February 26, 1858 (4 pages)

<= ~eorded. obtains at Patterson and vicinity. The *edada Sournal. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 26th. Taxing Mintnac CLaimMs.—An esteemed friend of oursat Patterson expresses surprise at our endorsement of the suggestions of Judge Williams made at a county meeting not long since, relatite to taxing mining elaims. Those suggestions were simply that a tax be levied of, say, $10 upon each mining claim, by the payment of wkich tax the owner of the claim should be deemed as having a title for one year and be exempt from working one day out of every ten, a regulation imposed upon miners in some districts. Our Patterson friend informs us of what we were not before advised, that in some districts this regulation is unknown, a claim on whicha certain sum has been expended, not being liable to forfeiture, in such districts, when not ina workable condition and when said claim is duly registered or reWe suppose this regulation Tlie making of laws to govern the ‘working of mines, whether by the Legislature or the miners themselves presents'some unpleasant difficulties. Left to the miners in their local communities it is easy to see that the power to make laws protecting themselves in their tights is liable to abuse. The right to hold a claim of a certain size by working on it one day in ten in one district is “extended in another giving toa very few all the ground of any value by the expenditure of, say, $200. And if $200 why not $20, or even $5; it is but an extension of privileges which, if the miner is to have absolute power to make regulations to hold and work his claims, he has doubtless, a right to avail himseif of. If a claim of one hundred feet can be secured to an individual for ten days, why not an acre or a mile for six months oreven a much largertime? The principle carried out to its fullest extent is productive of the most unbearable monopolies. It operates unequally upon different portions of the mining region according to the sense of justice or avarice of loeal communities, whereas all laws should, as near as practicable, be Some of difficulties arise uniform in their application. the same or similar when we imagine the State legislating for the mines. There is one point to which we would The Constitutiou of the State says decidedly‘ direct the attentioa of our friend. “The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a Senate and Assembly, which shall Le designated the Legislature of the State of California.” We will suppose a case involving the validity of mining laws be taken to the Supreme Court. Is it not extremely probable the decision would be that no Court is bound to take cognizanee of any laws but those passed by the Legislature, the only law making power under the Constitution? Suppose a ease decided in this manner, what would beeome of loeal regulations, and how would a miner Hold his claims but under the common law or by force? And if by the common law, what common law but the English which is not appkeable to this eountry but to a limited extent. The question then arises for the eonsideration of miners, is it not better and safer to allow the Legislature, the only power to claim legitimate authority over the subject, to establish some reliable law on which the miner can rely in case of necessity than to wake up some fine morning and ‘find himself at the mercy of a Court and exposed to the uncertainties of law, or rather no law at all. We are aware that some dangers are run by allowing the Legislature to tamper with mining rights, but the query may be safely put whether a few uniform and simple laws, general in their application, might not be beneficial to mining interests. lf as miners we are incurring a risk at the hands of the Supréme Court, as some gentlemen versed in legal lore say we are, can we not better ourselves in adopting and carrying out the suggestions of Judge Williams, or some other feasible project ? “We are interested in mining ourselves and can have peeuniarily no other than the mining interest at heart. It occurs to us however, that there should be some power hizher than that hitherto exercised by a few individuals in a mining camp: ome power to check Iveal monopolies and a tendency to abuse privileges conceded to the inhabitants of each separate hill, bar, ravine. gulch, &c., in the State, some conservative and equalizing force if no otherto preserve to the miners as muchas the best interests of the countr¥demand from the hands of capitalists and for the benefit of the workmg men of the mining region. Mivirary.—lIt will bseen by reference to a notice in another column that the Nevada Riile Company is ealled out by orde: of the Captaiu, to assemble at the Court House this morning at 10 o'clock, to atteud at the executien of David Butler. Correcrion.—In the correspondenee of **Justice” last week two material errors we committed by the “devil” to .the injury of the sense. The letter theref re as it is priated isto be taken m some parts cum grano salis. Last Letrer oF Davin BuTLer.— The following is a copy of the last letter of David Butler, read by himself aloud in his cell and copied by his permission by a friend in the corridor, on the day previous to hisexecution. The account of his life to whieh he refers. is the one issued from this office, a copy of whick he has had in his cell for a few days past, and which he acknowledges to have been written at his dictation, and declares to be wholly true. After a perusal of his statement, anda slight acquaintance with Major C. Bolin, (for that is his real name,) we cannot find it in our heart to pronounce him a bad man. Nevapa, Cat., Feb. 24, 1858. Dear Frienp:—I received your letter of the 17th of January, on the 22d of this month. You can imagine my feelin,» be:'er than I can describe them. I can confidently «ssert to you that my only trust is in God. I have been wronged in this world and I expect to be righted in the next. WhenI read your letter I wept like a child. My misfortunes have been great, but I always have been honest in my dealings ; but I confess that I have strayed from my parents’ advice, but in this case which has brought me to an ignominious death I am bound in justice to my feelings te say that I eould not help resenting the insults that were heaped upon me without a cause. I had given no cause for the insults. I was a man at that time, and feel to be a man at this time in the eyes of God. I feel that I have made my peace with Him and am ready to go when He calls on me. I never considered myself a murderer, I can safely say to you that I am not. There was a man killed, and by my pistol, but not intentionally. Iam inno cent of willful murder. You may see in time an account of my life as I have written one. If so, vou can believe it all, for I took the pains to have it published before my death so that I might confirm it. Itisnow dark I haveone day more and two nights, and then I trust torest in peace. May my ¢eath be a warning to others that I may leave behind. My prayer is for the dying that I leave behind to come on in time ; that they may see their folly before it is entirely too late. I leave many friends behind me to mourn the loss of a true friend. You can find out by writing to A. A. Sargent, Esq., as to my behavior and bearing my punishment, and preparation for my final end. Inform my friends according to this letter. I have been visited ty a number of ladies today and they expressed their sympathy for me. I have received the best of treatment from the officers whom I have been placed under, and have the good will of all of them. I must leave you and bid you a final farewell; and I thank my God for supporting me under these serious circumstances to be enabled with strength and composure of mind toinform my friends of my fate and bid them a final farewell, and do it with my own hand. Look on me asa dying man, and believe what I have told you. My trust is in God and I believe I am prepared for my fate; and may I meet my friends in a spiritual land where we will part no more. I will conclude by saying, may God be merciful to all. This is my last and I return my thanks to you all. Farewell, the last time on this earth! I remain your obedient and affectionate friend, M. C. Bourn. “X. Y. Z.” of the North San Juan Star, devotes considerable space to us ina late number of that paper, only a small portion of which we propose to notice. These last letters of the alphabet want to know, why, we didn’t report a bill while Senator from this county, giying to the District Judge power over indictments. We have already given a very good reason, but as “X.Y Z.” does not appear to understand, we will repeat and explam In the first place, no such bill was ever introduced, for reasons we shall presently see. Consequently no such bill was ever referred to a committee of which we were a member, for as . to report. Inthe second place, we did not introduce a bill of that eharacter, because being sworn to support the Constitution of the State, we found no warrant in that instrument to allow the District Court any power over the action of aconcurrent Court. “X. Y. Z.” talks very familiarly about law, from which fact we judge him to bea pretended lawyer. He ought to know, however, that the Supreme Court has decided some time since in confirmation of the view of the Constitution above expressed. Let our voluminous correspondent of the Star grapple with the Constitu‘tion of the State, and we will try to help him in our feeble way; but we advise him by all means to read it first. Favors.