Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-12
MURDER.
DEATH OF JAMES LANsING-INTERVIEW
WITH his MURDERER.
Excitement of the People-The Military
Called Out-The Prison Be-
sieged Last Night.

James Lansing, who was shot by Simon
Raten Monday afternoon, died yesterday al
5P.N He lived about twenty-four hou
after receiving the deadly wound. Mr.. Lam
sing having been a member Of the Exempt
Firemen's Association, the bslls OF the Fire
Department were tolled as soon as his death
was known. The signal caused deplorably
sad feeling throughout the city, combined
with deepest indignation. It having baen
stated by the attending physician yesterday
that he could live but a few hours the people
throughout the city were dreadipg all day to
hear the sound of the doleful bell that an
nounced to them flames Lansing is dead. y
As soon as the hell began tollins people COM
menced assembling in front of the Interna-
tional Hotel. In short time many hundreds
were assembled. representing the best citizens
of the community.
SCORES OF MEN
Took each other by the hand, talked low and
earnestly, and asked what was best to be
done. They acted and spoke like determined
men-men who thought and openly declared
that the time had come when a little whole.
some hanging would be the proper and only
thing to do. Chief of Police Karcher became
alarmed and sought the aid of the militia.
About P. NJ. some l, 200 men and boys had
gathered at the city prison. and in short
time the number was swelled to 1000. There
seemed to be no leader among them, and be-
fore any demonstration was made by the
angry assemblage, the local military compa-
MES marched in and took their position be-
tween the crowd and the entrance to the jail.
Colonel I. w. Sheehap, of tie First Artillery
Regiment, was applied to by Chief Karcher
for aid in guarding the prison. He notified
the Chief that orders must come from the
Commandments Chief, Governor Perkins.
Early in the evening the Chief called on Ad-
jutant- General Backus who communicated
with the Governor, who was at Elk Grove,
and the necessary order was soon received and
issued. Fortunately there was a regular bat
TALON drill in progress at the Pavilion. At 8
P. NJ. Chief Karcher drove to the building
IN HOT HASTE
And delivered the order TO Colonel Sheehan,
who Immediately marched Companies A and
G and aplatoon OF Company b to the prison.
Subsequently one of the Calling guns was
brought upon the ground. By this time the
crowd manifested a disposition to proceed to
violence and hang Raten to the nearest lamp
post. Many were present, however, through
mere curiosity. and even a number cf women
were seen on the outskirts of the crowd. The
assemblsge was not noisy, but it evidently
only lacked q daring leader. The crowd
had ample time to have stormed the prison
before the arrival of the troops had it desired
In and about the prison the entire force of
regular and special officers, well armed, were
on duty, and kept the people back from the
yard in front of the building. As Colonel
Sheehan aiched his troops through the
crowd the people began to jeer the men. but
they paid no attention to the cries. The
companies were drawn ur in line in front of
the prison, when
MAYOR JOHN Q. BROWN
Mounted an improvised rostrum and ad-
dressed the people. He urged them as good,
law abiding citizens to disperss and go to
their homes. He stated that the prisoner was
in the hands Of the authorities, and that they
were amply able to protect him, and they
would do so. He promised that the muir
derer should be speedily tried. He asked
that all should follow his example. and he
would lead off by going home. At the close
Of the Mayors remarks he started up the
street, and quite large proportion OF the
sssemblage followed him. The crowd COM
menced dispensing about half-psst g. and at
IL P. " with the exception Of the militia and
the police force, there were but few persons
in the vicinity Of the all A. II o'clock the
soldiers were all withdrawn with the excep-
ton of squad of twelve men, who were left
in charge of Gatling gun. The gun was
placed just inside OF the outer entrance to the
prison. All kinds Of rumors were shoat dur
ing the evening. to the effect that Vigilantes
were forming in different portions of the city.
That such was the case could not be posi-
lively ascsrtained. The feeling, however,
of almost the entire community is in sympa-
thy with the organizing bodies, if there are
any such.
THE DEAD.
James Lansing was born ia Lansing CHURCH,
Lansing county, n. Y, ard was 90 years of
age He came to California during the early
gold excitement. He belonged to the ASS
citation of Pioneers of this city. During his
life he was one of Sacramento's most honored
and respected citizens. At one time he was
Marshal Of this city. He served one term as
Sheriff and four years as Assessor of Sscra-
i..ento county. At the time of his death he
was the proprietor of the international Hotel
in this city. He was man OF great deter
mination Of character, positive in his opin-
ions, of great personal courage, warm in his
social relations; man who drew to him
hosts of friends, and whose positive traits of
character made him some enemies. He was
an upright citizen, and devoted to the inter.
ests of the community where he lived. He
leaves wife and FIVE children-Ella aged
Is, Celia II, Charles 8, Emma 6. Mamie f.
Mr.. Lansing was member of the Order of
Odd Fellows, the Exempt Firemen's Asso-
citation, the Oder of Chosen Friends, the
Sacramento Society of California Pioneers
and the Knights OF Pythias. His funeral
will take place Thursday from the Interna-
tional Hotel. An inquest will be held on his
body this evening by Coroner Vermilya.
MORE ABOUT THE ASSASSIN.
A RECORD UNION raprese otative called yes
terday at the copper shop at the railroad
works. where Simon Raten, the assassin. has
been employed some months. and ascertained
the following facts from the foreman. About
six months ago Raten entered the shop and
asked the foreman If he could rot give him
employment The latter looked at Raten.
was in nowise favorably impressed with his
appearance, but asked him what kind of
work he could dc. In the conversation that
ensued he discovered that Raten had gen.
eral knowledgelof theI5usiness. an took him
on trial, and put him to work at the timers
bench. Raten proved to be such an excel
Leaf workman that he was rapidly advanced
from one position to another, until
h, was soon recognized to be equal
t. any, if not the best workman in
the department He was, to use the
foreman's language, in every sense Of the
word a skilled mechanic. Rsten, however,
began during the past few weeks to show an
ugly and ungovernable temper, quarrelled
with the workmen of the shop, made propos-
ais to fight, and had become so troublesome
that the foreman was thinking seriously of
discharging him, when he got into this trouble
for which he now is incarcerated in prison.
Yesterday afternoon representative of the
RECORD UNION called upon the assassin at
his cell in the city prison. He found Raten
reclining on his bed apparently very much
composed and willing to converse freely. He
repeated what has already appeared In these
columns relative to his early life, and nation
atty. He said that he was Russian sub
iect, was born in 1912 in Siberia, and that he
left his native country in 1869. He has no
relatives in America, ard is unmarried. At
ter leaving Siberia he proceeded to England,
and for several years followed his trade in a
SIN all village on the outskirts of the city of
London.
SOME THREE YEARS AGO
He came to the United States and worked at
his trade, both in New York ard Philsdel-
phia He could always find plenty OF work.
and from his superior skill 81 ways demanded
and received the highest wages. He came to
this State some six months since. immediate
applied at the railroad shops for employment,
had worked steadily since that time, and had
Sr0n - He 6iccl aimed