Litchfield enquirer., 1868-04-23


 been explained, and the mystery unravel led. Stuart-the real Stuart, in the hand. of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee had made full confession. He acknowl edged the murder of the sheriff of Tuba and the robbery of Jansen's store, and ac quilted Mildred of any participation ol connection with him. The Governor oi the State happening to be in San Francis. co at the time, after an interview with Stuart, i'll presence of members of the committee, immediately forwarded full pardon to Berdue. It arrived two days before the time fixed for his execution; and immediately upon receiving 1t, he took d ooat and came to San Francisco.
 The real Jim Stuart was hanged by tine Vigilance Committee on the day which had been set for the execution of the man to whom his name and crimes had been at- trlbuted. Berdue, who was to have been hung Tn hls place, was present at the exe- cutlon. The hanging took place upon Cal lternla street wharf, and the gallows was 6 derrick, erected there for hoisting mer. chandise in and out of vessels; to which, al given signal, in the presence of several thousand people, the wretched man was '' run up" and strangled. After hanging half an hour, the body was cut down, and dropped from the derrick into a boat, into which the " committee" surgeon, the cor oner and myself, and the oarsmen were the only persons permitted to enter We rowed over to an engine house near bv, where we deposited the body, and where the coroner, with an eye to his fee. propos- ed holding an inquest. Upon our arrival, two more surgeons were admitted; and a medical examination of the body made. The neck was not broken; and, upon lan- clng a vein, the blood flowed freely; and the physicians were agreed that, with @ good galvanic battery, they could have re- stored Stuart tos life.a
 I am fond of dramatic situations, and proposed that we should send for Berdue. This was done, and in half an hour he stood in the presence of his dead rival; standing by the table on which Stuart was lying, and gazing upon his fixed features. 1t was like man gazing upon his own corpse. l never, before or since saw such resemblance. Stuart was, perhaps, @ trifie the stouter; but, having seen either one, think l should have unhesitatingly, at any time thereafter, been willing to swear to the other as that one. It scarce ly seems possible that men could have so perfectly resembled each other.
 Next day the corner held his inquest; and the jury returned verdict that "the deceased came to his death by strangula- tion at the hands of some person or per sons unknown" The coroner received from the county fee of thirty dollars for this, and liberally treated" the jury to beer and cheese at the corner grocery. A purse, to which Jansen ibelally contribu ted, was raised for Berdue and Mildred, who had also been pardoned; and neither of them willing to run the risk of another such adventure, both returned to Australia.
 Was 1t "chance" alone which directed the steps of the Vigilance detectives to Jim Stuart's burrow, among the sand hills! Was not the life of an innocent man. even one so poor and humble as Berdue, worth more than that of "many sparrows;' and are we not assured that the Guide. and Governor, and Orderer of all things. suf. fers not one of these to fall to the ground without His notice?
 EDWARD GOULD BUFFUM,
 Lust as the above article is going to press we receive word by Atlantic Telegraph of tile sudden death of its author in Paris, where he had resided during the last eight years the correspondent of New York daily newspaper. Mr. Butfum was a native of Rhode Island, and the son of Arnold Buf. fum, who was prominent as one of the most ac- tive of New England philanthropists. During the Mexican war, Mir. Buffum served as a volunteer and, the war over, settled in California, adopting the profession of journalism. He was at one time 9 member of the Legislature of California. and was the author of two books on the gold mines n' and on California life. MT. Buffum was a man of much travel, keen observer, a clever journalist, and a fluent and acceptable writer. He died at the early age of forty.-EDrroR OF THE GALAxY.]