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Collection: Books and Periodicals
Three Years in California by John D. Borthwick (1857)(LoC) (423 pages)
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Page: of 423
232 AMOUNT OF CRIME.
immunity from punishment; and the consequence
has been, that it has stalked abroad high-handed and
bold. Over a year ago, we understood the district
attorney to state, in an argument before a jury in a
murder case, that, since the settlement of San Francisco by the American people, there had been twelve
hundred murders committed here. We thought at
the time the number stated was unduly large, and
think so still; but it has been large enough, beyond
doubt, to give us the unenviable reputation we have
obtained abroad.
“ And yet, in spite of these facts, but three criminals
have suffered the death-penalty awarded to the crimes
of which they have been guilty. These were all
friendless, moneyless men. A sad commentary this
on that motto, ‘ Equal and exact justice to all, which
we delight to blazon over our constitution and laws.
* Was it not time fora change—time, if need be,
for a revolution which should inaugurate a new state
of things—which should give an assurance that
human life should be protected from the hand of the
gentlemanly and monied assassin, as well as from the
miserable, the poor, and the friendless? Such arevolution has been made by the people, and it has been
the inauguration of a new and bright era in our history, in which an assurance has been given, that
neither the technicalities of a badly administered law,
nor the interference of the Executive, can save the
murderer from the punishment he justly merits. It
has been brought about by the very evils itis intended