The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-28
Execution Of John Runk at San Francisco fOF
the Murder Of Police Officer COots.
STRANGLED TO DEATH.
Pitiabe Career of the Youth Who Died or
the Scaffold at Eighteen.
A REMARK ABLE DEFENCE.


will be remembered that he murdered police officer
named Charles J. coots. Up to tho time when tho
Sheriff adjusted the moose he cool and callous
But when the drop fell, tho turned aud slipped
under his chm threw back his head and slowly stran
gicd him. HIS struggles were terrible 10 behold and
his efforts to breathe caused painful rafting which
could be heard for quite distance II 10 reported
have been sckening sight.
RUNKs CAREER.
John Rank was a native OF san Francisco. and Mt
the time OF the mission OF tho deed which he
! paid tho extreme penalty only eighteen years
old He belonged 10 class called h oodlums'' the
Pacific coast-a class not unknown, though by other
designations, In cities the Atlantic side. On the
night OF the 25th OF April, 1871 Runk and CON-
| pan'on were lettering through Sacramento street
when they encountered Charles J. Coots, a special
police officer, powerful man, weighing nearly two
| hundred ana fifty pounds Some words passed be-
tween tho parties resulting Coots arresting Runks
friend. While conveying him to the station Runk
asked the officer let the prisoner CO. promising at
the same time that he would take him home. The
request was refused Tho youth then went up 10 tho
door OF a house at which two women OF vigorously
bad character were standing. and said he had some
trouble With an officer, and that he would AK him
before morning." Ho pulled pistol from his pocket
when he made the threat Soon after Runk met
Coots. and drawing his weapon fired, iun,cting a
Wounu Causing ucatn lie was immediately taken
into custody and the 18th OF July brought up for
trial before Judge Morrison, In the Fourth District
| Court
THE TRIAL
The killing Of police officer by "hoodum" under
these circumstances made deep impression on the
public mind, and, though tho laws Of California per-
init juries to afx either the punishment Of death or
| imprisonment. for life In cases whore verdcts OF
murder In the fret degree returned il gen.
nenI that thu
the prisoner II found guilty The killing was
| admitted, but premeditation was denied. Tho
evidence to sustain the latter element In the
caso came from women OF questionable reputa-
ton, but other testimony was adducod to snow
that Runk harbored feelings OF animosity toward the
entire police iorce. RunK himself was allowed 10
tcstify his behalf He stated that tho night
0f the homicide no mad conversation with the TO-
malcs who we're called as witnesses and made no
threats against Coo,s wncn the latter refused
lease his friend he said. Damn you, will arrest you
too" ~ then" remarked tho prisoner A'shot him
| aud ran away" The prisoners mother was also
placed the stand, but all she could do 10 tell
story OF domestic misery In which sho cndcavored to
place tho shoulders OF hcr husband responsi
for nrst placing their within prison walls, blight
ing his early years bringing him 10 his thon
miserable position The following additional facts
during the trial. bat lhey had little effect
tne jury, VINO only occupied low minutes In reach
| Ing verdict.
DOWNWARD CAREER.
1 The marriage OF Ranks parents proved most un.
happy one aud before no thirteen years old they
| were divorced. He was reared under tho most IN
auspicious circumstances, and from his oarost days
was permitted TO wild, so into bad company and
cultivate aptitude for crimo. When barely twelve
ne sent 10 tho San Francisco Reform School
a charge Of theft, whence no succeeded in effect :
4 hto
rccapturcd and his torn extended four months.
Runk subsequently, committed assault on a fellow
prisoner tor which he had suffer months add.
1 uonal confinement. immediately alter his Liberation
he was again takon into custody suspicion OF
| larceny and detained Tor time, but no case
vas brought against that occasion.
| The youth, now thoroughly hardened aud his moral
scnsibiics viaod by jail associations entered upon
downward career to ruin. He became a "hoodlum, /"
and lived with his mother when IN tho hands OF
the law She could obtain no employing Tor the
unfortunate boy, he manifested acsire TO work
he became an ide rowdy, passing his time lounging
about street corners, vacant lots ana eputsbe
Thcy irequene The disorderly part OF tho city and
| Ruuk, course, soon became utterly vicious and
dcpraved fne ''nooalums" constitute u really dan
gerous class IA san Francisco; they aTe terror
pcaceabic cruz ana nave frequently sot tho police
Tor my outrage. matter how black. They indulge
In profanity ant obscenity toward passers by-inac
Il
actual assault with hsts, clubs ana stones, Two
before tho murder Of Coots, Kunk arrested
PRISON Tor orty days. H. was hardly well out OF jan
when lao committed the cr'mo tor winch he suffered
DEATH
i A DAMAGING pErEScE
/ The defence maus on behalf vi this accused at tho
trial Ny hs counsel was rather novel, Uut IRON
being judicous. He admitted that there nothing
III tnc amounting 70 Justification, Out tnere
mitigating circumstances Runk had been con
danned, lao argued, with slight cause 10 ke-p
| the company OF criminals and the comm al NIFTY
by It's conduct toward him had forced aown 10 tho
| lowest point o. degradation Tho 10y had mosI un.
happy STORY, and no just anu attempt had
bcon made 20 rocIam him. IL would be u sort VI bar
ight DC the glory OF his lilo and th.n hang
oUcy Ing the Instructions hc had received tho prs
oncrs cxlstcnce had been ono full Of hardsnps anu
run OF temp a,ion, and the law mad right expect
pure nie from Que trained ss he had been; and,
though such youths are not wholly irresponsible, yet
the responsibility rs oil necessity lsssenea kunK's
extreme youth me Tact thai h1 nnd received
I'VE Tor tr,ning offences; hs nad been
.na alter enc his term ,mor,.onmsn, md
expired no had boon causolessy arrested by
cess OF law Whatever, ought to DO considered
In mitigation by the jury. Tue defence denied that
! tba. 81 an angry man, wno considsring that
he was csusciessIy iusutcd gave way 10 passion. Tho
system OF special ponce was contonaeI constituted
hotDed o crime aud corruption, Tor the officers, who
received no compensation from the city, tho
pay OF the loves. characters La this way having tho
power TO ciosc houses OF bad repute. their inatos
we're obliged 10 agree with them whenever adisputs
arose as to tue discharge Of duty. Itwa such
actcrs those referred VINO mad boon USED 10
testify against the prisoner. Counsel appealed tho
jury 10 spare TOO lie OF The boy Ihey nad u thvIr
power whie fully vindcang the law, 10 the youth
possible chance ol future Improvement by imposing
imprisonment Tor HE. lie SHOULD havc opportunity
TO learn something beside what he permitted 10
pick up among the wicked anu abandoned.
/ cxIMSAs AsrtcspESrs
\ Tho prosecution smphaticaily oondenaea tho doc.
trtne advanced on behai OF kuBk, Tor "a sanctioned
u would give Tree license to tue ruihsniy element
| running rict Francisco. the puusnment the
Ind bpe nh I'D a In he lnlts
| WARRANTED ami IL vas unprecedcr cd that q man ON
trial Tor his ie should ask ny OF his criminal
nntecedcnts by reason vi hrs VI violence aud Nv
reason mat he had spent two aii that tneso
dark transactons SHOULD go to mtigats ms ole nc. OF
murder. The prisoner was IN bad company, IN DIS
reputable locality anu at an hour when ali honest
men sought repvse whom hc sent Coos 10 nm u n.
timely euu. IL Sas not claimed that there vas any
think the matter win his mind, but IL was
pleaded that he was vicious by nature and
should therefore be acquitted sucn q prin.