Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-05-31

How san Francisco Punished Crfmf'
nails In Early Days.

Present conditions IN San Fran
cisco and the talk Of a revival OF the
vigilance committee that operated
there more than half a century ago
serves 10 call 10 mind IN exciting pc
riod in the career " the western
city, says the Kansas { stat. Sach
was the unsettled condition OF society
I'm that then remote territory during
the earlier years OF its mining indus
try, so multiplied and daring the
crimes against life and property and
so inefficient as well as glaringly cor
rupt the courts and judges. that for
a time robbery, murder, arson, and
violence were completely In the as
condant, so that every man not actu-
ally ia league with the perpetrators
OF these outragcs was put on the do
fensiye- carrying HIS weapons by
day and sleeping on them by night.
Bold and defiant IN their success
ful career OF criM2, members OF
these outlaws formed themselves Into
a mutual organization, with regular
headquarters. and assumed the
city and the country; and. IN their
skilled arts as thieves. pickpockots,
gamblers. incendaries. and assassins,
numbered their victims by hundreds.
In addition TO this large numbers
OF felons found their way 20 CALI
fornia from the convict islands OF
Van Diemen's Land and New South
Wales, and there, under the existing
laxity OF law and audacity of crime,
reaped a rich harvest.
Such was the condition OF affairs
throughout the state, when, goaded
and outraged beyond endurance, the
well-disposed citizens determined TO
become a law unto themselves and
20 administer that law In the inter-
ests OF justice and self-protectlon,
with promptness and decision.
Examples were not long wanting for
the execution of their purpose; and,
IN pursuance of the same end. the
citizens OF San Francisco soon found
their wrongs being redressed by n
powerful voluntary organization OF
The most influential men In the city,
styled the Vigilance Committee. who.
IN the constitution OF their associa-
ton, declared that they thus united
themselves Ito preserve the lives
and property OF the citizens OF San
Francisco. binding themselves each
unto the other 20 do and perform
every lawful act for the maintenance
OF law and order and 20 sustain the
laws when faithfully and properly
administered determined that
no thief burglar, lncendiary or as
sassln escape punishment, either by
the bubbles OF the law, the inso-
curity OF prisons, the earolessncss OF
corruption OF tho police, or n laxity
on the part OF those pretending to
administer justice"
The first and one OF tho most ex-
citing of the cases growing out OF
this extraordinary organization 90
Cured June, 1851, whom sydney
convict was caught IN the net of car
rylng away n small safe which no
had stolen. The man, desperate
charactor, was seized by eomo mem
bcra OF tho Vigilance Committee, who
conducted him forthwith 10 their
headquarters, whore ho was tried In
the presence of about eighty NOM
bors OF tho association sitting behind
closed doors. by them convicted, and
sentenced TO be hung In Portsmouth
Square, that night,
During the progress of tho trial
the citizens had assembled IN large
numbers about tho building and In
Portsmouth Square. tho bell on the
engine house nc the latter place hav-
ing rung tho pre-aTangod signal to
give notice OF the proceedings going
on.
Though very much excited the
populace was not disorderly Some
disapprobaton was manifested at tho
secrecy of the commttco's doings,
hut when tho result became known
there was very general acqulesence,
although there were many who
deemed tho punishment too severe
for tho offense, and others believed
On offender should be hanged IN day.
light,
AZ soon as the sentence was
passed the bell on the California en-
CINE house nearby commenced 10 toll
the knell OF the condemned man.
This was o'clock at night. Capt.
Ray. of tho police department, APP
piled at the door OF the committees
room and several times demanded
that the prisoner be turned over 10
him. lie was each time refused.
Several members OF the police do
partment were on the ground, but
saw that II was useless 20 attempt q
rescue.
A man climbed the liberty pole 10
rig n block for the execution of tho
death sentence. but loud shout OF
Don't hang him 10 the liberty polo"
went up, and II was decided that Tho
hanging should take place at the odd
adobe" which had been used az n
custom house.
At the end OF tho building n block
was rugged and n long rope ran
through II. In the meantime q num-
Der OF police who we're on the ground
made several attempts TO obtain pos
session OF the prisoner. but they
were sternly prevented by tho Vigil
lantes. The moose was placed about
the condemned mans ne~k, twenty
pairs OF hands seized tho other end.
and the first criminal e feel tho
n. a.. a.