—We are indebted to G. W. Welch, of the Alta Express. and Pioneer Bookstore, for daily files of papers. No mail arriving on Weduesday, his fa. Vors were invaluable. Rewieiovs.—On. Sunday evening next Rev. Mr. Dryden will deliver a . discourse on the life and death of M. €. Botia, atthe Methodist chureh. L Tue San Juan Tracepy.—The circumstances attending the killing of Reyholds at North San Juan, on Saturday evening last, as brought out in evidence before the coroner's jury and the court, before whom Mr. Moore was examined charged with being accessory to the murder. are substantially these : A man named French, in whose employ the murderer, Northup,and his wife had been, reported himself as having eavesdropped and discovered an improper intimacy between the deceased and Mrs. Northup. Circulating his report, it reached the ears of the parties most nearly affected, and Reynolds charged French with lying, insulted and left him. Reynolds had previously attempted to find out the author of the report, and his efforts had brought out a card in the Star from Moore, designed, as Moore stated. to call Reynolds out, and its character would seem to imply anything but a friendly disposition toward Reynolds. A short time after Reynolds had encountered French, Moore and Northup entered the room where the former was. Moore had obtained a pistol a few minutes before he entered the room. Reynolds shook hands with Northup ; while Moore then said to the former that French was innocent of having cireulated the report, Northup fired at the breast of Reynolds, who retreated and was followed Five shots were fired in all, the last one into the back of Reynolds while ke was lying on his face and probably dead. Afterthe fatal oecurrence Moore came out of the Hotel in which the tragedy was enacted, with a knife in his hand and said the “black hearted son of a ought to have been killed long ago.” He also told Northup that “he fired too quick as he wanted to give Reynolds a piece of his mind first.” Moore also testified before the coroner’s jury that he purposed avenging the wrongs of his friend in publishing his card in the Star. These cireumstances left no doubt on the minds of many who heard the testimony, of the . complicity of Moore in the affair. After nearly three days spent in the examination, and speeches of lawyers, patent-Justice Johnson drew forth from his pocket @ written opinion, all cut and dried, four pages in length and read it to the astonished auditory, concluding with a discharge of the prisoner Moore ! Northup gave himself up soon after shooting Reynolds and was put in the charge of two deputy Constables who pledged their lives to bring hin: forth next morning, but both fell asleep and in the morning the murderer had left, and has not been discovered since. We are assured there is a clique at San Juan, the members of whieh are bound to each other by some mysterious tie, not masonry or Odd fellowship, which dictates and controls publie sentiment at that place, and holds the lash of subjection over all not of its kind. This is supposed to account for the extraordinary developments in connection with the most cowardly and bloody affair. Davip BurLer, THE DOoMED.—The sentence of the law is to be executed today on the person of David Butler, between the hours 10 a. M. and 4 P.M. The doomed man bears up under the trying circumstances attending him without repining, cheerful and sensible. We visited him in his cell a few days since and found him apparently no more care worn, or different in person or conversation than three months since. He talked calmly of his approaching exit from the world, of his hope for the future, and said he was reconciled to his fate. He spoke tenderly of a sister, of home and its endearments, and said in his dreams he often wandered there. He sleeps well, and is seldom troubled with unpleasant thoughts. His appetite and health are very good. He has been more than thirteen months in irons. A full and eorrect aecount of hrs life, embracing the affair at Downieville, which brought him to the gallows, his flight to Oregon, his service in the army there. his adventures in attempting to escape detection, his surrender, drowning of Jackson, &c,—all highly interesting, and taken down at his dictation by A. A. Sargent. Esq.,—will be issued from this office, to-day. The book will contain sume fifty pages of narrative and a correct portrait of the condemned. Rep Doc.—By the politeness ef Mr. Burke, we are in possession of the following items from Red Dog. Wednesday of last week a negro prostitute was assaulted by a man familiarly called Shorty, who was fined by Justice Bejole $10 for the act. While the trial was in progress the negro woman's house was entered and $18@ and a revolver taken. On the next day a party of peaceable and hard working miners returned at noon from their work and found their cabin burned to the greund and robbed of $750, the fruit of their industry. Last Monday, as a gentleman of Rough and Ready was on his way from Red Dog to Nevada, he was met by a robber at the big hill who presen:ed a pistol at his breast and demended his money. Luekily he had but Sis on his person at the time, by givin which he was allowed to proeeed. 7s The diggings at Red Dog are paying generally well. The Dutch Company cleaned up 49 ounces on Monday last, the produet of the labor of four men ten days. Frow the Grass Valley Telegraph—Extra, Feb. 23. AWFUL TRAGEDY! FIVE PERSON$—-A FATHER, MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN POISONED! Our usually quiet town was thrown into a state of great consternation about seven o’clock on Sunday evéning last, by the astounding iutelligence that Mr. Michacl Brenan, President of the Mount Hope Mining Company, had destroyed, by poison. kis entire family, consisting of a wife and three children and then administered the fatal drug to himself! ‘The poison used was the most ceztain and deadly of any known— Prussic Acid. As the terrible news became generally known, the street leading to the scene of the tragedy became thronged with people, drawn thither by curiosity or interest in the fate of the unhappy sufferers. FINDING OF THE BODIES. The last that was seen of any of the pasties about the house was about 11 a. M.on Sunday. Mr. Brenan about that time managed to get all the members of the family into the house and closed and securely fastened the doors and. windows from all communication from the outside, or from the servant’s apartments. They thus remained until after dark, supposed by the servants to be asleep. Not being able at that time to arouse them, the door was forced open when one of the most appalling and heartrending sights was disclosed, which has ever fallen to the lot of man to witness. APPEARANCE OF THE BODIES. The dining room and servants’ apartment is separated from tLe other part of the house by an open passway. ‘T'o the right of this, as a person enters, is a lodging room, nursery and sitting room, all connected with each other by doors opening from one tothe other. In these three apartments the bodies were found. One of the children was found ona bed . in the bed-room, another on the bed in the nursery. and in the sitting room, upon a lounge, reclining as if in sleep, lay the body of Mrs. B., her husband lay upon the floor by her side, and immediately at his feet, also upon the floor, lay the body of the little boy, the same which is noticed in the testimony before the Coroner as having run out of the house screaming, frightened probably by the sight of its mother, which it had no doubt seen, as she lay a corpse upon the lounge. The acid, which is almost instantaneous in its effects, had bee administered to each one separately, in different rooms, aud a pillow, no doubt, immediately pressed upon their faces to smother .anyr possible outery. When found, the — body, with the exception of that of Mr. B.'s, was covered witha pillow. Mrs. B. was undoubtedly the first victim-—then the children one after the other, the