Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-05-02
AZ OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR
BOOTH.

"a The StaterOf CahfOrnla-Slr. lhe un-
=. 99.a,S;sned s in behalf of themselves and
us hpndreds of other law-abiding citizens
" " th;s district, wish to draw the atten-
~ .;or of your EIcellency in n particular
',onner non m to the late terrible outrage COM
[ n,;.ted by a lswless mob near the town of
M"nterey. on the 18th day of March last.
"hsrs in defiance OF all law, they, in
men daylight, broke open the Jail, took
~, Il 4 prisoner named Matthew Tarpey
a and strsnpled him to death. What makes
sh;s III ontraoe the more startling is that the
nerpetrators seek no concealment, but
pnblicly acknowledge their part in the
transaction. The mob was almost en-
t;rsly organized in the town of Watson
s;lle where it was armed and equipped
AZ a few wealthy men, who had been for
Years bitter private foes Of the hanged
The telegraph wires here and at Salinas
s,;tv we're also in the hands of Taipey's
rersousl bitter enemies. and showed
their terrible power to arouse and enrage
tbe people to lawlessnt IS and bloodshed
Noodipg the county with lying and
grossly exaggerated dispatches. Judge
Bsldsn, universally respect aud esteemed
bv our citizens, was holding court at
Salinas City at the very time the outrage
was committed, but found himself pow
erless TO stay the vicious crowd.
Matthew Tarpey had been a citizen of
Santa Cruz county for the last twenty
wears, and his friends to-day challenge
his enemies to point out one single act
Of his, during all that time, unworthy of
a good citizen, a good husband and
GOOD father. Some years ago, the same
men who now succeeded in effecting his
destruction raised fund to procure his
prosecution and prove him guilty Of aid
ing in frauds on the naturalization laws,
but failed in doing SO; otherwise there
never has beed any attempt to impeach
his character for truth and honesty in
any manner whatever. His word was
ever as good as the bond Of the wealth.
lest man in the county. He never in
CURED debt that was not promptly met
at maturity, and although he had amass-
ed property to the amount of some
$4,000, no one can point out'one act of
injustice committed by him while doing
so, and at the time of his death his out
standing debts did not reach $500. He
was ever ready to assist others who were
in difficulty in the most disinterested
manner. He was bold and brave to al
most fault: he was fearless in his de-
nunciation Of flaud and wrong of every
description, no matter who the perpetra-
tors might be, whether in low or high
positions in the community. He sought
no favors for himself, either from the
community at isrse or from private in
dividuals. When n wrong was done he
scorned the idea of holding his tongue
for the sake of gaining favors or popu-
larity Of any sort This characteristic it
was that brought upon him the intense
enmity OF wealthy aud influential men
in our community, whose acts, whether
justly or unjustly, he scanned with an
unsparing tongue which nothing could
conchlate.
About five years ago the farmers of this
section were harassed almost beyond en-
durance by u band Of horse thieves who
had located themselves in the Santa
Cruz and Monterey mountains. Almost
every morning some farmer found him
self robbed of his work stock and rem.
dersd almost destitute Of means to sup
port his family. This state of things re-
suited in the formation by the farmers OF
aProtective Association, and ut the unani.
nous request of the association after il
was organized, Matthew Tarpey took
command of it. The operations of the
committee soon dislodged the robbers
from their retreats aud relived the farm.
srs from terrible depredations; several
thieves were arrested by the committee
and handed over to the authorities o.
Santa Cruz and Monterey counties; some
few were killed in open fair fight, mum
bers fed the country, and the result wa,
that horse-stealing has been unknown in
our district for the last two years. Th,
committee never undertook to execut,
the criminals they captured except in one
solitary instance, where three notorious
thives were hung from the bridge owe
PaJaro river in the town of Watsonville
IN the darkness of night. At the time o
this hanging Matthew Tarpey was alb
sent IN San Francisco and had nothin,
whatever to do with the transaction
While the committee was in active ope
ration not single act of theirs was con
demned by the people of either county
win this one exception, nor can the en-
emles Of Matthew Tarpey now point t.
any specific act OF his while in connec
aon with that committee worthy of con
demnation, while the farmers and stock
falsers of the whole district must &C
knowledge themselves greatly in hi,
aeot Tor the energy and courage he eve
displayed in their defense.
Vho tArrihla minor, -, ox noa xyl,,ah 1a.1 a.
tne imprisonment of Tarpey in Montere
was related by himself and his accuser
VINO was one Of the parties engaged i
.ne Tray, altogether differently; his friend
pefeve one, and his enemies profess t
oeiieve the other. 1t is not our purpos
nov to dispute as to which was right
me occurrence originated in one OF thos
.ana disputes 30 common throughout tn
whole State, and which have so often =,
suited IN the loss Of valuable lives. Ta
psy claimed that he fired in self-defens
man advancing ON HIM with loat
~ pistol, and that the shooting OF Ii
woman was purely accidental; while th
aAl IN question claimed that Tarpe
o ~ the woman Intentionally. Aft,
.ne shooting Tarpey could have easil
uaue ms escape with the means at b
command, but he showed no dispositio
y 40 20; but on the contrary went direc
ana gave himself up 10 the officers
Se iaw. The law-sbiding citizens
snis district attempted no defense Of Ts
w part IN the transaction, but
handed for him q fair trial, to be co
uucted In accordance with the laws
!ns State. This his private personal q
sMles were determined to defeat, al
succeeded but too we'll. It took the pf
..es here in Watsonvills nearly three d
- arouse and infuriate public feeling
sh,a shs. Snreasoning pitch necessary to 9
a9ie them to organize o baud OF despt
saoes to proceed to Monterey to do tn
sork; In this they were aided in eve
possible way by almost the whole dai
press IN San Francisco. The Call, I
y; .G;nfoniels theAlta, thsP Post and the Bull
1n, IN their issues Of the 10th and II,
were niled with the most slauderous :,
acts tations OF Tsrpsy's personal ch