New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-18
TIE SIN FRANCISCO VTGILANCE CON-
MITTEE.


States that there gold on the SLOPES "a 'Ao 'C
Visions of untold wealth at once filled the minus ol
men and no Spanish adventurer had ever brighter
-. o. wilder dreams than the multtudes who
rushed 70 California from every cline, to reap inc
,,Iden harvest of that golden land. The story was
,old in Mexico. in South America, in China-eyery-
,rbore in the New World and the Old. And, II the
EMIGRATION was unparalleled, the emigrants were
daring reckless set who brought with them the hues
~ overv climate and the crimes Of every land The
adventurous Yankee not too nice to pander to the
worst of vices and profit by the worst OF crimes tne
Gambler and thief of New-YOrk. most at nome III
dens of infanly and the State Prison; the Southern
eayedriver or slave owner who had Just let 20 '"0
leash of the bloodhound and the pursuit OF hgseiS
for the frmer grasp of the pistol and the Do"lc
the Western adyenturer, twin-brother ana iaitniu'
counteryart of Nh Hannibal ChollOp. whose llS''
and last and only argument was IL al III ios 'i''o
shot a man down with that, Sir IN INC 0's'o u
IlinoyD were there TO take the lead OF llu'ueleS'
thieves and vagabonds from every quarter VI .no
cortb Tncendiarism. burglary. robbery, and murder
were committed in the open day, ana WITHOUT le' VI
pnpisbment Every man carried his life In his hand,
and the law was powerless to protect him. Gam0lhg
became not only the passion but the pursuit Of the
nnltitude Whole squares in San Francisco were
turned into gambling denS, and fortunes were IoSt
and won on the single turn of card. frlces soon
became eXOrbtant and rents were enormous;
canvas tent, the Ell Dorado, used as gaming sdlVo,
rented for $4,000 per annum-a PAIR OF DOOts sou III
500 Yet men grew rich. and as they grew rch they
became DESTROYS Of settled order OF things ana III
creased security But there was no elnCleht means
of punIshment-nO proper administration OF JusIlSe.
Lynch law was TcsOTted TO- and tins was tollOWeu ny
VIGILANCE committees In the principal towns. OF
these the Vigilance Committee OF san FRANCISCO was
the most remarkable, and its history contains a
warning to evil doors in grcaterclty than San IRAN
cisco The Ring in our City Hall may ponder It with
profit and learn a lesson of wisdom before sllII4I
vengeance Overtakes them at the hands OF PeopIIo
worse outraged ana more lOIDedILlS IMAM '"0 PO'i
of San Francisco. III. A.
metropolis of the Pacific coast and the metropolitan
citv OF the cODtinent-which is startling. There
potent political leader had served term IN the New"
York State PTiSOn-here are many pOlucai leaueIS
who have graduated at the Same institution ana
many more who should be its inmates at TINS hOur'
There member of one department OF the city gov
eminent was accused of procuring me passage OF d
fraudulent bill through the board OF when ne was
member Here it Is a daily practice, not only IN the
Board of Supervisors, but 1t Is done IN the Clty
Conncils with shamelesSness that seeks conceal
Ineut There politician was charged with selling
nominations for money and with furnishing DulIeS
and ballot-Stuhers on the day of the elecuon-here
nominations are anatter OF regular bargain anu sag,
md ballOt-stuhing has been reduced to science by
the kid glove leaders who supeTlntend WIN approx
inc smiles the operations of haTd-hsted brulseTs.
There the COurtS lp believed TO be the protection
and refuge nstca. of the terror Ofrogues Here the
rogues at the ban do much TO protect the IaScaS on
the bench as the raScals the bench to protect the
at the bar, There the ptOplt IOSt up III 'HO
might and with an avenging hand brought 0ider out
of chaos and light out OF darknesS-here GOd only
knows when II VIII ehd.
