the same night; and that neither had
purchased any.
With these slight facts known It was deter
mined to arrest the three named men, and also
two others-Rafael Alviso at whose house the
first two slept the night before the murder, and
boy (half negro), named John Scott A
warrant was issued by Justice Wooley,
and all, except Patricinio, were arrested
and a strong guard placed over them. This was
on the Sd of February. Patricinio was known to
lurk In the vicinity, but his whereabouts was not
ascertained until Saturday, the 9th, when, by the
use of strategy, he was delivered up by his reia-
tives Up to this time no testimony could be elic-
tied 70 fx the crime upon any one or more OF them
But subsequent and separate examination
brought out the fact that the murder was commit
ted by Patricinio Lopez, unaided; that Patricimo
Lopez and his brother, after the murder, went TO-
eether to the scene of its committa that Patriot
MO confessed to his brother that he committed the
murder. This known, the people present torei6ly
took charge of the prisoners and requested MI
Wooley to return to his house. A jury was
formed and they were tried. Pstrieinio Lopez
was found guilty Of murder, and, suppose,
hanged, As his body was brought in and buried
Yesterday. Two Of the other prisoners were
tried before Justice Wooley and sent to Monterey
on other charges, and two were discharged
Another scene occurred which must relate I:
Two boys, from twelve to thirteen years Of age,
were whipped publicly yesterday by their fathers
for having hamstrung an OK, belonging to Jacinto
Rodriguez Of your city. This was an act OF
wanton cruelty, and In boys so young it appears
necessary to set an example
During the entire time the people have acted
in the most perfect harmony. No excitement has
been raised as in most cases Of this character /;
and while there existed determination to bring
the guilty parties to justice, no more peaeeable
crowd ever met An organization is now formed
for the prevention of crime, with the view Of as
sisting the officers of justice hereafter, and when
the law will not reach offenders It Ia probable that
they will be punished by rehearsal OF the means
just inaugursted