The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-23
LYNCHING IN CALIFORNIA.
A Town In the Hands Of a Formidable Body Of
Carefully drilled Lynchers.
lFrom the San Francisco CALL

(From the San Francisco CALL
SANTA Rosa, June 1O.-About six weeks
ago James Roland and j. W. Henly had
a quarrel, and to get satisfaction. old
man Henly, as he Is called, went after a
shotgun, and following Roland to his
corral, shot him in the breast, killing
ham instantly. Roland lay until discov-
cred by ranchmen. 1he old man came
into town and gave himself up, confess.
ing the deed, but pleading selt-defense.
The town of Windsor, where both par.
ties may be called residents, was very
much excited over this deed, and dis.
cussion soon ripened into a quiet deter.
mination 10 take 'life lor llfe." About
week ago plan was definitely formed.
Men were enrolled and drilled quietly
and numbered, and last night was the
time set tor the hanging.
At about O'Clock two men appeared
before the door of S. I'll. Wilson, Deputy
Sheriff and Jailer, and awoke Wilson.
The moment the door was opened vii.
son was firmly and quietly seized by
two men, who told him tnat he was a
prisoner. He was informed that one
hundred and fifty men, armed to the
teeth, were distributed where they would
do the most good. They had come Tor
the keys of the Jail, and were prepared,
in the event Of not getting them, "to tear
down the whole damned calaboose."
The room by this time was filled with
men, all masked, as indeed every par
licipator was: The Sheritps wife was
quickly seized aud forced into chair
and quieted. Wilson was then allowed
to dress himself and led to the Jail.
Opening the iron doors by the light OF a
lantern held by one OF the lynchers, Will
son was directed to point out the cell of
the old man.
No sooner was the cell door opened
than tall, wel-built, powerful fellow
stepped to the threshold and called out,
"Onel two! threep Three men i'm
tour entered the cell. The old man Law
on his narrow bed fast asleep. Without
a word, the men advanced to the bed
and commenced binding the sleeping
figure firmly, hand AID loot, with manila
hay rope. Thus ruaely awakened from
his slumbers, the wretched man violently
but Intellectually cried, "For Gods sake,
boys, spare meP' at length his doom
opening before his eyes.
Eyes" said the Captain, ssas YOU
spared poor m Rolandp'
"Great Godl" exclaimed the old man
"are you going to murder mel"
They did not answer, but stufiing a
roll OF cloth into his mouth, the mer
bound the victims black silk necker.
chief over al, thus shutting out all hope
OF alarm in that quarter. Having Sc
cured their prisoner by bonds so strona
that the flesh was cut by The unyieldins
fibres, the men caught him up and bore
him out of the Jail, with nothing ON his
body but thin striped undershirt and 6
light pair OF drawers. On the outside
another relay OF men tossed him into tht
bottom of large thoroughbrace wagon
and in another moment the executive
portion of the movement, consisting o
men in wagons, on horseback anu on
loot. armed with rifles, shot guns, ant
crow bars set out down Fifth stree t
across the s. z. Railroad, to Grave
Slough"
Near the bed of the creek is high out
branching tree, often used as a cover fol
camping parties just dropping in, OIL
Fourth of July, or occasions. Reachin,
this, as prearranged, the prisoner wal
placed under limb from which already
hung an unused thre quarter inch ma
nila. The party in charge Of the moose
an old4man-0f- ars-man, and addressed
as Number Fifteen, now threw the loo,
over the head OF the doomed man, an(
gave the signal to ''haUlin the slacki'
Tne captain now advanced, and, freeing
The mouth of the prisoner, thus al
dressed him:
.'HenlX, you're an old man, but {
wicked one. You have done many baC
deeds in your lie, but the killing %
james Roland in cold blood and without
reasonable provOcation, shows hear
so deprayad and shut out TO anything
like humanity that you are unit ior the
society OF man. We have Jried you
calmly and eoolly, and have sentenced
you TO death. May God have mercy on
your soul. Up with him, ineni"
The town patrol were perfect In their
part of the programme. The streets
were well guarded at every avenue. The
policemen, Mr.Dyer and Deputy Wilson,
were first held in durance in the Sheriff's
office, and then carried down to the
scene OF the hanging. Wherever on th e
route OF the funeral procession citizen
appeared, he was Immediately waited on
and lnyited over the nose OF a revolver TO
20 along. The fire alarm bell rope had
been cut to prevent any muster OF cIti-
zens by that means.
A COroner's jury was summoned as
soon as possible, and sworn under the
swinging corpse. A verdict was rem
dereu to-day In accordance with the
facts above narrated. Henly was about
siXty-tw0 years OF age.