The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-04

IIIo uSSSuDiHSGs anu nave no IetSOu
to believe that the thought of lynching
him had been entertained or even sug-
gested by single individual present
they had collected from motives of Gu
riosity-a desire So to learn the partieu-
lars, and nothing more. At this mo-
ment the startling cry of I" Hang him
hang the murderer p burst from single
throat in the crowd, but the tohe in
which it was uttered was so loud, frm
and decisive, that all eyes were instant
ly turned upon the speaker, who was o
man of perhaps forty years of age, with
a stout, weIl-formcd person, and long,
heavy beard which covered his face to
his eyes. He was stranger to those
present, but his Intelligent looking face
and the garb of miner, in which he
was clothed, entitled him to some re-
spect, and as he slowly mounted an
empty merchandise box not word
escaped from the crowd. He removed
his hat, and, turning, pointed toward
the prison, and addressed the gather
ing:
81 In that prison." he said, sis muir
derer, thief, and gambler. He has
murdered a peaceable citizen before
your eyes, and is now waiting for his
money to buy his release, and to stalk
forth again in your midst with the
There is no such thing as law in Cali
fornia for the punishment of such vii
lains except it be administered directly
by the people. l say, bring him out
and hang him as high as Haman. Who
says yes to it ?''
The miner descended from his ros-
trum, but not until he had fred the
train. His words had the desired effect,
and hundred voices took up the savage
shout, and "Hang him hang him % re-
sounded through the assemblage, which
was rapidly increasing in numbers as
well as violence, until the streets ad-
joining the prison were densely crowd
ed. Shouts of vengeance and defiance
of law now went mp from every quarter,
striking terror to the heart of the ironed
culprit as he heard his sentence pro-
nounced by the excited mob without.
The whole police force of the city was
stationed around the door of the prison
and the Mayor vainly resorted to alter
nate threats and promises to desperse
the crowd. The only answers were
groans and Kisses, mingled with
cries of Break the door down p
derer!'
The miner who had ignited the flame,
satisfied with his work, withdrew from
the crowd, and with his arms folded,
silently awaited the result.
The streets near the prison now be-
came O solid mass of human beings
saloons, hotels and restaurants were de-
serted, and clerks, walters and proprie-
tors joined the excited mob and lent
their voices to the general cry. At
length q demonstration was made to-
ward the prison door. Upon a balcony
overlooking it appeared the Mayor of
the city, who arrested the movement by
again asking to be heard. He appealed
to them as good citizens to disperse-
pledging himself that the murderer
should not escape, but be tried, and if
found guilty, hung. Citizens did the
same, but nothing could shake the de-
termination of their auditors the cry
of "Down with him, y and groans and
Kisses and insults, now greeted all who
spoke in favor of the prisoner.
Five o'clock came; the crowd was
still congregated in threatening num-
bers around the prison; hour after hour
had been consumed in listening to
speeches and suggestions, which had
been received by groans, or shouts of
approval, according to their character.
The mob were getting impatient, and
in a few minutes more would have
forced the door of the prison, when a
proposal was made which received the
almost unanimous approval of the as
semblage.
It was, that jury of twelve men be
selected, that witnesses should be ex-
amined, and that the prisoner should be
tried and verdict pronounced within
| two hours. The jury was selected, who
| repaired to the Orleans Hotel, and the
trial was commenced. The evidence
was conclusive of the guilt of the pris-
| oner-there could be but one opinion.
Yet for hour. after hour the announce
| ment of the verdict was withheld by the
| jury, in hope of the dispersion of the
crowd as the evening advanced. Eleven
o'clock drew near, and still no diminu-
| ton of the number could be observed.
| A great portion of them were collected
around the Orleans, and the cry OF
s'Verdictl Verdict Give us the YER
| dictP now greeted the ears of the
| jurors, who, seeing the use lessness OF
| longer deferring the announcement OF
their decision, came forward, and from
the balcony of that hotel pronounced
the verdict of guilty upon the prisoner,
| which was received with shout of tri-
umph by the crowd.
A rush for the prison was made long
lines of armed police we're stationed on
each side of the door, as well as inside
OAO DI1SOI1 HuO udu OItlCES W SuOOl
down the first man who attempted &c
force an entrance. This, for moment,
seemed to check the infuriated mob as
they gathered round the door, appar
emily waiting for some one to take the
lead. But it was only for moment
that they quailed before the determined
front of the police, for the next, the
bearded miner who had first applied
the match to the train whose fame.
were now about to devour the prisoner
stepped boldly to the door, and wa
followed by score of strong arms bear
ing huge beam to be used as batter
ingram in breaking through the wal
which divided them from their victim
The hands of the officers were on thei
weapons, but the miner stood unterri
fed in their midst, and calmly informed
them that to draw one drop of blood a
that moment would be to bring upol
themselves punishment as dire as tina
which no earthly power could preven
the prisoner from receiving. The crowt
indersed the speaker with most ter
rife yell-the ponderous beam waI
brought against the door with crasl
that shook the building to its very cen
| Aor-the police gave wav-and the mex