tragedy finally closing with the unfortunate man himself, The cause of this dreadful sacrifice of life was, without doubt, misfortune in business. The company of which Mr. B. was the head and in whsch he had invested all his means, has recently been unfortunate, and he had been compelled to assign the property to one of the principal creditors. This he did some two months since. The letters which were left by the unfortunate man, and which we give below, betray a long contemplation of the event, and the utmost coolness and determination in carrying out his resolve. The evidence rnd attending circumstances show most conclusively that Mrs. B. was an unconscious party to the dreadful tragedy. How the poison was administered to her is and ever must be a mystery. THE VERDICT. An inquest was held over the bodies on Monday morning, by F. W. Thayer, Esq., acting as Coroner, when the following verdict was rendered :—~ We, the undersigned, jurors, find that . Michael Brenan came to his death by Prussic Acid, administered by himself, and that Dorinda Brenan, his wife, and Ellen, Robert and Dorinda, his children, came to their deaths by Prussic Acid, administered by said Michael Brenan, under Temporary insanity. J. MeMurtrey, E. W. Heywood, Wm. Bettis, J. H. Henderson, John Blackford, Lucius I. Roland, E. McLaughlin, Justus Lockwood, James Fitton, Thomas Lloyd, A. B. Brady, S. D. Bosworth, H. D. Cady, Sam’l Brigham, G. C. King. The ages of the parties are as follows: Mr. B. was about 38 and his wife 30; the children 4}, 3 and 2 years respectively. We append the foliowing letter addressed to Mr. Martinea.x, the Seeretary of the Company. It is without date : Mr. Martineau :—I leave you power of attorney, will and bill of sale of all my personal effeets, and the house. The power that you may do the best you ean for yourself, the other two papers that you may have the house, which is justly yours, and that you may turn anything that is mine iato money, whieh send to Robert Thallon, Hanover Bank Building, N. Y. city, for the use of my mother and sister, who are left destitute. This is my only regret in leaymg—otherwise Iam very happy in going with my beloved wife aud children to where I have no doubt we shall have a better fate than any possible for ushere. I have written to Thallon & Satterthwait, 33 Throgmorton street, London, about my mother and sister. £1,000 at7 per cent. would make them comfortable. They and a few friends might do something for them—the richer English stockholders. The money the Company owes me would be 4 fortune te them. Suppose you write Sattherwaite a line and tell him what I have risked and lost. Do anything you can that way—’tis my only sorrow. I could continue here could I help them. But I feel it is quite impossible henceforth. For ten years they have had nothing but what I have sent them. If any money of mine can be got out of the concern, send it to Mr. Thallon for same purpose. You will find lists of attachmerts, confessions and noves in my pocket memorandum book. See that Mr. Judd loses nothing by the Woodville affair. I would not have him lose a dollar on my account. Tell him I remember him as a true and noble hearted friend. I am glad you remain to tell all the world that I have, in all, done what was right and honorable, as far as I could see it, at thetime. “The proof is to die.” No other would ever clear me. Did I live and ever do well, many would believe I had acted basely here—and this would make life bitter. There is a little money, the last I have, in the left hand drawer of this desk. Send it to Thallon for my mother and sister—don’t mind burial expenGrass Valley owes me and my family enough earth to cover ns, and that is all we want. Tell Chavaune I do not blame him~ poor fellow! he has a great risk, and is ses. trying tosaveit; he would have done better by being more precise to his word. As it is I think the creditors should at onee have the property. But I do not blame him. I think his acts of the last few weeks have been done under half madness I would like to mention many whose kindness I have felt. Mr. and Mrs. Rush ; that good little Mrs. Solomon— her sweet good face cut me to the heart, knowing the loss I had, in some sort brought on her interest ; although, like others—like you and myself/—I thought all would be well. I do not feel that I have misled or deceived any one, (Massachusetts Hill is the deceiver,) but they would all feel that J had done it, which I could not bear. This end I have foreseen for many weeks, but as long as there was a chance of seeing all, I could not leave. That is spoilt. I feel deeply for you too: but there is no use in it—there are so many and so much. Mr. Delano—I know that he can -adly spare his money; vet always so kind with his cheerful, good-natured face. Do not let him lose if you can help it. I hope I may remember this and such things. I myself had to leave, and it was cowardly to leave my poor wife and children behind—so they come with me. I ought to mention with pleasure the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Atwood. Ido not let my thoughts run behind my Grass Valley days, for then there would be no end, and my strength might fail me. One thing pleases me fer your sake all will understand when I did not, what Mr. Sylvester termed to-day, “take eare of myself,” that yow did not. In this your exculpation may be found. It almost makes me sinile—now, tkat phrase of his—what a difference in human Poor Tuts Fowt Afrair— “All my prety ones? I id yousay, all? O, hell-kite!—all? What, all my pretty chi¢kens, and their dant, fellow, I must stop this or I will get too weak. M. Brenan. The following note was also found among the papers without address, exAt one fell swoop ¢” [Shakepeare. cept in the body of the note, as follows: . Our town was thrown into a state of “Do not bury us until you are sure we — excitement by the arrival on are dead. Let decomposition take place. . F riday last from Geld Tut of a crowd Friend Judd, will you see to this of the “purest and best of that place, M. Brenan. . marching in single file and crowing JusSeven vials which bad contained. tily, The pas proved to be under Prussic Acid were found, one of which . arrest for robbing hon-rooste. Saturday half emptied was zrasped in the left . was devoted to the trial when nearly the hand of Mr. B’s corpse—the others entire population of Gold Hill poured in empty. to see how justice is administered at the THE FAMILY. County Seat. The day was also obThe high social position which the served asa holiday by many of the funparties held in our midst, and wherever loving of our citizens. Justice Ander. they were known, has added greatly tu. son presided with becoming gravity at the intensity of feeling and interest the Court Honso ; and the best legal which the event has produeed. Mr. B. counsel obtainable participate with eywas aman of high intellectual culture, ident gusto in the affair. We have no having beena graduate of Trinity Col-. space for the rich evidence elicited or lege, Dublin. Mrs. B. was alsoa lady . the racy remarks of counsel. It is reof very superior intellectual and social . ported, however, that one of the latter, endowments, she spoke some four or five with more frankness than prudence, stalanguages. he children were beauti-. ted that he himself with a gentleman of ful, intelligent and exceedingly interest-. the jury and another high in authority, ing. They had been residents of Grass. had been, not long since engaged in a Valley for the past year and a half, and similar foul affair. during that time Mrs. B. in particular,} The would-have-been charge to the had acquired the love of all who knew jury we append for the edification of the * her, by her amiability, her good sense . legal fraternity : . and her kindly disposition. ‘The most ““Gentlemen of the Jury :—The law perfect union:existed between the hus-. governing this case cannot be question: band and wife, and both at all times. ed. It has often been decided both in exhibited the greatest affection for their . the courts of England and also in this children. All who have been intimate . country that chickens are property and with them unite in saying that a happi-. as such are the subject of larceny; and er family could not be found. It was. the evidence in this ease raises a legal this very intensity of affection whieh . presumption most hazardous to these decould not bear to see the beings he idol-. fendants. It has been shown, however, by the defence that in the vicinity of the alleged crime the law is not thus construed, and although the authorities cited by the prosecution affirm that igThe only reasons which his friends . »rance of the law is an offence it becan assign for the rash act, are those . comes my duty to inform you that this which he himself sets forth in the letters . #" cient doctrine has been most suecesswhich he has left. His morbid fear and . fully exploded in this State by the desensitiveness of the approbrium which cision of Judge Burnett in the case of public opinion might attach to his acts the slave, Archy. You will, therefore, in reference to the ill suceess of his min. teke this enlightened decision as your ing operations—the constant wear of guide and find, first, whether the defendmind oceasioned by his heavy liabilities . ats knew that chickens were froperty in this place, and the dread of being unand that the taking in the night, as is ableto provide for the wants of a famihere in proof, was stealing. You will ly he so dearly loved. next determine whether this is the first : offense of this character comnritted by Man Hone sy a Mos.