142 EIvDORADO 



eyes among the spectators were tearless. The piteous 

 groans of the culprits 'broke the deacon all up," as the 

 quivering flesh turned black under every stroke of the 

 riata. 



This method of administering punishment in those 

 days was sanctioned by the best element in the coim- 

 try, and so far as I observed, the trials were conducted 

 in as orderly a manner as usually prevails in more pre- 

 tentious legal proceedings. From one to two hours 

 was all the time needed to determine the guilt or inno- 

 cence of the accused. If guilty the sentence was at 

 once carried into execution without unnecessary delay. 

 In some instances injustice may have been done, and so 

 it sometimes occurs under legal forms prescribed by the 

 statutes. 



Tn the mineral portions of the state, more especially, 

 "trial bv the people" without judicial process continued 

 until 1856. Then the climax was reached bv the vigi- 

 lantes in San Francisco, organized to clear the citv of 

 thugs and assassins, which the civil authorities failed 

 or were unable to do. Thev dominated the state gov- 

 ernment for two months. Governor J- Neelv Johnson 

 in the meantime taking a vacation at a pleasant moun- 

 tain resort. , 



Another instance of summarv justice will still fur- 

 ther illustrate the means bv which the miners soueht 

 to protect their lives and propertv. Possiblv a little 

 less severitv mip-ht have accomplished the desi'-ed end 

 and object, but it was not so regarded at the time. T 

 am sure there was no element of persecution or re- 

 venp-e present in the cases T have related, but the public 

 welfare alone was considered. 



Lvnch law in California, at the time of which T am 



