Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-06
The Death PenaIty-Execution of Charles
Colby n SANTA Cruz

eotD9 NJ SaHta cruz.
SANTA CRUZ March 5th.-In conform
ity with the order of the Supreme
Court, Charles Colby was executed at
Santa Cruz to-day at 2 P. NJ. a vast
concourse was present to witness the
execution, numbering some 1,5O0 persons.
The execution passed off peaceably and
quietly, Colby apparently the least excited of
any In the crowd His neck was not broken,
owing to the slipping of the rope, and he
consequently died by slow strangulation, his
chest heaving in regular intervals for some
twelve minutes. Otherwise he showed no
struggles. The following was left by Colby
for publication
SANTA CRUZ, March >, 1880
To the People of the State of Ca fornia-Friends {:
| have been Illegally and uujustly executed upon
perjured testimony and the fraudulent administra-
ton OF the Courts. My conviction was to all appear
ance premediaed, in orer to cater to the depraved
nature Of the turbulent mob element of this COM
munity. was not aware that had committed
crime, self-defense is legitimate. The witnesses
stand branded before society the angel world and
the Divine Deity as perjurers they furnished the
basis for my unjust persecution. | was msrepre-
sented and improperly defended by attorneys from
which an over ambitious prosecution and an over.
jealous jury took their cue With COMMISSION for
give, knowing that retrbutive justice viii in time
Overtake all concerned Your ignorance and blind
ness has been your weakness, for which you are to
be pitied. Knowing the judeiaries are ;ncapa-
BILE of Distinguishing right from wrong and
as compensation for the injustice done me- |
beg from heneeforth and forever to abolish that
relic OF barbarsm-capital punishment. 1t belongs
to an age long since past and gone, especially as
there some men morally depraved as to have no
regard for the sacred nature of an OATH As long IS
such state OF affairs continues, so long will the
temple OF justice be defled and tie Courts imbrue
themselves in innocent blood. Commit no judicial
murders, for the deathess love Of freedom the ma
jesty of right in all kindred and all nations is rising
in its might and words Of solemn warming come from
the Oppressed, if righteous blood be shed. Rush not
blindly the future Heed the lessons of the past
for the feeble and the faithful are the conquerors
at last. If my unjust sacrifice has been the means
OF benedting humanity in forever aboshing an I'M
just law, shall feel greatly compensated | earn
estly thank ex.Chief Justice Wallace for so elabo-
rately issenting from the decision Their by proving
that he possessed judicial inspiration With sincere
thanks tn Mrs. Clara S. FoltZ for her earnest and
Jealous labors in my behalf.
CHARLES COLBY.
SANTA CRUZ, March 5, 1880
To Charles Miller: Let this ever haunt your
memory, until you eXonerate my character before
the world. You cannot in your conscience deny that
after stepped back to escape, Williams quickly pur
sued, CRASHING dish from the table that shouted
to him, stop stop stop!" | again sought to
escape when he again spraug after me, overlook
me across the room, when | stamped my foot hard
on the floor, shouting to him. " Don't you do it -
that caught up my cue, and also shouted to him in
stern, commanding way, No; don't you do
that" but that he still would not des st. When
the Chinaman scooped i'll all the knives, Williams
seeing himself disappointed, grasped the pistol All
this you both saw and heard, but withhe it in
your statement before that over-zeaous jury.
CHARLES COLBY.
About II o'clock A. NJ. Colby sent word to
the County Clerk that he had a last request
to make, and wished it placed on file in the
office, as follows:
Know all men by these presents /, Charles Col
by, of the county of Santa Cruz State of California
believing that am to be executed this day. and de-
string that after my death my body may in
peace do make this my last request and solemn pro-
test, and ask that my body mag be decently buried
and forever remain so, and that no mutilatiOn
animation of my body be permitted, in the interest
of science otherwise. CHARLES COEBY
Santa Cruz, March 5, 1880.
The above was written in bold, firm,
round hand