Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-15

QudLls
When Casey shot down James, King OF
William in the street. public excitement
in San Francisco was worked up to the
highest pitch. There had been a great
deal of lawlessness, and murder had
been rife in the city. Juries failed to
convict, and a scoundrelly class con-
trolled the elections by fair means or
foul. A short time before United States
Marshal Richardson had been shot dead
at the corner OF Clay and Leidesdorff
streets, and when King of William fell
before Casev's bullet, the people became
frantic. A Vigilance Committee was at
once formed, and it became in a few days
a very powerful and formidable organi.
zation. 1t had arms of all kinds
and cannon. 1t established its head
quarters on Sacramento street, between
Fort and Drumm streets, erected bar
ricade called Fort Gunnybags, and
placed itself in a position of defense as
we'll as attack. Its members were
divided into companies and regiments,
and subjected to constant drill. Sus-
picious persons were seized, taken to the
rooms of the committee, tried, and, if
found guilty, punished or banlshed.
Casey, the assassin of King of William,
and Cora, ths slayer of Richardson, were
taken by force from the County Jail,
tried and hanged. Yankee Sullivan,
one of the greatest prize lighters this
country has produced, was arrested for
crooked work at the polls. While in the
prison rooms of the committee he met a
sanguinary and mysterious death. The
committee also hanged Hetherington fer
killing DR.. Walker, and Brice for an
other murder. Many noted characters
were banished, among whom the late
Charles P Duane. The power of the
committee was irresistible, and it held
the city in perfect subsection during its
existence. 1t Was while this organization
was in the zenith of it's power that
Judge Terry, who was then on the Su-
preme Bench, came to San Francisco to
consult with the State and Federal au
| thorities upon the means of putting
down the organization. He was loud in
his denunciaiion of its acts, and made
| himself particularly obnoxious TO the
body by concerting with United States
Marshal Ashe to secure the aid of such
Federal forces as we're available to at
tack and suppress the committee. The
law and order element OF the city had
started military encampment outside
the city, and the City Blues and other
| militia companies were held in readiness
to cooperate. Whilst Judge Terry was
consulting with DR.. Ashe in his Office at
the corner of Washington and Kearney
streets, ore Hopkins, an emissary of the
| Vigilance Committee entered and showed
his authority to bring Terry before the
Committee. Terry and Ashe ordered
the intruder out, but he waited at the
bottom of the stairs until Terry emerged
upon the street, and then attempted to
arrest him. Terry drew his knife
and plunged it into Hopkins neck,
making fearful wound. Terry
and DR.. Ashe sought refuge in the arm
ory of the Blues, at the corner of Jack
| son and Dupont streets. The committee
sent forces against the stronghold, and
Terry, rather than risk the useless she'd
ding of blood, gave himself up. He was
confined in the committee rooms. For
| tunately, Hopkins recovered from his
wounds. Had he died, nothing could
have saved Terry from execution. In
| trial before the Executive Committee,
brought to bear, that the Judge got free.
| sll over the State as a man OF reckless
courage and desperate daring.
David @. Broderick was elected to the
United States Senate in 1857. His
strength in the Legislature was so grea.
that he had it in his power to dictate
who should be his colleague. VIM. M.
Gwin's tenn had expired and he was
| very anxious to return to Washington.
The Democratic party Of the State was
split be " en- the northern and the
s)utt ern element-the Muds lis and the
Chivalry. Broderick was the leader of
the former wing and Gwin of the latter
The two factions we're very bitter aud
hostile. Ex-senator Gwin, however,
| was more anxious to return to the Senate
than to crafty his factional animosity
He proposed terms. They were ac-
cepted, and Gwin became Broderick's g
| colleague. Out OF this unnatural alliance
| sprsng the celebrated "ecarlet letter"
! which eemed destined to act as tails
| man of evil to every man
into whose keeping it fell. This
letter was Gwin's agreement with
Frederick to renounce all pretentions to
the control OF Federal patronage on this
Coast. Wnen Broderick, in a speech In
front of the Orleans Hotel few months
before his death, gave that letter to the
"oiAuj iiC rdiu tDdJ uodtl Udu lOllOM6u
in its wake. "Ipsedoodle" Ferguson
had it in his possession, and he was
killed in duel with George Pen John
stoD James Estill had carried it, and he
died suddenly from some mysterious
cause. Misfortune had come to others
to wLom it had been intrusted, and now
he (Broderick) would give it to the world
so that the evil genius which seemed to
invest it might be deprived of the power
of working further harm.
Senator Gwin paid no attention to the
terms OF his agreement with Broderick,
and as he had the ear of President
Buchanan, he was made the distributor
OF the Federal patronage on this Coast.
The chivalry wing, of course, got all the
ofhces. AT the next general election. in
1859, Broderick returned furious. The
great power of the Federal patronage
was arrayed against him in the election.
But he took the stump, and although he
was more man of action than of words,
he made a vigorous and ag
greesive campaign. He denounced
Gwin from every platform 10
the State in scathing terms, and wound
up the campaign with speech of more
than ordinary directness, power and in
vective, closing it with the reading OF the
scarlet letter." as stated above.
A few days afterwards Mr.. Broderick
was sitting at the break fast table in tho