The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-07-04
A Satrap Governmental Visit from the
4ilitary...C Citizens Carried of in Irons.

A Satrap Governmental Visit from tn
Military.-.Citizens Carried offin Irons.
About three O'Clock Monday morning asl
Mr.. B. s. Barker, highly respectable an,
enterprising citizen Of this place, was aroused
from sleep, arrested, and amid the cries an,
entreaties OF his family, carried off to Jail, b,
a Liutenant and squad of men who had Jus
arrived from Selma. 1t was soon ascertaine,
that the military had taken possession of tn
kjail, and confasd Mr.. Waller deputy jailor
also. AT later hour, two other citizen
were arrested and escorted to Jail by tn
military; and on Tuesday still another va
arrested.
During Monday forenoon, an investigation
Of the parties arrested was commenced, ant
continued until the cases Of all were heard
The result. in brief, was, Messrs Barker and
Waller were started to Selma on Wednes
Jay morning in irons. The others we're re-
leased on the same days they we're arrested.
From what was elected on the inves
tigation of Mr.. Bsrkers case. it appear cd
that he was charged with having threatened
the life Of one Daniel Price, the teacher Of
the freedmen's school in this place. The sum
and substance OF the testimony produced
against him was given by Price, who testified
that short time after the hanging of the
negro Jasper, some two weeks ago, a negro
woman in the employ of Mr.. Barker told
him (Price) that Mr.. B. had said in effect,
that Piice had better 90 and take look at
Jasper, as his turn might come next. The
woman, given BY P:ics rs his informant, was
oIo III ~
.he never heard Mr.. Barker use any such
language, nor had she ever told Price thai,
she had.
In addition to the above testimony given
by Price, he stated under oath, his belief tba,
be would get protection from the civil auth
critics Of this place, il he believed his life
was in danger, and be we're to apply for pro
lection OF the civil authority, or made com.
plant to them.
On concluding the investigation Of Mr..
Bakers case the Lieutenant expressed his
conviction Of his innocence, but stated that
he had peremptory orders to carry him, Mr.
B. 10 Selma.
With reference TO the case Of Mr.. Waller
whose arrest is supposed TO have been sug
gested by the hanging Of the negro Jasper
nothing having any apparent significance 90
ing to implica,e him, WAS elected.
| One Of tho other citizens arrested was ar
pretended at the instance Of = negro. will
whom he bad an alteration some time since
and who alleged fear for his Iite." Tb'
facts 10 this case showed that at the time q
the alteration the inlendent expressed biz
willingness TO have the party arrested, if the
party would make the necessary affidavit
which be did not. And. that subsequently,,
he asserted he had no fears Of personal vic.
leoce. As already stated, the citizen was res
leased by the military after several hours'
confinement.
The cases Of the other two citizens were
based solely on information given by negroes
without oath-and were go manifestIy
groundIess that both were released; and in
one instance the informant WAS kicked out
of the presence of the "Court." Still those
citizens had besn subjected to the humiliation
of being paraded through the streets under
escort Of squad Of soldiers, and some Of
them had been confined for hours in a com.
mon III.
Such occurrences as the above are mortify.
ing beyond expression, and calculated to pro.
woke imprudent utterances, that may only
aggravale the evil. When petty Lieuten.
ant can and will invade a community, and
without any regard for the forms or usages
Of law, arres. and imprison citizens on mere
hearsay compIaints-or even less substan ,ial
grounds-it IS folly TO protest, or to speak OF
protection, unless more discriminating and
lust tribunal be found.