ELDORADO 139 



CHAPTER XV. 



JUDGE LYNCH. 



The civil law was not adequate to all the exigencies 

 arising under the conditions existing during the early 

 history of California. Theft and murder were of rare 

 occurrence among the miners, but whenever they did 

 occur it was not a very difficult matter for the culprit 

 to escape in the wild unsettled mountainous region, 

 and, if caught, a rescue by his pals was almost sure to 

 occur. 



There existed no suitable safe place to hold a crimi- 

 nal during the pending of a trial. An old prison brig 

 lying at the wharf in the river at Sacramento was the 

 only place of confinement in all that portion of the state 

 for a number of years. 



Under the circumstances. Judge Lynch was appealed 

 to in most cases, and the punishment was sure and 

 made to fit the case. I witnessed but one instance of 

 mob law while in the mines. A man was caught in the 

 act of stealing a buckskin purse of gold dust from a 

 miner's cabin. A meeting of the miners was called, a 

 consultation was held, and by a unanimous verdict the 

 thief was to receive fifty lashes on the bare back. The 

 sentence was carried out by administering the punish- 



