Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-28
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
BILLY MULLIGAN CAUSES A sENsA-
TON IN COURT.
Evans, the Pioneer Gunsmith, Shot on
Account of Dog-A Wild Christ
night in 1850.

Billy Mulligan, the ex-Sacramentan, one
day in December, 1860. Mulligan, who
was then living in New York, had beer
convicted of assault with intent to kill ar
officer. When he was brought before
Judge Gould for sentence be asked to bs
permitted to file an affidavit with the Court
On being asked the nature of it, Mulligar
said it was to show that he had been made
the victim of vile conspiracy. The viii
of the late Senator Broderick, which hao
been admitted to probate, but was ther
before the Court of Appeals was a forged
instrument. One of the parties engaged in
the forgery was his (Mulligan's) counsel
e1-Judge Phillips, then in Court. The
perpetrators of the forgery, he said had en-.
oeayored to have him take hand in the
conspiracy TO get control of Broderick's
property, and because he had refused to
nave anything 10 do with II they had re-
solved to get him into prison and out of
the way, SO that he might not interfere with
their plans. He pleaded eloquently with
the Court to be permitted to make the aft.
davit, as it would convince the Court that
to sentence him to the State Prison would
be an act of injustice.
Judge Gould refused TO allow Mr.. Multi
gan TO make such an affidavit, and con-
cluded BY sentencing him to four years in
Sing-Sing Prison. The New York Hrald's
report of the PROCEEDINGS stated that Multi
gan manifested the most perfect GOODNESS
and self-possession throughout, but with
out the slightest show OF bravado or reck.
lessness.
Some years afterward Mulligan returned
to California. During en- attack of deli
rum, brought on by over.drinking, he
shot into a crowd of people on Kearny
street and killed a man. He was in turn
shot and killed by policeman. Mulligan
was remarkable man. Though small in
stature, he was one Of the most courageous
men that ever lived. He had gentlemanly
manners, and New York paper likened
him unto refined savage.
......... A serious shooting ARRAY occurred
near Suffers Fort on the evening of De.
cember 23d. j. r, Evans and H H. Will
son, proprietors of the leading guustore
here, were returning from duck shooting
Jaunt, and in passing the residence of
Abram heeter their dog was set upon by
two vicious brutes belonging to the latter.
Evans got out of the buggy and
hred shot-he said to frighten Keefer's
dogs, but the latter declared that he shot at
them. This brought Keefer to the front
with shotgun, and Evans, seeing that he
was very much excited, got into the buggy
and drove away. Keeter called to the men
to stop, but they paid no heed to him. and
when they were about seventy-five yards
away keefer raised his gun and fred. One
buckshot struck Evans in the back, and
wilson drove rapidly to town with him.
He was badly wounded, but eventually re-
covered, and himself and partner afterward
conducted gunstore in San Francisco for
several years. Keefer claimed that he shot
at Wilson and Evans dog, and not at the
men.
.-......,Quite furry was created in the
upper circles of Sacramento society one
day by misspelled telegram. young
lady of this city had been on visit to
some friends in San Francisco for several
weeks, and one day dispatch was sent to
her parents to this effect CLARA has been
quite sick-she has chill" In the trans
mission of the message some operator
fiundered, and the telegram read as fol. !
lows: CLARA has been quite sick-she has
child" The effect of such message in
the young ledy's family can better be i'm
agined than described, and for a few hours
thereafter the wires between here and San
Francisco fairly hummed with explanatory
dispatches, and everything was finally
made all right.
......... As Congress had just reassembled
there was much talk of the Pacific Rail-
road. The chief obstacle that seemed to
be in the way of the passage of bill to
aid such road was the impression that
prevailed among Congressman that road
could not be constructed across the Sierra
Nevada. L. d. Judah had, however, then
just completed his survey of the present
route by way of the Truckee pass, and the
result was embodied in an extended report
published by him in pamphlet form. Later
events have shown that Judah was one of
the ablest engineers Of his day.
AlihouCh there is mora than
enough rowdyism at all times in this city,
it is mostly confined to certain quarters
nowadays; but it was not so thirty years
ago. On Christmas night in the year 1863
it seemed as if about one-third of the popu-
lation was on spree. Gangs, of drunken
men raided the streets, assaulting persons
they met, destroying property along the
sidewalks, indulging in free fights, cursing,
and raising Cain generally. That California
society is better than it used to be, there
can be no doubt.
.........Christmas day in 1860 was q wild
and stormy one throughout California. In
the mountains snow was falling fast, sew
'eral inches having been deposited as low
down as Placerville. Rain was falling in
the valleys, while fierce gale from the
ocean swept bay, hill and dale. Consider
able damage was done in this city, while in
San Francisco the loss to shipping and
other property was quite heavy. Several
houses on the side hills were undermined.
1.-THE Union Hotel, on Second street,
which had been conducted By Nat. Boice
and Frank Suydam. then passed into the
hands of its owner, ]. P. Dwyer, who had
formerly conducted it, A few years later
Suvdsm and John P. Brandt became the
lessees. Brandt soon after abandoned city
life and took up sheep ranch in Napa
county, where he lived for several years.
Suydam died some years ago IN this city.
.......A An aggregation of amateur talent
gave dramatic performance at the Metro
politan Theater one evening The play
was The Stranger, and it soon became
apparent to the audience that the players
were strangers to the stage. When the
time came for applause, showers of stale
eggs, vegetables and other missiles fell upon
the stsge. THE Strangers" beat hasty
retreat to the green room, and staid there.
......On the ODD of December, 1862
Henry Edgerton was married in Napa to
Frances E daughter of Smith Brown of
that place. Mrs. Edgerton is now residing
in San Francisco. where she is one of the
faculty of a leading seminary for young
ladies.
.....Seholar & Todhunter. then promi-
nent wholesale butchers, killed in one day
in their slaughter house near Washington,
Yolo county, so head of cattle, $50 sheep,
Is calves and large number of hogs, all
intended for the Sacramento Christmas
trade.
$685.. On the 2lst of December, 1860, the
Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in
the case of Albert Lee, colored man
formerly in the employ of Colonel Lee,
who had been convicted of the murder of
his wife.
......".The Siamese Twins, Chang and
Eng, accompanied by their wives and chill
dren, We're then giving exhibitions in this
city. They were the wonder of the day.
,........ Among the passengers who left
New \ ork for California on the steamship
Ariel. on December 10, 1850, was Mrs. n
d. Goodell, of this city.
SACRAMENTO ORANGES FOR THE FAIR
A Citizen and Grower Who Thinks Thi.
County should be Represented.
EDS. SUNDAY UNION: AS the public gen
orally know, the State made an appropria
ton for two citrus fairs to be held annu