—The hanging the defendants, for in the humane spirit of the negro Bracy, at Auburn, on the of Fudge Burnett displayed in the case 19th inst., by a mob, is an event that no above cited, you should hot enforce the good citizen can countenanee. Placer . ‘*Y rigidly in the first instance. county has no need of such exhibitions. _ It has been suggested that one of the The laws are there maintained. She . defendants is lame and that they all has good, honest and efficient officers. one ~~’? home. Take these matters There is no complaint on that seore. . '"t° consideration, for in the enlightenThe plea of necessity in this ease will ed policy of Judge Burnett, if you let not answer. It was a wanton trampling them off now they will probably be pack upon the laws which should be sacredly — But while this Court may? in respected till found to de powerless, in this instance recommend lenity, we the hands of corrupt or inefficient men, would also suggest the propriety of and no chance of reform presents itself sternly enforcing the rule of law in all to the calm and wnobstructed vision of a. future cases. Give ’em Jesse, and let suffering community. the sanctity of the hen-roost be henceIt is not to be denied that in all probforth maintained inviolate, ability the negro int2nded and attemptAs I observe several political aspied to take the life of Murphy. Still . "ants among your number, I would sugthere may a doabt arise as to the prov-. est as a measure of policy, the proprioeation. It might have been bitter. ety of your determining the principle The facts should have been brought out . °"¢ Way and the case another. as far as possible in a legal manner, beThe oath you have taken to decide: fore a court and jury, and the negro. according to the law and evidence is been given the benefit of doubts like . @bout the same as that administered to other criminals. We will, however, say the Supreme Judges aud is generally in justice to the mob that the reputed . egarded as a mere form of law.” bad character of their victim, the fact. The Jury decided that had some peothat he had killed a Chinaman ow near. pl? taken the chickens under like cirized know adversity, that maddened the brain of a loving husband and doating father, and thus brought on the terrible catastrophe. : é i two ‘eehis < ‘cumstanees the cri y minds! what avast difference between . ly the same spet two years ago, and the crime would have been his ideas and mine! Oue thing slightly troubles me—that we may be found before being dead. Make sere of this—I hereby request you to let decomposition appear, or give my body tothe surgeons. This I would desire at any event, as it is the best use I can make of a thing so useless. I fear this cyanite is weak, and may seem to do, but not do its work. Keep us all many days, till all is swre—mistakes have happened. {There was no date to any of the letters, and no signature to this.] LDTTEB TO MR. JOHN D. BOYD. My Pear John :—Massachusetts Hill has fairly beaten me, and I am tired out and doubtful of the future, so that I take a sudden leave ofall. I don’t see any'singalar cireamistance that in both this. larceny; but as some of the defendants .cas2 and that of Murphy no witness was. Were young, one of them lame, and all in sight, gives color to the opinion on. of them up to taking chickens in the which the mob hastily acted that'‘the. "ight it should not be considered theft. negro was an artful and designing mur-. They further recommended that the }derer, and gives countenanee also, in} prosecuting witness pay the cost. ‘some slight degree, to their summary . proeeedings. A gentleman of standing and great influence was found with a horrid wound in the back of his head, inflicted with a pick, the brains were oozing out, the perpetrator had a stain upon his character of the darkest dye— these circumstances naturally enough Tus Haneine at Monrerey.—We sare informed froma most intelligent source, that the hanging of Jesus Anastasia by the under Sheriff was accordmg to the advice ofthe lawyers at that place, and in accordance with the opinion of Judge Hester. The aet was not that of a mob, in the usual signifieation ofthatterm. The citizens were summoned as a police, the mistake m the name being a very serious matter to the under Sheriff, Mr. Poole, whw is considered there a good man, and has a family. The man, our information says, richly deserved hanging, and it was a excited the deepest indignation, and hurried the guilty wretch to an ignominious end. San Francisco Minstrets.—This thing worth struggling for. There is. most excellent troupe made their apclose on $100,000 . ue, and [I never. pearance last night at Frisbie's Theater would feel easy till all was paid, If I. to @ full house Probably there is no ever made the money myself, I would . Company of Negro Minstrels in the world feel bound to pay it—so there is no very . more deserving of success. Composed good prospect for me or mine. No man of the inimitable Backus, who does up knows what I have suffered the last few . the comie mm ‘brown style. Wells and weeks—meeting so many I owed and. Campbell, the finest vocalists of their unable to pay. I have drawn so many kind, Mike Mitchell, whose “essence of into this-—poor old Delano—no one ean . old Virginny” and daneing generally 1s know the pain I suffered in refleeting on hard to beat, George Coes, an old Nevahim and others. He was always so dan and favorite banjoist, John Kelly good natured and cheerful. the violinist, and C. Henry the ballad . E don’t blame Chevaunne much. He . singer, the troupe cannot fail to give enhas a great deal risked, and a poor show . tire satisfaetion. Go and see them. for it. But he has broken faith with me—better he had not. I am grieved about you too. I hope you may get your meney, though I fear it. Mr. Martineau wilt attend to the business. There are several men whom ean. ning. The native brought the broadnever forget—poor Kenedy, Ben Orde, McDonald, Brooks, John Dwnn—T'aylor is a gentlnman in greasy clothes. . But Massachusetts Hill has spoilt all. A third attempt with a new pantomime In a few minutes I and my poor folks, will, please God, be all right. have no doubt of, This I . the desired article was on an elevation Tur Sian Laneuace.—A carpenter recently sent his Hawaiian assistant to an adjoining building for lis pipe, but not speaking the native language he made use of signs to explain his meaax. Dispatehed again with fresh instruetions, he got no nearer the pipe than a keavy saw-horse which he deposited before the lover of the weed.— of explanations illustrating the fact that ae about five feet high, produced a crowbar, and then the would-be smoker gave God bless you, my dear old school . i up.—Com ate, Honolulu. i pity there was any interference, though it was undoubtedly from human motives. Upon the whole, it was a very mixed up affair, and caused: much excitement and bitterness of feeling — Union. A Rousing CommManper.—That was a high old winter of 1849. Everybody did about as they pleased and got tight without fear of favor or affection. We remember one day when it was raining great guns, a Pike county chap by the name of Sam Doyle, came pitching out into the mud from a grocery, where he had been playing old sledge for whisky at fifty cents a drink, and being considerably “hilarious,” he imagined himself the military chieftain of ail creation, and assuming the attitude of Belial in Paradise Lost, and turning his face towards the murky heavens, he shouted at the top of his voice—“Attention the universe! by kingdoms—on right intoline wheel—quick time—mareh!” It is useless to add that the order was nod obeyed.— Index. The Philadelphia Ledger has discountenanced the word “telegraph,” and places over its Latest News column no longer “l'elegraphed to the Ledger,”’ but “Morseographed,” &e. A “dispatch” is no longer a dispatch—bat a “Morseograph.” t . ' = a 4 20-0 > -— i i) ov a fie Oo 2 ae eee ef

