The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-07-15
RULED BY THE VIGILANTES.

Ine recent CWenCy-tourtn anniversary
ofthe murder of James King, editor OF
the San Francisco Bulletin, led G. L.
Divine, foreman in the office of the In
dianapolis Journal, to tell a reporter the
following stirring incidents of Califor-
MAS early days:
| was in San Francisco in 1856, and
affairs had grown from bad to worse,
until there was no protection whatever
to either life or property. Outlaws
from all part OF the world had 6ocked
there, chiefly from the large cities of
the Atlantic States, and desperadoes
from Australia. Murder was almost Of
everyday occurrence. Twas settingtype
on the San Francisco Globe; myself and
other printers, when our work was done
at night or in the early morning, always
arranged to 60 home in squads of four
or five for self protection, carrying our
revolvers in our hands. You can have
no idea of the lawlessness that prevailed
there, nor of the desperate roughs who
required the heroic treatment OF vigi-
lance committee. But the work done
by that committee was one of purifca-
ton, and for nearly twenty years after
the moral atmosphere that pervaded
San Francisco was delightful. What l
think started the vigilance committee
of that year was the murder OF General
Richardson, United States marshal, by
gambler named Cora. Bella Cora, the
wife ofthis man, was notorious, beauti-
full and wealthy. One night at the
theater General Richardson, through
his opera-glass, gazed on this woman.
AS / said. she was woman Of remark
able beauty, and he looked long and
Searchingly at her. She, it seems, be-
came angry, and, considering herself in
suited, took offense. She told Cora that
she never would be satisfied until he had
killed General Richardson, and he
promised her to do the deed.
A night or two after this Cora met
the general in the Blue Wing, a grand
drinking saloon ofthat day, and charged
the latter with the offense. The general
explained that he had not intentionally
insulted the lady, and made ample apol-
ogies. The two men then took drink
together-the California way Of set
Ting small difficulties-and stepped out
of the saloon to the pavement. A mo-
ment after a pistol shot was heard.
Cora had treacherously killed Richard
son, and the woman was avenged. He
was arrested and taken to jail, as he ex-
pected to be-a mere formality, as a
murder amounted to nothing except
mere matter Of money to bribe justice,
for the judges were notoriousIy corrupt.
The sheriff was Dave Scannell, rough,
and a particular friend Of Cora. The
citizens murmured, but it was only an
other man killed. There was nothing
to be done. There would be, as there
had been before, trial by jury, the
peers would disagree, and soon after,
the excitement having subsidized, at the
the next trial the jury would acquit.
James King, called James King Of
William to distinguish him from an
other OF the same name, had just
started the San Francisco Evening Bul
letin. He was an bonest fearless man
and began to lash the scoundrels who
infested the Golden Gate without mercy.
He assailed them openly and fearlessly.
He exposed the villainy of Ned
MCGOWAN. Billy Mulligan. Jim Casey,
Charley D. and others, balot-box stuff
ers and thieves generally, and they saw
that he had 10 be got out OF the way. |
The three named and one or two Others
threw dice to see who was to kill King,
and the lot fell TO Casey.
On the fourteenth day Of May, 1855,
the afternoon that King was killed.
was working at my case in the Globe
Office, opposite Wells & Fargo's. Casey,
who had been lurking about Wells,
Fargo g. Co. 3, stood in the door as James
King came down the street, going di-
agonally across the street to Mont
gomery block. When he got about hall
way across, Casey, following at his back,
called out to him. King turned, and as
he turned Casey fred, shooting him in
the breast. When the shot was fired
some printer Eve all heard the reporD !