The Committee OF Vigilance in San francisco was
formed early in the history of that city, but IT was
not until 1856 that il took completely into Its own
hands the administration OF criminal justice. MHsn
1t did So it became not only the cOnservatOT OF the
peace but the nYeteTate foe of Official corruption:
In the early days of the Committee II had hanged
two men Of desperate character, whitaker ana
Mckenzie hut afteTwaTd crime appeared less ram
pant and the organization was allowed to dissolve
Corrupt practices in the election OF 1870 excited and
alarmed the community, and the fraudulent conduct
of Casey q member of the Board of Supervisors, in
duced many men to mediate measures OF summary
punishment. About tins time MI. James King es-
iabshed The San Francisco Bulletin in which he com
Inented with severity the character of Casey and
stated the fact of bis having been convict at sing
Sing. This eXaSperated Casey and bis friends, and
the man who had been thief and convict, ana
was then thief and politician, resolved to become
murderer On the 18th of May, 1885, he cOnsummated
his purpose and committed the crime which was TO
seal his own fate and bring ruin upon the despera
does who the vampires OF san Francisco. a
vengeance sudden and unrelentng was not antlcl-
mated by any one of them, and warning of danger
would have been received as warnings are now, re-
ceiyed by New-YOIk Common COuncllmen-" Them
arguments is played out ana YET WionOu1 NAN
fearful Ietribution overwhelmed them -
cloBd not greater than q mans hand be-
came a terrific tempest and the death-deang
bolt flashed out from the storm. The whole history
OF that episode is crowded in a few days and when
h was ended the city became as calm the serene
the bow of promise respondent. To the official
thieves of this city and their abettOrs day may
come-years hence or at ally hOur-when Tetribu-
ton more unTeentlng more unsparlng. shall over
take themthe walls OF the Red Sea rushing together
and Overturnmg PharaoRs chariot wheels-uness
the fate of those miscreants prove not only warn
ing but effective menace TO these before the waters
which they themselves have deadened oyerwhelm
them That il NAV prove both menace and a warn
ing we relate the story here, and if haply Common
Councilman read he may Tehearse 1t for his less
accomplished associates, for It needs no rhetoric to
give il force and even the uncertainty of Council
mans grammar might make it effective.
On the day we have indicated Casey met his victim
on the corner of Washington and MontgOmery-sts.
in San Francisco and instantly drew his revolver
and shot Mr. King through the left breast. There
was an immediate and intense excitement among
the peOple and the crowd which had collected about
the scene of the murder showed disposition to hang
the assassin on the spot But Casey had been taken
TO a statiOn-hOuse by the police and an attempt was
made to convey him secretly TO the county jail as
place of greater security, but the design dscOy
cred by the multitude and the people followed the
carriage by every possible avenue. The police how
ever secured their prisoner and the disappointed pur
suers dashed up against the prison walls like raw
enOus beast disappointed of its prey The excitement
madness and the madness was fury, but it was
fury that would only be turned aside for the utmost
method which madness ever displayed. At the mo-
ment when the multitude was most violently moved
by emotions OF Indignation and revenge, Thomas
King the brother OF James, appeared upon the ground
and addressed the crowd, denOuncng the prisoner in
unmeasured terms, and exciting the resentment and
rage of the people beyond restraint The old Nigi-
lance Committee days were dull times indeed COM
pared with the exciting Of this day, and those
which followed. The original Committee of Vigil
lance was at reOrganized 1t met early the next
morning, and continued in session all that day.
Many new names were added TO the Committee and
on the 18th The Alta California announced the
strength Of the organization TO be 1900 men. They
were thoroughly organized aud armed. and were
TO abide the action and do the bidding of their
leaders. The intention of the Committee not
known beyond the circle Of the Executive Commit
tee. whose orders were imperative, and Casey was
permitted TO remain quietly In jail for three days
after the first ebulition of passion had subsidized.
On the morning Of the 18th the entire force was
called out and the companies stationed around
the jail with the utmost delibeTaton, being carefully