Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-24
OLD Ell DORADO.
The First Execution-Lipsey and Logan
Hanged for Murder


reunion at HaDgtown" tomorrow, many
"reminiscences of early times have come tc
light in print. A few days ago the RECORD.
UNION stated that the hanging of Lipsey and
Logan, in 1854, was the first legal execu-
ton in the county. Since the publication OF
the article three Ell Dorado pioneers have
called at this office and stated that the date
was wrong; that the execution took place
in 1852 The article was written by one of
the RECoRD-U UNION force, who was present
at the hanging, and as he did not arrive in
California until January, 1854, he defended
his item. In searching for data in the files
Of the old Sacramento Union the following
clipping from the Miners Advocate appears
on November 6, 1854:
1.-THE execution of James Logan, for the
murder of Fennel at Coonhollow, and
William Lipsey for the murder of Powell
son at Cold Springs, took place yesterday,
Friday, Sd inst. They were the first Grim
inals ever executed by the officers of the
law in Ell Dorado county, and the assem-
blage OF people was larger than was ever
known in the county, or proba bly, ever will
be again. Early in the morning the differ
ent roads leading from Coloma TO all parts
OF the county, even the most remote, were
literally lined with one continuous mass
of human beings-some on foot, some on
horseback, and others in carriages, coaches,
wagons, carts, etc. So intense and wide
spread was the morbid curiosity which
had been excited, that it seemed as if the
whole people of the county was controlled
by an invisible power directing their steps
TO Coloma. Citizens, Cinnamon and Digger
Indians seemed to be controlled by the
same influence.
AT II o'clock NJ. the Sheriff proceeded
to take the prison. rs from the Jail to the
scaffold which had been erected on the
hillside. The Coloma Hook and Ladder
Company, armed with guns and revolvers,
formed hollow square around the wagon
provided to convey the prisoners. Logan
walked out of the Jail with as much APP
parent indifference as a man could well
manifest under such circumstances and
his head was silvered DER with
age, Notwithstanding the fate that
awaited him, he stepped into the wagon
that contained his coffin with the buoy
ancy of youth and the vigor of manhood,
scorning the assistance that was proffered
him.
With Lipsey it was entirely differ.
ent. For week he had taken
scarcely any food he was debiIi-
tated in body and broken in spirit 1t was
very apparent that he realized fully his
awful situation. He was assisted into the
wagon and remained as one dead or
chained to his seat, until he reached the
place of execution. Logan assembled the
scatf0ld with firm step, bible in hand and
for all the world with the air of a preacher
of the Gospel about to address sinful peo-
pie whom he was anxious to exhort to re-
penIance. Lipsey was almost carried up
his eyes were fixed, and presented vacant,
death-like stare.
Sheriff Buel in a loud, clear voice read
the death-warrant to William Lipsey.
When Lipsey was told to speak if he
wished, he merely shook his head in 8
negative response.
The death warrant was then read to
James Logan. The Bible was still in his
hand and opened where there was a plate
the crucifxion. The night
previous, in the Jail, he had opened the BIZ
bic at the same place, and, pointing to the
plate, remarked to one of the Deputy Sher-
ifs; There! Mine is a similar case.
have been prosecuted even unto death, and
am going to die tomorrow the victim of
false testimony When the Sheriff asked
Logan on the scaffold if he had anything to
say, he laid down his Bible and addressed
the vast sea of human heads that sur
rounded the scaffold. He said he stood be-
fore them condemned man, the victim of
false testimony. 1t was true that he had
taken the life of a fellow-creature, but that
he had committed the deed in selt-defense.
He went to the claim where the tragedy
took place, not as had been said-to kill
Fennel-but because the claim was his
own, and he went to get possession of it.
His own rash threats had brought him to
the scatfold. In answer to propositions to
settle the difficulty by law or arbitration,
he rashly replied there was shorter and
better way-but he did not mean it. He
went to get possession of his mine, but did
not snap or present his pistol-he merely
showed it. 1t was merely a sin
gle barreled pistol. Fennel went and
got revolver and came back,
and presented it at him cooked Fennel
was advancing upon him with cooked
reyoI yer when he presented his single-bar-
relied pistol. Any other testimony than
this was false. He only snapped his pistol
q second before Fennel did his. The man
who swore that he snapped his first swore
70 lie, for they both snapped together
He had warned Fennel not to advance.
He got behind Swift, and if the latter had
stood his ground nobody would have been
killed, but Swift tiinched and stepped to
one side. He then had to be killed him
self, kill Fennel or run away He fred
and Fennel fell.
:" In view of the halter Ito which he
pointed with his finger, and in the pres
ence of that God before whom he was so
shortly to appear, he was new speaking the
truth. He would never have been hung
if he had not had principle of courage in
his composition that prevented him from
running away. He had said that he was
not afraid of a pistol, and that he would
not run from one. He exclaimed: Would
to God | had run away = He did not seek
FennefS life; he was no murderer. He
had sinned against Gods laws in not run
ming away from Fennel, but not against
the laws of his country. 'Pelhinks swore
falsely when he said 1 went to the claim to
kill Fennel. | have lived AZ years, fellow
l am not a fellow citizen-47
years without committing murder; and, if
dld Kill man who otherwise would have
killed me, die innocent of murder. The
Court, jury and District Attorney treated
me like murderer for simply defending
my own life. Everything has been against
in my favor
" He spoke for quite while, repeating
when Sheriff Buel informed
him that the hour appointed for the execu-
lion was at hand.
Logan stopped speaking and turning to
Rev. Mr.. TAYLOR, said: We had better
spend the remainder of the time in PRAYER
" The prisoners were then placed on the
irop, the ropes about their necks, the long
white shrouds put on, and the black caps
Drawn down over their faces. Meanwhile,
Logan uttered an inaudible prayer; Lirsey
remained silent and motionless. Rev. Mr..
Taylor addressed the Throne of Grace in
an eloquent, appropriate and solemnly i'm
pressive manner, when the drop fell By
an accident as unaccountable as it was i'm
possible to prevent, both knots slipped
they had previously sus-
famed weight of 450 pounds each. Each
dropped six and half feet, the distance
fixed for the prisoners to fall.
Immediately after striking the ground
beneath the scaffold, Logan pulled the cap
from his eyes to see if Lipsey had come
down with him, then rose to his feet, and
with little assistance (the untying of his
feet reascended the scaffold. Lipsey had
to be carried up, though be had not been
injured by the fall. No disturb
ance was created by the fall, except that
nearly the entire crowd seated on the hill
side Involuntary rose to their feet. The
prompt action of Sheriff Buel and his
deputies in the premises prevented the least
of excitement, further than
was exhibited by some hundred or so of
spectators, who fed precipitately from the
scene of the execution.
" The ropes were speedily readjusted.
After the cap had been drawn over his eyes
and lust before the rome was TO be cut I.o-