The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-25
A Vivid "Reminiscences OF Vigilance
Committee.

uid, OH6 OIL tuc IllOSb prosperous uIluluS
towns in the State at that time. A few
months previous to that time the vigil
lants of San Francisco had driven out of
the city quite large number of roughs
and thieves who had generally circulated
through the mining towns of the State,
when the vigilants of San Francisco
made it too hot for them. A large num-
Der of them were from Australia, and
generally were known as ''Sydney
ducks To be from Sydney was equiv
alent to being thief. Amongst the early
California miners nearly every mining
town had its vigilance committee, and
Weaverville was not behind her sister
towns in that respect, and your humble
servant was an active member of the
aforesaid committee. Now there resided
in town two Englishmen, one by the
name of Hardgraves. from Illinois, and
the other by the name of Seymour, from
Sydney. They being feliow-countrymen
were naturally friendly with each other,
and passed their evenings frequently to-
gether. Hardgraves was hard-work-
ing miner, but would sometimes ct on
a "bust." Seymour did not seem to get
on very well; had no luck in his opera
tons and was generally out of money.
Hardgraves came to town one evening
and brought with him his dust, amounting
to about 81, 900, which he had in yeast
powder can, placed in his breast between
his shirts for safe keeping during his alb
sence from his cabin. That same even
ing Hardgrayes took it in his head to get
on glorious drunk with his friend Sey-
mour. Next morning Hardgraves was
minus his dust, and of course he and
Seymour were together that night, and
Seymour must be the thief. He was a
''Sydney duck" and that was sufficient
TO hang him; and what was more, he
wore a coat which, by turning, one side
was red with blue facing; when the other
side was out il was black with red fac
ings, and many of the honest miners
thought and said that none but thief
would wear such a coat
Well, Seymour was arrested by the
Sheriff for the robbery. In those DAYS
there was not much respect paid to the
civil law. as the county had neither iails
nor courthouseS, to confine or try her
criminals in. The supposition was that
Seymour would get away without proper
punishment. SO that the vigilantes took
the matter in hands appointed commit
tee to wait on Sheriff Nixon and demand
the prisoner. The writer of this was one
of the committee, and gentleman that
is now holding an important office in
California was another of the committee.
Well, we went with the full determine
ton of having him. We made demand
for the prisoner from the Sheriff. He
told us he would not give him up, but in
a moment the Sheriff was disarmed and
the prisoner was in our custody. Well
do remember the look of horror that
overspread the prisoners countenance
when he thought his last hour on earth
had come. Some were for hanging him
without trial. The more cool were for
giving him trial, and if found guilty
then hanging him Immediately, and.
thank God! the latter prevailed. There
was a judge appointed on the spot, and
the jury sworn in under the shade of a
pine tree just below the town, and the
trial commenced. No law bubbles nor
technicalities were heard in that Court.
The trial proceeded, but with very little
evidence against The prisoner Hard
graves was the first witness; he testified
to being drunk and in company with the
prisoner the night the dust was stolen.
Others testified about the same thing.
The jury could not agree on their YER
dict, and the prisoner was held in custo-
dy, with the understanding that he was
found guilty and was TO be hung at ten
O'Clock that night. About nine o. clock
the prisoner was taken out and made to
believe that his last hour had come. He
was taken 10 a large oak tree Just across
a gulch from the town. which was after
wards known as "hangman' tree" and
there rope was placed over limb and
the other end about his neck, with the
demand; Seymour, make your peace
with your God, for you have Just fifteen
minutes TO live" He first protested his
innocence before God and man as to the
crime he was charged with, and in an
earnest manner prayed God to receive
his spirit in His heavenly keeping after
his foul murder here on earth. After
the fifteen minutes had expired he was
hauled up by the neck and suspended
until life was nearly extinct, when he
was let down ard told if he would con-
TESS to the robbery he would have further
time, but he still persisted that he was
innocent OF The crime that he was accused
of. Again he was hauled up, he begging
TO be shot. and not tortured any more,
which was not granted. Again he was
let down TO see II he would not confess,
but he would not confess his guilt, which
made many that were there about him
cry out: T" Hang the guilty wretch this
time sure"
But better counsel prevailed, and it
was agreed 10 make him leave the coun-
try under penalty of death if he should
ever be caught therein after twenty-four
hours from that time. He was then taken
from the gallows, and made to believe he
would suffer death the next day. He
was placed in charge of a guard of two
men for the night, with the understand
ing that they would let him escape DUR
ing the night was one of the guard.
About twelve o'clock | went into the
cabin. which was his prison. He was on
his knees offering up his devotions to God
for the salvation Of his soul | said:
"Seymour, | believe | will let you es-
cape, for you may be innocent of this