<= ~eorded. obtains at Patterson and vicinity. The *edada Sournal. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 26th. Taxing Mintnac CLaimMs.—An esteemed friend of oursat Patterson expresses surprise at our endorsement of the suggestions of Judge Williams made at a county meeting not long since, relatite to taxing mining elaims. Those suggestions were simply that a tax be levied of, say, $10 upon each mining claim, by the payment of wkich tax the owner of the claim should be deemed as having a title for one year and be exempt from working one day out of every ten, a regulation imposed upon miners in some districts. Our Patterson friend informs us of what we were not before advised, that in some districts this regulation is unknown, a claim on whicha certain sum has been expended, not being liable to forfeiture, in such districts, when not ina workable condition and when said claim is duly registered or reWe suppose this regulation Tlie making of laws to govern the ‘working of mines, whether by the Legislature or the miners themselves presents'some unpleasant difficulties. Left to the miners in their local communities it is easy to see that the power to make laws protecting themselves in their tights is liable to abuse. The right to hold a claim of a certain size by working on it one day in ten in one district is “extended in another giving toa very few all the ground of any value by the expenditure of, say, $200. And if $200 why not $20, or even $5; it is but an extension of privileges which, if the miner is to have absolute power to make regulations to hold and work his claims, he has doubtless, a right to avail himseif of. If a claim of one hundred feet can be secured to an individual for ten days, why not an acre or a mile for six months oreven a much largertime? The principle carried out to its fullest extent is productive of the most unbearable monopolies. It operates unequally upon different portions of the mining region according to the sense of justice or avarice of loeal communities, whereas all laws should, as near as practicable, be Some of difficulties arise uniform in their application. the same or similar when we imagine the State legislating for the mines. There is one point to which we would The Constitutiou of the State says decidedly‘ direct the attentioa of our friend. “The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a Senate and Assembly, which shall Le designated the Legislature of the State of California.” We will suppose a case involving the validity of mining laws be taken to the Supreme Court. Is it not extremely probable the decision would be that no Court is bound to take cognizanee of any laws but those passed by the Legislature, the only law making power under the Constitution? Suppose a ease decided in this manner, what would beeome of loeal regulations, and how would a miner Hold his claims but under the common law or by force? And if by the common law, what common law but the English which is not appkeable to this eountry but to a limited extent. The question then arises for the eonsideration of miners, is it not better and safer to allow the Legislature, the only power to claim legitimate authority over the subject, to establish some reliable law on which the miner can rely in case of necessity than to wake up some fine morning and ‘find himself at the mercy of a Court and exposed to the uncertainties of law, or rather no law at all. We are aware that some dangers are run by allowing the Legislature to tamper with mining rights, but the query may be safely put whether a few uniform and simple laws, general in their application, might not be beneficial to mining interests. lf as miners we are incurring a risk at the hands of the Supréme Court, as some gentlemen versed in legal lore say we are, can we not better ourselves in adopting and carrying out the suggestions of Judge Williams, or some other feasible project ? “We are interested in mining ourselves and can have peeuniarily no other than the mining interest at heart. It occurs to us however, that there should be some power hizher than that hitherto exercised by a few individuals in a mining camp: ome power to check Iveal monopolies and a tendency to abuse privileges conceded to the inhabitants of each separate hill, bar, ravine. gulch, &c., in the State, some conservative and equalizing force if no otherto preserve to the miners as muchas the best interests of the countr¥demand from the hands of capitalists and for the benefit of the workmg men of the mining region. Mivirary.—lIt will bseen by reference to a notice in another column that the Nevada Riile Company is ealled out by orde: of the Captaiu, to assemble at the Court House this morning at 10 o'clock, to atteud at the executien of David Butler. Correcrion.—In the correspondenee of **Justice” last week two material errors we committed by the “devil” to .the injury of the sense. The letter theref re as it is priated isto be taken m some parts cum grano salis. Last Letrer oF Davin BuTLer.— The following is a copy of the last letter of David Butler, read by himself aloud in his cell and copied by his permission by a friend in the corridor, on the day previous to hisexecution. The account of his life to whieh he refers. is the one issued from this office, a copy of whick he has had in his cell for a few days past, and which he acknowledges to have been written at his dictation, and declares to be wholly true. After a perusal of his statement, anda slight acquaintance with Major C. Bolin, (for that is his real name,) we cannot find it in our heart to pronounce him a bad man. Nevapa, Cat., Feb. 24, 1858. Dear Frienp:—I received your letter of the 17th of January, on the 22d of this month. You can imagine my feelin,» be:'er than I can describe them. I can confidently «ssert to you that my only trust is in God. I have been wronged in this world and I expect to be righted in the next. WhenI read your letter I wept like a child. My misfortunes have been great, but I always have been honest in my dealings ; but I confess that I have strayed from my parents’ advice, but in this case which has brought me to an ignominious death I am bound in justice to my feelings te say that I eould not help resenting the insults that were heaped upon me without a cause. I had given no cause for the insults. I was a man at that time, and feel to be a man at this time in the eyes of God. I feel that I have made my peace with Him and am ready to go when He calls on me. I never considered myself a murderer, I can safely say to you that I am not. There was a man killed, and by my pistol, but not intentionally. Iam inno cent of willful murder. You may see in time an account of my life as I have written one. If so, vou can believe it all, for I took the pains to have it published before my death so that I might confirm it. Itisnow dark I haveone day more and two nights, and then I trust torest in peace. May my ¢eath be a warning to others that I may leave behind. My prayer is for the dying that I leave behind to come on in time ; that they may see their folly before it is entirely too late. I leave many friends behind me to mourn the loss of a true friend. You can find out by writing to A. A. Sargent, Esq., as to my behavior and bearing my punishment, and preparation for my final end. Inform my friends according to this letter. I have been visited ty a number of ladies today and they expressed their sympathy for me. I have received the best of treatment from the officers whom I have been placed under, and have the good will of all of them. I must leave you and bid you a final farewell; and I thank my God for supporting me under these serious circumstances to be enabled with strength and composure of mind toinform my friends of my fate and bid them a final farewell, and do it with my own hand. Look on me asa dying man, and believe what I have told you. My trust is in God and I believe I am prepared for my fate; and may I meet my friends in a spiritual land where we will part no more. I will conclude by saying, may God be merciful to all. This is my last and I return my thanks to you all. Farewell, the last time on this earth! I remain your obedient and affectionate friend, M. C. Bourn. “X. Y. Z.” of the North San Juan Star, devotes considerable space to us ina late number of that paper, only a small portion of which we propose to notice. These last letters of the alphabet want to know, why, we didn’t report a bill while Senator from this county, giying to the District Judge power over indictments. We have already given a very good reason, but as “X.Y Z.” does not appear to understand, we will repeat and explam In the first place, no such bill was ever introduced, for reasons we shall presently see. Consequently no such bill was ever referred to a committee of which we were a member, for as . to report. Inthe second place, we did not introduce a bill of that eharacter, because being sworn to support the Constitution of the State, we found no warrant in that instrument to allow the District Court any power over the action of aconcurrent Court. “X. Y. Z.” talks very familiarly about law, from which fact we judge him to bea pretended lawyer. He ought to know, however, that the Supreme Court has decided some time since in confirmation of the view of the Constitution above expressed. Let our voluminous correspondent of the Star grapple with the Constitu‘tion of the State, and we will try to help him in our feeble way; but we advise him by all means to read it first. Favors.