Year: 1875


Yesterday, unless Governor Pachcco
to prevent the contamination
of the sentence, Tiburco Nasquez paid
with his lite the penalty of his crime
against the law. That the fate of this
bandit is just and deserved one, all
must admit, and the mock humanitari-
anism which is exhibited in so many in
stances where life is demanded for life,
would be deemed sadly out Of place if ex-
hibited in behalf of this wholesale muir
Gerer. Not but Vasquez has friends
among a certain class who would move
heaven and earth to procure commuta-
ton of his sentence, if they thought they
had a reasonable prospect of success. -
Tor those who commit murder while in
the heat of passion, or when led on by a
sense Of real or supposed injury, there
are always friends, who look upon their
crime with a desire to palliate and ex-
cuse but for the cowardly brigand, who
sacrifices human life in the hope OF gain
humanity can have no sympathy. All
are compelled TO recognize the fact that
the public safety requires that for that
class OF criminals justice should be sure
and speedy.


Looking back through the twenty-five
years which have passed since the State
was brought into prominence by the gold



discoveries, which brought to these shores
such motley gathering Of humanity as
only mining country can exhibit, il
seems almost matter of wondermcnt
that more brigandage has not made
| our mountain Businesses place Of terror.
Yet human life has been rs secure, to a
great extent, as in the older States, and
perhaps we can say with truth, more SO
than in some. The early days of the
mines witnessed scenes of disorder and
violence-of n disregard of human life
bordering on barbarism-yct no more so
than in the border history Of almost any
prompting the crime Of murder were raro-
| ly merccnary, or, at least, 'were not with
a view directly to robbery. Disputes
about claims, or discussions of that ma
ture has cost many n man his life, and
such was to be expected in a country
where the bowie knife and revolver were
so often the arbitrators in settling disput-
ed questions Of property. But if crime
was rampant, retribution was speedy /;
often the murderer and his victim were
laid in their last narrow home at the
same hour, for Judge Lynch held court
where legal quibbles and technichalites
were seldom permitted to interfere with
the course Of justice.


When we consider the numerous dis
appointments which accompany mining
| life, and the opportunities everywhere
offered to those whose regard for the
rights Of others Is SO limited that they
would not scruple to enrich themselves
Mt the expense of others, it seems strange
that the existence of organized bands OF
robbers is an exception to the general
condition Of the country. Joaquin Mu-
rietta and Tom Bell nourishcd for time
but the swift punishment which followed
their msdeeds gave little encouragement
to those who might have been desirou. OF
emulatng their achievements. And in
deed, it seems as If the perpetrators OF
crime of every character are ferreted
out and brought to justice with more GER
tainty in California than in almost any
country. At present the cities appear to
furnish the field for the operations OF the
class from which tho State Prison re-
cruts are drawn, while the country and
the mines are the home of honest work
ing men.


The execution Of Vasquez will dampcn
the ardor Of those who were disposed to
initiate him while successful, and it will
be years, probably before his counterpart
will be found. Il ut that the material for
many another band like that which Vas
quez controlled, exists, and which only
lacks leadership and organization to make
itself dreaded, we do not question. The
decisive measures taken for the capture
| of the bandit, and the fate which followed
his capture will'strike terror to the hearts
OF the desperate characters, and the coun-
try can rest in security.