Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-26
EXECUTED FOR ROBBERY.
HOW GARROTERS WERE DEALT
WITH IN TaIS CITY IN 1851.
The Hanging of Robinson, Gibson
and Hamilton for Robbing a
Man on L. Street.

caused much emigration froIa that place,
andthe gentlemen from Sydney became
quite numerous in Sacramento. The
Union of the 18th of June says it was in
formed by the Mayor that at least $50 Of
that undesirable element infested the
city, and that large member had arrived
that day from the Bay. On that statement
of facts the Union mede the following sug-
gestive remarks: These vile miscre-
ants are not to be deferred from the exc
cution of their fiendish plots by any threats
of vengeance we may hurl against them
they bid defiance to all law and order. and
can only be prevented from doing mischief
by their removal from our midst The
Union was correct; the gathering storm
had nearly eliminated. No one had been
hanged here as yet for any crime less than
murder, and only one (Roe) for that; but
the people were getting very impatient over
the daily burglaries and highway robberieS,
and the apparent impotency of the Courts
of criminal Justice. But the day for the
first legal and second Illegal hanging was
fast approaching
On the 9th OF July. 1851, three men, VIM.
B. Robinson. James Gibson and John
Thompson, about , o'clock in the after
noon,
KNOCKED DOWN AND ROBBED OK L STREET,
Between Fourth and Fifth, man from
the Cosumnes, named James Wilson. The
preparation OF the crime was witnessed by
several, and the offenders soon arrested.
The news flew from man to man with the
rapidity of the burning brand sent forth by
a Scottish Thane when calling his clan to
arms. Before o'clock more than thou
sand men had surrounded the station
house. Violent speeches were made; the
crowd organized with Demas Strong in the
chair and David B. Milne as Secretary
A jury OF eleven men was impaneied, and
sent TO the Orleans Hotel to hear testimony
and announce q verdict. The Jury could
not agree, but reported the testimony to
the people, and asked time until more evil
dence, one way or the other, could be OBJ
tanned. This the people declined, but at
the suggestion of Rightmire, one of the
Jurors determined to give the prisoners
seventy-five rawhide lashes each, and then
turn them over 10 the civil authorities
Speeches were made for and against it, but
upon the Judge pledging himself that he
would call a special term of the Court, 1t
was agreed that they should be indicted
and tried ON the following Monday. The
special term commenced at the appointed
time, and the parties were indicted for rob-
DeTN. Inc commonwealth )
McKune, Monson and Sun derand, insist
ed upon venire for petty jury, and that
the trial should proceed forthwith.
The defendants attorneys, Manchester,
Tweed and Long, objected ana de-
m inded time to prepare, at least
two weeks. The Judge thought that
under the circumstances it would be best
for all parties that the trial should proceed
at once, but that if defendants counsel in
1. 81. l. Il, H.,
time. and set the case for the following
Thursday, and the prisoners were Sent
back under strong guard.
THE sTATIoN-HoUsE WAS IMMEDIATELY SUR
ROUNDED,
A new meeting organized, another jury
selected, and a committee appointed tC
wait upon the prisoners counsel, and in
form the latter that if their clients wert
not ready to be tried before the Court tina
day there was q jury outside the Court
room that was not only ready and willing
but intended to proceed with the trial, anC
had posse c0mitdtltS to support its action
Counsel had changed their minds and wer,
quite ready, so the prisoners were taker
into Court again. Here counsel filed {
protest that they had only consented from
fear of their clients lives, and in
sisted on time. The Court stated its views
Gained down the listeners, and set the
trial for Monday. The prisoners demanded
separate trials. On Monday Robinson's
trial commenced, and ended on Tuesday
with a verdict of guilty, and assessed the
punishment at death. AT that time the
jury fixed the grade of punishment
On the 10th Gibson was convicted, with
similar punishment fixed, and on the 1Stl
Thompson also. On the Dist of July Judg
Willis sentenced all three to be hanged OF
the 22d of August
THE PRISONERS STATEMENTS
The prisoners, while in Jail and upon tn
scaffold, made some confessions, whlcl
may be epitomized as follows They al
agreed that Carothers one of the fou
charged and found guilty, but whom tn
jury recommended to Imprisonment ant
was sentenced for ten years, was innocen
IN fact, that he was only accidentally
with them.
Roblnson's real name was William B
leopard; he was - years of age and d;
native of New York City. He said tn
worst he did was to agree with the othe
two to get Wilson'S money from him ant
divide it; but his original intention was t
have won it by gambling, and not to hav
taken it by force. He was so startled whel
Thompson knocked Wilson down ant
jerked the bag of dust out of his poke
and threw it to him (Robinson) that h
ran off with it without thinking, ant
when he heard the officers and people il
pursuit he hid himself, because he wa
afraid they would not believe his histor
of the affair.
Gibson said his real name was Jane
Hamilton; he was from Londonderry, ha
been transported for robbery, was guilty {
this one but thought the punishment to
severe, particularly Us he was only an al
in carrying out a plan of Robinson's:
was true he had committed other robberie
IN this State and some other crimes in Sa
Francisco, but they were not what he wa
tried and found guilty Of If he wa
hanged it would be murder, mob murde
as the jury was afraid to render a verdi,
against the will of the mob.
Thompson said that he was an old En-!
lish thief, originally from Manchester II
had been guilty of many felonies, but h
hands had never been stained with blood
Robinson planned the robbery when the
were drinking with Wilson in the morI
ing; he was pretty tight and we tried 1
make him more so; he was Just in froi
the mines, and Robinson coaxed him to g
with us to see some senoritas; / knocke
HIM down and took the money whilst Gil
son held him; gave the bag to Robinson
and he ran off with it and kept it ALL
THE DAY OF EXECUTION.
Al dawn on the morning of the odd {
August, teams, horSemen and pedestrian
commenced coming into the city to witne.
the triple execution. in few hours II
town was crowded with strangers. B,
tween 9 and 10 o'clock it was reported tb;
Robinson had been rerrieved. As the r,
port spread, store after store, shop aftt
shop, was closed. and by noon all busine.
had ceased. The people were furiou
There were no staying voices The con
munity was unanimous. All three of IL
prisoners were to be hanged, either by Ii
Sheriff or without him. A meeting W,
organized in front of the Orleans Hote
with DR.. Volney Spaulding as Presiden
and DR.. Wake Briefly as Secretary, whic
appointed Joseph Il. Beard 9. a. Scrantol
u. b. Milne, c, w. Stiles, S. Conrad, job
t. Bailey, J. i. Starr. Charles A. Miller,
J. Barroll, H. A. Smith, A. ID. Rightmir
Lucius Curtis. Charles Allen, Walter Bi
coe, John C. Coachman. George &heele
Napoleon Smith. Edward Norto
Samuel C. Bruce Thomas Stearn
Joseph Grant, Alex. Moreland. H. DIN
stead, Freeman McGilvery and JoIasl \
Freeman, to see that the sentenee.cf Il
Court be carried into effect as well again