—We are indebted to G. W. Welch, of the Alta Express. and Pioneer Bookstore, for daily files of papers. No mail arriving on Weduesday, his fa. Vors were invaluable. Rewieiovs.—On. Sunday evening next Rev. Mr. Dryden will deliver a . discourse on the life and death of M. €. Botia, atthe Methodist chureh. L Tue San Juan Tracepy.—The circumstances attending the killing of Reyholds at North San Juan, on Saturday evening last, as brought out in evidence before the coroner's jury and the court, before whom Mr. Moore was examined charged with being accessory to the murder. are substantially these : A man named French, in whose employ the murderer, Northup,and his wife had been, reported himself as having eavesdropped and discovered an improper intimacy between the deceased and Mrs. Northup. Circulating his report, it reached the ears of the parties most nearly affected, and Reynolds charged French with lying, insulted and left him. Reynolds had previously attempted to find out the author of the report, and his efforts had brought out a card in the Star from Moore, designed, as Moore stated. to call Reynolds out, and its character would seem to imply anything but a friendly disposition toward Reynolds. A short time after Reynolds had encountered French, Moore and Northup entered the room where the former was. Moore had obtained a pistol a few minutes before he entered the room. Reynolds shook hands with Northup ; while Moore then said to the former that French was innocent of having cireulated the report, Northup fired at the breast of Reynolds, who retreated and was followed Five shots were fired in all, the last one into the back of Reynolds while ke was lying on his face and probably dead. Afterthe fatal oecurrence Moore came out of the Hotel in which the tragedy was enacted, with a knife in his hand and said the “black hearted son of a ought to have been killed long ago.” He also told Northup that “he fired too quick as he wanted to give Reynolds a piece of his mind first.” Moore also testified before the coroner’s jury that he purposed avenging the wrongs of his friend in publishing his card in the Star. These cireumstances left no doubt on the minds of many who heard the testimony, of the . complicity of Moore in the affair. After nearly three days spent in the examination, and speeches of lawyers, patent-Justice Johnson drew forth from his pocket @ written opinion, all cut and dried, four pages in length and read it to the astonished auditory, concluding with a discharge of the prisoner Moore ! Northup gave himself up soon after shooting Reynolds and was put in the charge of two deputy Constables who pledged their lives to bring hin: forth next morning, but both fell asleep and in the morning the murderer had left, and has not been discovered since. We are assured there is a clique at San Juan, the members of whieh are bound to each other by some mysterious tie, not masonry or Odd fellowship, which dictates and controls publie sentiment at that place, and holds the lash of subjection over all not of its kind. This is supposed to account for the extraordinary developments in connection with the most cowardly and bloody affair. Davip BurLer, THE DOoMED.—The sentence of the law is to be executed today on the person of David Butler, between the hours 10 a. M. and 4 P.M. The doomed man bears up under the trying circumstances attending him without repining, cheerful and sensible. We visited him in his cell a few days since and found him apparently no more care worn, or different in person or conversation than three months since. He talked calmly of his approaching exit from the world, of his hope for the future, and said he was reconciled to his fate. He spoke tenderly of a sister, of home and its endearments, and said in his dreams he often wandered there. He sleeps well, and is seldom troubled with unpleasant thoughts. His appetite and health are very good. He has been more than thirteen months in irons. A full and eorrect aecount of hrs life, embracing the affair at Downieville, which brought him to the gallows, his flight to Oregon, his service in the army there. his adventures in attempting to escape detection, his surrender, drowning of Jackson, &c,—all highly interesting, and taken down at his dictation by A. A. Sargent. Esq.,—will be issued from this office, to-day. The book will contain sume fifty pages of narrative and a correct portrait of the condemned. Rep Doc.—By the politeness ef Mr. Burke, we are in possession of the following items from Red Dog. Wednesday of last week a negro prostitute was assaulted by a man familiarly called Shorty, who was fined by Justice Bejole $10 for the act. While the trial was in progress the negro woman's house was entered and $18@ and a revolver taken. On the next day a party of peaceable and hard working miners returned at noon from their work and found their cabin burned to the greund and robbed of $750, the fruit of their industry. Last Monday, as a gentleman of Rough and Ready was on his way from Red Dog to Nevada, he was met by a robber at the big hill who presen:ed a pistol at his breast and demended his money. Luekily he had but Sis on his person at the time, by givin which he was allowed to proeeed. 7s The diggings at Red Dog are paying generally well. The Dutch Company cleaned up 49 ounces on Monday last, the produet of the labor of four men ten days. Frow the Grass Valley Telegraph—Extra, Feb. 23. AWFUL TRAGEDY! FIVE PERSON$—-A FATHER, MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN POISONED! Our usually quiet town was thrown into a state of great consternation about seven o’clock on Sunday evéning last, by the astounding iutelligence that Mr. Michacl Brenan, President of the Mount Hope Mining Company, had destroyed, by poison. kis entire family, consisting of a wife and three children and then administered the fatal drug to himself! ‘The poison used was the most ceztain and deadly of any known— Prussic Acid. As the terrible news became generally known, the street leading to the scene of the tragedy became thronged with people, drawn thither by curiosity or interest in the fate of the unhappy sufferers. FINDING OF THE BODIES. The last that was seen of any of the pasties about the house was about 11 a. M.on Sunday. Mr. Brenan about that time managed to get all the members of the family into the house and closed and securely fastened the doors and. windows from all communication from the outside, or from the servant’s apartments. They thus remained until after dark, supposed by the servants to be asleep. Not being able at that time to arouse

them, the door was forced open when one of the most appalling and heartrending sights was disclosed, which has ever fallen to the lot of man to witness. APPEARANCE OF THE BODIES. The dining room and servants’ apartment is separated from tLe other part of the house by an open passway. ‘T'o the right of this, as a person enters, is a lodging room, nursery and sitting room, all connected with each other by doors opening from one tothe other. In these three apartments the bodies were found. One of the children was found ona bed . in the bed-room, another on the bed in the nursery. and in the sitting room, upon a lounge, reclining as if in sleep, lay the body of Mrs. B., her husband lay upon the floor by her side, and immediately at his feet, also upon the floor, lay the body of the little boy, the same which is noticed in the testimony before the Coroner as having run out of the house screaming, frightened probably by the sight of its mother, which it had no doubt seen, as she lay a corpse upon the lounge. The acid, which is almost instantaneous in its effects, had bee administered to each one separately, in different rooms, aud a pillow, no doubt, immediately pressed upon their faces to smother .anyr possible outery. When found, the — body, with the exception of that of Mr. B.'s, was covered witha pillow. Mrs. B. was undoubtedly the first victim-—then the children one after the other, the tragedy