The Portland daily press., 1899-06-14

Nsrate nw4ust mut WnAcN MA tine
Town Of the Criminal Glass.
II was in 1856, In San Francisco, and
law was chaos; mob law was supreme.
The judges were finally given warning
that unless they enforced the laws they
would be simmariiy dealt with--that Is,
they would be taken out and hanged 10
tne nearest tree. 1t was a stirring time.
The vigilance committee of San Fran
oisco In this year was famous for It's des-
perate deeds, but after It's self assumed
reign was over the morals Of San Francis
90 increased amazingly. 1t was almost
paradise ON earth. Drunkards, cutthroats,
scounarels and others Of this ilk gave the
place wide room. They knew Shat II they
We're caught they would be hanged. An
drew J. Kellogg Of Detroit told OF these
days:
The California Of 1855 was terrible
place, began Mr., Kellogg, at ease with
his pipe. You see, 1t was like this. The
men who rushed to the goldfields in the
early days never expected to remain In tbe
western country. Their purpose was 10
make their pile and get out. They came
to California; scrambled for gold and paid
no attention to law and order It was a
paradise for gamblers, thieves and out.
Threats. The worst element, 1t seems.
came to Frisco, where they were soon in
possession OF the city government and or.
dered millions and millions Of dollars
worth OF improvements that were never
made But the contracts were let, In or
der to give boodlers chance. Vice flour.
ished like a green bay tree It was law.
less, violent land, where life wasn't worth
q pinch Of snuff.
"The first few weeks was there things
Hike this happened The United States
marshal was shot in cold blood by O gam
bier; the gamblers paramour put up SI0,-
600 to defend him, and the lawyer was
promised $40, 900 more IL he got his pris,
Csar of.
"He had had one trial, but the jury dis.
agreed, and In the meantime we took him
cut and hung him.
This was the state of California Jus.
tioe.
why, men convicted of murder, arson
and other foul crimes would be hauled up
before the judge, who after listening to
the damning testimony would say:
THE sentence Of this court is that you
pay IS fine
"on other occasions, when murderer
was brought into court, a judge would
say:
"tThere is no need Of hearing the wit
nesses in this case. The prisoner is dis
charged
And the ballot box stuffinei We sent
one Of the boxes to the Smithsonian in.
stitute after the fuss was all over and hal
it labeled, This is a specimen of Caiifor-
MIA ballot box stufflng.
"Ihere was trick the ballot box stuff
ers used to employ to keep the gang In
office. You know, In those days tailors
and servants used to have small pot filled
with charcoal, used to heat hatirons. I
noticed that In every election booth in GER
tain precincts there was always one OF
these little heaters The ballot boxes were
supposed to be of inch pine, rough pine
boxes, with little beading around the
edge. The top was of inch stuff all right
enough, but the bottom was hollow, OF
eight inch stuff. In this false bottom wero
placed enough votes to win the day for the
gangs candidate. When the polls were
closed, the little fire pot was brought into
use and the unfayorable votes destroyed.
The ballot box suffers said that they had
the fire there because the room was 80 cold.
1T was such acts Of lawlessness as these
that led to the formation Of the famous
California committee of vigilance. It con-
sisted of over 6, 1000 of the most highly re-
spected people in the community, whose
sentiments of justice had been outraged by
the long continued acts of injustice and
| crime permitted by the regular judges.
"The first intimation l had of the for
nation Of the committee was when q
friend said to me one morning:
WANT to see some funY
"sYes'
Then come down to the Jail.
Son arriving Twas astonished to find q
double row of men drawn around the
whole square. An assault was about to
be made on the Jail by outraged citizens.
They were calling on the jailer even then
to open the doors In the terrible quiet
before the storm broke could hear the
leader say:
"'Open the doorsr
"There was a deathlike silence
"'Open the doorsp the ringleader cried
again, or we will batter them down.
with that he raised his handkerchief
rs q signal
"'when this handkerchief falls he
added In voice like thunder, 'I'l give
orders to fire the cannon. She's loaded
with solid shot
There was q cannon before the door
1.-THE man with the blazing torch stood
near by
You should have seen the hand slowly
fall 1t was most thrilling sight. Slow
" the hand flutered, and at the very lass
moment the jail doors were flung open,
and the populace entered to drag out the
prisoners
SAT first the jailer refused to give some
Of them up.
"The two that we took out of the jail
were given fair trial before the commit
tee of SO, the executive committee, which
heard all the evidence as given. 1t requir-
| ed unanimous vote on their part to hang
| q man as well as a two-third majority of
| the committee Of delegates. numbering
| ESQ members.
"That night San Francisco was in a
fever of excitement. What would happen
nextf Where would the revenge of the
populace be shown tomorrow?
"Eyery one stayed indoors that night as
| bar as possible.
"a few days later the judges were
warned They were told to try cases
| properly or suffer the penalty--by giving