Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-30
THE SANTA ANA BUTCHERY

The Anschlag- Hitchcock murder in
Southern California was one of the most
horrible in its bloody details that has been
put upon criminal records. Anschlag de-
liberately chopped pieces Hitchcock and
his wife, and cut their Threats, in order to
been made out for delivery to him when he
should have paid over the purchase price
he led them to believe he possessed. 1t
was therefore premeditated and cold
blooded murder, without a solitary feature
to suggest merciful doubts, provocation or
charitable suspension of judgment. Let
us note now how long it will be before the
slow processes of our laws visit punishment
upon this murderer. In some countries he
would be legally hanged or beheaded
within week with us it takes from one
to three years to accomplish the cause of
Justice in the plainest of cases, so that
though Anschlag confesses his horrible
crime, and the strongest of circumstantial
evidence confirms his story, it is not prob
! able that lie will swing for his infamy for a
year OF two yet, and he may, even lawfully,
escape the gallows altogether.
Weak juries, weak Courts, and weaker
prosecuting officers, save the necks of
many wretches. In the hot indignation of
the present, it would seem that nothing
could save Anschlag's neck except death
before the moose is oiled for him, but it is
not safe to count upon the positiveness of
his conviction. In jail Anschlag occa-
sionally throws up his hands, and cries
out: Il killed Hitchcock and his
wife +! Oh, my God my God
what will become of me?' Is there
not here keynote for ingenious
lawyers to frame theory of insanity for
this murderer? Will not this class of
shrewd and learned men be able to raise
doubts of the mans even balance of mind
when he SO barbarously slew the old man
and his wife? VIII it not be argued that
the horrid character of the butchery is in
consistent with the presumption of sanity?
Perhaps Anschlag, under careful instruc-
ton, will be able to make his behavior in
jail for the next few weeks relate to his
past actions ineuch a manner as to move
weak juryman or two to be more than
merciful to him? Certainly it will not
do to count confidently upon the convic-
ton of this human butcher, who Drained
his victims with Ratchet, cut their
Threats from ear TO ear, carried the mutt
lated bodies some miles and buried them
in shallow grave of his own digging.
While the public mind awaits the solu-
ton of the problem whether the murderer
Will receive his just deserts, and which is
ever present until the trap is sprung, the
opportunity is open for the sentimental
sisterhood to again make their presence
manifest. There has never been case
fatter with food for their sickly tears.
They can shower this Santa Ana savage
with flowers, and mingle their piteous
tears with his repentant means to fine adj
vantage. The case affords them splendid
opportunity to pour out upon a red-handed
ruffian the wealth of their sympathies and
their purses. He is fit subject for their
pitiful signing, and is bloody enough to
appease the most ardent demands of their
natures for objects upon which to exercise
their sympathetic souls.