finally closing with the unfortunate man himself, The cause of this dreadful sacrifice of life was, without doubt, misfortune in business. The company of which Mr. B. was the head and in whsch he had invested all his means, has recently been unfortunate, and he had been compelled to assign the property to one of the principal creditors. This he did some two months since. The letters which were left by the unfortunate man, and which we give below, betray a long contemplation of the event, and the utmost coolness and determination in carrying out his resolve. The evidence rnd attending circumstances show most conclusively that Mrs. B. was an unconscious party to the dreadful tragedy. How the poison was administered to her is and ever must be a mystery. THE VERDICT. An inquest was held over the bodies on Monday morning, by F. W. Thayer, Esq., acting as Coroner, when the following verdict was rendered :—~ We, the undersigned, jurors, find that . Michael Brenan came to his death by Prussic Acid, administered by himself, and that Dorinda Brenan, his wife, and Ellen, Robert and Dorinda, his children, came to their deaths by Prussic Acid, administered by said Michael Brenan, under Temporary insanity. J. MeMurtrey, E. W. Heywood, Wm. Bettis, J. H. Henderson, John Blackford, Lucius I. Roland, E. McLaughlin, Justus Lockwood, James Fitton, Thomas Lloyd, A. B. Brady, S. D. Bosworth, H. D. Cady, Sam’l Brigham, G. C. King. The ages of the parties are as follows: Mr. B. was about 38 and his wife 30; the children 4}, 3 and 2 years respectively. We append the foliowing letter addressed to Mr. Martinea.x, the Seeretary of the Company. It is without date : Mr. Martineau :—I leave you power of attorney, will and bill of sale of all my personal effeets, and the house. The power that you may do the best you ean for yourself, the other two papers that you may have the house, which is justly yours, and that you may turn anything that is mine iato money, whieh send to Robert Thallon, Hanover Bank Building, N. Y. city, for the use of my mother and sister, who are left destitute. This is my only regret in leaymg—otherwise Iam very happy in going with my beloved wife aud children to where I have no doubt we shall have a better fate than any possible for ushere. I have written to Thallon & Satterthwait, 33 Throgmorton street, London, about my mother and sister. £1,000 at7 per cent. would make them comfortable. They and a few friends might do something for them—the richer English stockholders. The money the Company owes me would be 4 fortune te them. Suppose you write Sattherwaite a line and tell him what I have risked and lost. Do anything you can that way—’tis my only sorrow. I could continue here could I help them. But I feel it is quite impossible henceforth. For ten years they have had nothing but what I have sent them. If any money of mine can be got out of the concern, send it to Mr. Thallon for same purpose. You will find lists of attachmerts, confessions and noves in my pocket memorandum book. See that Mr. Judd loses nothing by the Woodville affair. I would not have him lose a dollar on my account. Tell him I remember him as a true and noble hearted friend. I am glad you remain to tell all the world that I have, in all, done what was right and honorable, as far as I could see it, at thetime. “The proof is to die.” No other would ever clear me. Did I live and ever do well, many would believe I had acted basely here—and this would make life bitter. There is a little money, the last I have, in the left hand drawer of this desk. Send it to Thallon for my mother and sister—don’t mind burial expenGrass Valley owes me and my family enough earth to cover ns, and that is all we want. Tell Chavaune I do not blame him~ poor fellow! he has a great risk, and is ses. trying tosaveit; he would have done better by being more precise to his word. As it is I think the creditors should at onee have the property. But I do not blame him. I think his acts of the last few weeks have been done under half madness I would like to mention many whose kindness I have felt. Mr. and Mrs. Rush ; that good little Mrs. Solomon— her sweet good face cut me to the heart, knowing the loss I had, in some sort brought on her interest ; although, like others—like you and myself/—I thought all would be well. I do not feel that I have misled or deceived any one, (Massachusetts Hill is the deceiver,) but they would all feel that J had done it, which I could not bear. This end I have foreseen for many weeks, but as long as there was a chance of seeing all, I could not leave. That is spoilt. I feel deeply for you too: but there is no use in it—there are so many and so much. Mr. Delano—I know that he can -adly spare his money; vet always so kind with his cheerful, good-natured face. Do not let him lose if you can help it. I hope I may remember this and such things. I myself had to leave, and it was cowardly to leave my poor wife and children behind—so they come with me. I ought to mention with pleasure the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Atwood. Ido not let my thoughts run behind my Grass Valley days, for then there would be no end, and my strength might fail me. One thing pleases me fer your sake all will understand when I did not, what Mr. Sylvester termed to-day, “take eare of myself,” that yow did not. In this your exculpation may be found. It almost makes me sinile—now, tkat phrase of his—what a difference in human Poor Tuts Fowt Afrair— “All my prety ones? I id yousay, all? O, hell-kite!—all? What, all my pretty chi¢kens, and their dant, fellow, I must stop this or I will get too weak. M. Brenan. The following note was also found among the papers without address, exAt one fell swoop ¢” [Shakepeare. cept in the body of the note, as follows: . Our town was thrown into a state of “Do not bury us until you are sure we — excitement by the arrival on are dead. Let decomposition take place. . F riday last from Geld Tut of a crowd Friend Judd, will you see to this of the “purest and best of that place, M. Brenan. . marching in single file and crowing JusSeven vials which bad contained. tily, The pas proved to be under Prussic Acid were found, one of which . arrest for robbing hon-rooste. Saturday half emptied was zrasped in the left . was devoted to the trial when nearly the hand of Mr. B’s corpse—the others entire population of Gold Hill poured in empty. to see how justice is administered at the THE FAMILY. County Seat. The day was also obThe high social position which the served asa holiday by many of the funparties held in our midst, and wherever loving of our citizens. Justice Ander. they were known, has added greatly tu. son presided with becoming gravity at the intensity of feeling and interest the Court Honso ; and the best legal which the event has produeed. Mr. B. counsel obtainable participate with eywas aman of high intellectual culture, ident gusto in the affair. We have no having beena graduate of Trinity Col-. space for the rich evidence elicited or lege, Dublin. Mrs. B. was alsoa lady . the racy remarks of counsel. It is reof very superior intellectual and social . ported, however, that one of the latter, endowments, she spoke some four or five with more frankness than prudence, stalanguages. he children were beauti-. ted that he himself with a gentleman of ful, intelligent and exceedingly interest-. the jury and another high in authority, ing. They had been residents of Grass. had been, not long since engaged in a Valley for the past year and a half, and similar foul affair. during that time Mrs. B. in particular,} The would-have-been charge to the had acquired the love of all who knew jury we append for the edification of the * her, by her amiability, her good sense . legal fraternity : . and her kindly disposition. ‘The most ““Gentlemen of the Jury :—The law perfect union:existed between the hus-. governing this case cannot be question: band and wife, and both at all times. ed. It has often been decided both in exhibited the greatest affection for their . the courts of England and also in this children. All who have been intimate . country that chickens are property and with them unite in saying that a happi-. as such are the subject of larceny; and er family could not be found. It was. the evidence in this ease raises a legal this very intensity of affection whieh . presumption most hazardous to these decould not bear to see the beings he idol-. fendants. It has been shown, however, by the defence that in the vicinity of the alleged crime the law is not thus construed, and although the authorities cited by the prosecution affirm that igThe only reasons which his friends . »rance of the law is an offence it becan assign for the rash act, are those . comes my duty to inform you that this which he himself sets forth in the letters . #" cient doctrine has been most suecesswhich he has left. His morbid fear and . fully exploded in this State by the desensitiveness of the approbrium which cision of Judge Burnett in the case of public opinion might attach to his acts the slave, Archy. You will, therefore, in reference to the ill suceess of his min. teke this enlightened decision as your ing operations—the constant wear of guide and find, first, whether the defendmind oceasioned by his heavy liabilities . ats knew that chickens were froperty in this place, and the dread of being unand that the taking in the night, as is ableto provide for the wants of a famihere in proof, was stealing. You will ly he so dearly loved. next determine whether this is the first : offense of this character comnritted by Man Hone sy a Mos.