Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-05-02


more power to enforce the laws than it
better of if the whole Criminal Code was
abolished with one stroke and the peo-
pie Of each district left to themselves to
administer justice in accordance with
rules adopted by the majority. Then
the prudent, conservative and good men
of the community would have an oppor-
tunity to curb the action of the vicious
and wicked, who are always governed in
their proceeding by bad motives.
Such a proceeding as this we acknowl-
edge would be humiliating and disgrace
full to us as sovereign State, and should,
in our opinion, render us unworthy of u
place in the great American Union; yet
it would be far better than to permit
things to proceed us they are now going
on. There have been series of lynch
law executions in this district of country,
and not in one instance has there ever
been any serious effort made by the EX-
ecutive Of the State, or anybody else; to
bring the parties engaged in them to
accountability and justice. That in most
cases the parties who suffered were
known, without any question, to be
thieves or murderers, was not, In our
opinion, an excuse for this neglect OF
duty on the part of those sworn to see
the laws enforced. In two instances in
the town of Watsonville an enraged mob
strangled to death in the most inhuman
manner innocent men. One was Mex
lean of the name of Castro, who was ar
rested on suspicion of having stolen a
horse. The mob refused him two hours
time to enable him to produce proof of
his innocence, and declined to hear any
thing he had to say. They rushed him
through the streets, in open daylight,
with the rope around his neck, and
strappled him on a tree near the Pajaro
river. Two days afterwards his inno-
cence was made manifest to everybody.
Shortly after this young American, OF
general good character, OF the name of
Dean, had quarrel with man of the
name of Pomber, in which the latter was
slightly wounded. As night closed in,
after the transaction, the enemies of
Dean circulated a report that Pomber
was diving, and by exaggerating and living
accounts of the circumstances which
brought about the quarrel. succeeding in
raising and infuriating a crowd. who
dragged Dean from his bed at midnight.
and through the streets of Watsonyllle.
while he was yelling. begging and CRYING
for helm and mercy. to n sign post. where
! they stranoled him in the most unheard-
/ of brutal manner. as he fought for his life
! TO the last.
| The details of this brutal murder
shocked the community. and we had
hoped that the lesson would never have
been forgotten. vet il has inst been par
alleled 6y the inhuman action of the
mob at Monterey. where Tarpey was
dragged from the embraces of his wife,
daughter, aged mother and sister with
barbarity beyond belief. There was one
difference hoveyer that Tarpey met his
4 fate with unwaverinp courage and forti.
tude: diving MS he had lived. the brnyesi
of men On the night of the 18th. when
the first detachment of the mob lief,
WatsonyilIe on their bloody mission,
the Sheriff of Monterey of their coming
The messengers arrived at Monterey Il
rample time to put the Sheriff on hi.
guard. but he failed to take any precau
ton whatever to protect the prisoner
When volunteers offered 10 90 armed
into the iail and risk their own lives in
defense OF the prisoner he declined the
offer. When he was urged to take the
prisoner in a schooner on the bay, or
we'll guarded. into the mountains unit
the excitement should have passed over
he declined. He finally declared that il
was his belief that the mob would hold
him responsible for the prisoner; ant
that IL they lost any lives in capturins
him. or failed to find him, they woult
hang him-the Sheriff-in his place. II,
refused the prisoner arms to protect him
self. and finally Welded up everything I,
the mob fully in accordance with thei
demands, although the Monterey Jail is
little fortress in itself, and could be de
Tended by three armed men against an,
attacking party not accompanicd witt
artillery. We draw your attention t,
= these facts, which can all be proved, tina
YOU may fully understand how com
nletely supreme mob law reipns in thi
district. and with what respect tn
|