The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-25

was urarmed at the time, but he made up
his mind to capture the murderer. he
armed himself with a piece of fence rail
and started after Forni, who, seeing him
self pursued, turned on Burke and told
HIM he would kill him if he approached.
You've killed one man already said
Burke, but you'll not kill another if this
stick falls on top of your head, and it will
if you don't drop that knife and submit to
arrest / forgot to tell you that at the
moment that Burke came up on Forni
that individual was wiping his bloody
knife on the sole of one of his shoes. Well,
Burke raised the piece of wood and Form
dropped his knife, stating at the time that
Atari had robbed him and that IN recover
ing his money he had to kill the robber,
who had attacked him with knife.
although there was great cry about
that time of lack of administration of law
and there was good cause for complaint,
justice did not delay long with Forni, for
he was, without delay, tried, found guilty,
and on the 10th of December following the
murder he paid the penalty of his crime.
That day was Friday and it is probable
that in consequence of that day having
been chosen for the hanging, all subse-
quent executions have been set on the
same day of the week.
1.-THE fact that he was to be hanged had
been generally known and thousands pre-
pared to attend the execution. When
friends or acquaintance met on the morn
ing of the 10th, the first question asked
was, Going to see Joe hangf That hang
ing and subsequent one were in full view
of the public. The gallows had been
erected on the eastern slope of the hill,
about 100 yards from the summit.
Before 10 o'clock in the morning, the
hill-there were no streets nor houses there
then-was crowded with people of all
classes, including women and children,
the latter being taken there to impress
upon their juvenile minds the horrors of
punishment for crime. Many who had
gone early, in order to secure good place,
took their lunch with them; others, who
did not have any lunch, whiled away the
time by indulging in friendly game of
cards. "a dollar corner, just to make 1t in
teresting.' The children, firing of waiting
for the awful lesson played ball, marbles
and tag. Had it not been for the somber
gallows, with the cross beam from which
hung the dangling moose, one might have
supposed that the people had assembled for
picnic. At the hour of noon the crowd was
astonished to see gang of workmen ap-
proach the gallows, and with ak and ham,
mer commence to take them down.
"The first impression was that the execu-
ton had been postponed and there was
disappointment on every face. 1t was not
lOIiS, llOMGNcI, DclOIt IL UCCduiC hhOWh
that it had been decided to have the exhi-
bition on the other side of the hill. The
timbers were taken to the western slope,
about 400 feet below the crest, from which
point the murderer had an opportunity to
see for the last time the wonderful Golden
Gate. With the moving of the timbers
there was rush of the people westward
and it took all the efforts of the Marion
Rifles, detailed for police duty, to keep the
crnUd a O Aseto n from tho xuOrly-
men. | should judge that at that time
there were not less than 10000 people on
the hill.
mo, never knew why the change was
made" said the colonel, in answer to a
question, because l never inquired, not
caring 10 know at the time, and afterward
| was too busy to find out.
Shortly after l O'clock" continued the
colonel. there was heard a sound of muf-
fled drums, and every one on the hill
turned in the direction of the sound. In a
few minutes the head of column moving
up in the direction of the gallows was seen.
1t was the old California Guard, the first
military company organized in this City.
1t had in charge the condemned, who was
seated on his coffin in wagon drawn by a
pair OF horses. He appeared to be the
most unconcerned man in that pro-
cession, for he was smoking a pipe
and talking with those who were
nearest 10 him. The guard formed in q
double line around the prisoner, the man
who in a few minutes was to face certain
death riding on his coffin, and the sound
guard then helped to strengthen the square
of soldiers. The condemned in the mean
time mounted the platform and in a mo-
ment was under the moose that was so soon
to send him before his maker.
There was the reading of the death
warrant, the spiritual consolation and a