—The hanging the defendants, for in the humane spirit of the negro Bracy, at Auburn, on the of Fudge Burnett displayed in the case 19th inst., by a mob, is an event that no above cited, you should hot enforce the good citizen can countenanee. Placer . ‘*Y rigidly in the first instance. county has no need of such exhibitions. _ It has been suggested that one of the The laws are there maintained. She . defendants is lame and that they all has good, honest and efficient officers. one ~~’? home. Take these matters There is no complaint on that seore. . '"t° consideration, for in the enlightenThe plea of necessity in this ease will ed policy of Judge Burnett, if you let not answer. It was a wanton trampling them off now they will probably be pack upon the laws which should be sacredly — But while this Court may? in respected till found to de powerless, in this instance recommend lenity, we the hands of corrupt or inefficient men, would also suggest the propriety of and no chance of reform presents itself sternly enforcing the rule of law in all to the calm and wnobstructed vision of a. future cases. Give ’em Jesse, and let suffering community. the sanctity of the hen-roost be henceIt is not to be denied that in all probforth maintained inviolate, ability the negro int2nded and attemptAs I observe several political aspied to take the life of Murphy. Still . "ants among your number, I would sugthere may a doabt arise as to the prov-. est as a measure of policy, the proprioeation. It might have been bitter. ety of your determining the principle The facts should have been brought out . °"¢ Way and the case another. as far as possible in a legal manner, beThe oath you have taken to decide: fore a court and jury, and the negro. according to the law and evidence is been given the benefit of doubts like . @bout the same as that administered to other criminals. We will, however, say the Supreme Judges aud is generally in justice to the mob that the reputed . egarded as a mere form of law.” bad character of their victim, the fact. The Jury decided that had some peothat he had killed a Chinaman ow near. pl? taken the chickens under like cirized know adversity, that maddened the brain of a loving husband and doating father, and thus brought on the terrible catastrophe. : é i two ‘eehis < ‘cumstanees the cri y minds! what avast difference between . ly the same spet two years ago, and the crime would have been his ideas and mine! Oue thing slightly troubles me—that we may be found before being dead. Make sere of this—I hereby request you to let decomposition appear, or give my body tothe surgeons. This I would desire at any event, as it is the best use I can make of a thing so useless. I fear this cyanite is weak, and may seem to do, but not do its work. Keep us all many days, till all is swre—mistakes have happened. {There was no date to any of the letters, and no signature to this.] LDTTEB TO MR. JOHN D. BOYD. My Pear John :—Massachusetts Hill has fairly beaten me, and I am tired out and doubtful of the future, so that I take a sudden leave ofall. I don’t see any'singalar cireamistance that in both this. larceny; but as some of the defendants .cas2 and that of Murphy no witness was. Were young, one of them lame, and all in sight, gives color to the opinion on. of them up to taking chickens in the which the mob hastily acted that'‘the. "ight it should not be considered theft. negro was an artful and designing mur-. They further recommended that the }derer, and gives countenanee also, in} prosecuting witness pay the cost. ‘some slight degree, to their summary . proeeedings. A gentleman of standing and great influence was found with a horrid wound in the back of his head, inflicted with a pick, the brains were oozing out, the perpetrator had a stain upon his character of the darkest dye— these circumstances naturally enough Tus Haneine at Monrerey.—We sare informed froma most intelligent source, that the hanging of Jesus Anastasia by the under Sheriff was accordmg to the advice ofthe lawyers at that place, and in accordance with the opinion of Judge Hester. The aet was not that of a mob, in the usual signifieation ofthatterm. The citizens were summoned as a police, the mistake m the name being a very serious matter to the under Sheriff, Mr. Poole, whw is considered there a good man, and has a family. The man, our information says, richly deserved hanging, and it was a excited the deepest indignation, and hurried the guilty wretch to an ignominious end. San Francisco Minstrets.—This thing worth struggling for. There is. most excellent troupe made their apclose on $100,000 . ue, and [I never. pearance last night at Frisbie's Theater would feel easy till all was paid, If I. to @ full house Probably there is no ever made the money myself, I would . Company of Negro Minstrels in the world feel bound to pay it—so there is no very . more deserving of success. Composed good prospect for me or mine. No man of the inimitable Backus, who does up knows what I have suffered the last few . the comie mm ‘brown style. Wells and weeks—meeting so many I owed and. Campbell, the finest vocalists of their unable to pay. I have drawn so many kind, Mike Mitchell, whose “essence of into this-—poor old Delano—no one ean . old Virginny” and daneing generally 1s know the pain I suffered in refleeting on hard to beat, George Coes, an old Nevahim and others. He was always so dan and favorite banjoist, John Kelly good natured and cheerful. the violinist, and C. Henry the ballad . E don’t blame Chevaunne much. He . singer, the troupe cannot fail to give enhas a great deal risked, and a poor show . tire satisfaetion. Go and see them. for it. But he has broken faith with me—better he had not. I am grieved about you too. I hope you may get your meney, though I fear it. Mr. Martineau wilt attend to the business. There are several men whom ean. ning. The native brought the broadnever forget—poor Kenedy, Ben Orde, McDonald, Brooks, John Dwnn—T'aylor is a gentlnman in greasy clothes. . But Massachusetts Hill has spoilt all. A third attempt with a new pantomime In a few minutes I and my poor folks, will, please God, be all right. have no doubt of, This I . the desired article was on an elevation Tur Sian Laneuace.—A carpenter recently sent his Hawaiian assistant to an adjoining building for lis pipe, but not speaking the native language he made use of signs to explain his meaax. Dispatehed again with fresh instruetions, he got no nearer the pipe than a keavy saw-horse which he deposited before the lover of the weed.— of explanations illustrating the fact that ae about five feet high, produced a crowbar, and then the would-be smoker gave God bless you, my dear old school . i up.—Com ate, Honolulu. i pity there was any interference, though it was undoubtedly from human motives. Upon the whole, it was a very mixed up affair, and caused: much excitement and bitterness of feeling — Union. A Rousing CommManper.—That was a high old winter of 1849. Everybody did about as they pleased and got tight without fear of favor or affection. We remember one day when it was raining great guns, a Pike county chap by the name of Sam Doyle, came pitching out into the mud from a grocery, where he had been playing old sledge for whisky at fifty cents a drink, and being considerably “hilarious,” he imagined himself the military chieftain of ail creation, and assuming the attitude of Belial in Paradise Lost, and turning his face towards the murky heavens, he shouted at the top of his voice—“Attention the universe! by kingdoms—on right intoline wheel—quick time—mareh!” It is useless to add that the order was nod obeyed.— Index. The Philadelphia Ledger has discountenanced the word “telegraph,” and places over its Latest News column no longer “l'elegraphed to the Ledger,”’ but “Morseographed,” &e. A “dispatch” is no longer a dispatch—bat a “Morseograph.” t . ' = a 4 20-0 > -— i i) ov a fie Oo 2 ae eee ef