The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-28

that all cold -blOoded murderers IN this county
will sI1ffer likewise Yours respectfully,
TAX-PAYIN6 CITIZENS.
Officers: Ask no questions. Be wise and
keep mum.
It tells the story of the motives actual
ing the men who took the law into their
own hands and illustrates far too well the
fate that awaits the man who cares to
question the act of the brawny men who
recognize but one law-justlce, swift and
certain, to the man who has slain his
fellow without provocation.
Yreka is quiet to-day, yet the lynching
of Johnson, Null, Moreno and Stemler is
the one subject of conversation. No re-
grets are heard except from the lawyers,
who regret the act, looking at it through
lawyers glasses. District Attorney Raynes
depIores it, as he considers he had per-
feet case against all four prisoners, and
conviction was certain. A few have tried
to give the impression that the motive of
the mob was mercenary one-that the
lynching was done by the taxpayers, in
order to save the county expense. While
many make the argument that the lynch
ing will save the county $4,000, that was
not taken into consideration. All that was
intended was rebuke to the hardness of
the laws justice, whereby $1,000 case is
made to cost the county 10000, and the
culprit, if he has money, in the end goes
free.
The repeated combinations of the pre-
liminary hearings of Stemler and Moreno
angered the citizens. Resentment ran
high, and such was the feeling that on
Sunday man in Yreka offered to bet 500
that another delay would result, but could
not get taker.
At Etna, where Johnson murdered his
wife, general rejoicing took place last
night, and giant powder was freely used.
From there comes the report that giant
powder in liberal quantities was brought to
Yreka by the mob in order to blow up the
Jail if no other means would answer.
A telegram from Galatians this evening
states preparations are being made for
jubilee tonight. Galatians is prosperous
mining town, being the place where Null
killed Hayter, and is the birthplace of Mrs.
Johnson.
Satisfaction was expressed at the COM
plete and speedy way in which the lynch
ing was done, by representative citizens
from all parts of the county who visited
the town yesterday and to-day. Deputy
Jailer Brautlacht says many of the masked
men had gray hair and boards. showing
that it was not mob of irresponsible boys.
1t is not likely that any arrests will be
made, as all were masked and thoroughly
disguised, and the general impression pre-
walls that were the parties known they
would prove to be many of the county's
most respected citizens.
A few argue that Semler may have been
innocent, but they have not looked into
the case. When he was arrested there was
blood on his shirt and coat, although he
had washed his shirt, but it had not re-
moved all the blood stains.
When questioned he stated the blood
was from squirrel he had killed. His
actions at Pokegama, where he was cap
tured, were such as to arouse the suspi-
cions of the officers, as he avoided the
crowd. He twice went into restaurant
to get breakfast, but on seeing crowd
both times hurriedly left the dining-room
and lay down behind a fence until
freight train arrived. He then elm bed
into boxcar, left the door open about an
inch and was detected by the officers who
were watching him peeping through the
crack in the door, These actions were in
consistent for an innocent man and caused
his arrest. When told to surrender he
made show of resistance, refusing to give
up his pistol, but was quickly overpowered
and disarmed.
The night of the murder of Sears and
Meirhaus, Archie Rametis, bright lad of
IL or 10, was stopped by the Spaniard
Moreno and Stemler. about 200 yards from
Sears saloon They were lying in ditch
by the roadside, and when the boy passed
they got up from the ditch and asked him
If he lived in the houses up near the sta
ton. He told them he did not, that he
lived about mile from there, and went
his way Before he reached home he
heard four or five shots from the direction
of the saloon. He positively recognized
Stemler and Moreno as the men he was
talking to.
Mrs. Lyttleton saw them from her
window go into the saloon that evening
about 6 80 and positively recognized them
BOTH The two worked together at the
Coggins mill, near Sisson, and received
their wages when discharged, amounting
to about So While working at this mill
Stemler always carried 32-caliber pistol,
even when at work. When captured at
Pokegama he had $50 so in silver and
nickels tied up in silk handkerchief and
So and 81 in his purse. The saloon |
was robbed of something over $40.
Stemler admitted to the officer that he
was with Moreno at Sisson, went to Coles |
with him, left the train there in his COM
oany, but separated from him leaving him |
on the railroad, while he started for
Creek mines in search of work.
Moreno did not recognize Stemler, saying |
he never saw him until they met in jail.
Joe Sears, son of George Sears, heard
The shooting and hurried to the house.
On his way he met two men running
coward Hungry Creek. but by that time it
was too dark to see their features.
The following morning Moreno met
John Wright about mile from the
saloon and, walking UP to him, said, "I'm
bad man." Wright noticed his hand
vas cut and he had blood on his clothes.
Moreno, continuing, said, where is the
direction to Oregon?" On being shown
.he road he started to 60, but turned back