California 1849-1913 | Page 7

Cora. Shortly after this Cora was arrested and
placed in custody of the City Marshal. There was talk of lynching, but
no resort was had to violence. Mr. Samuel Brannan delivered an
exciting speech, and resolutions were declared to have the law enforced
in this trial. General Richardson was a brave and honorable man, and
beloved by all. He was about 33 years of age, a native of Washington,
D. C., and married. Cora was confined in the County jail. We will now
leave this case in the mind of the reader and take it up later on.

Shooting of James King, of William.
On May 14th, 1856, the city was thrown into a great excitement by an

attempt to assassinate James King, of William, editor of the "Evening
Bulletin," by James P. Casey, editor of the "Sunday Times." Both
Casey and King indulged in editorials of a nature that caused much
personal enmity, and in one of the issues of the "Bulletin" King
reproduced articles from the New York papers showing Casey up as
having once been sentenced to Sing Sing. Casey took offense at the
articles, and about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, at the corner of
Montgomery and Washington streets, intercepted King who was on his
way home, drew a revolver, saying, "Draw and defend yourself," and
shot him through the left breast near the armpit. Mr. King exclaimed, "I
am shot," and reeling, was caught up and carried to the Pacific Express
office on the corner Casey was quickly locked up in the station
house[1].
Immediately following the shooting large crowds filled the streets in
the neighborhood anxious to hang to the nearest lamp post the
perpetrator of the crime. Casey was immediately removed to the
County jail for safer keeping. Here crowds again congregated,
demanding the turning over to them of Casey and threatening violence
if denied. Mayor Van Ness and others addressed them in efforts to let
the law take its course but the crowd which had been swelled into a
seething mass, remonstrated, citing the shooting of Marshal Richardson,
and demanding Cora, his assassin, that he, too, might be hanged.
Military aid was called to the defense of the jail and its prisoners and
after a while the multitude dispersed, leaving all quiet.

Casey and Cora Turned Over to Vigilance Committee.
Sunday, May 18th, a deputation of the Committee was delegated to call
at the door of the jail and request the Sheriff to deliver up the prisoner,
Casey. Upon arriving at the door three raps were made. Sheriff
Scannell appeared. The delegation desired him to handcuff the prisoner
and deliver him at the door. Without hesitation, the Sheriff repaired to
the cell of Casey and informed him of the request of the Vigilantes. The
Sheriff, after going through some preliminaries, brought the prisoner to
the front door of the jail and delivered him into the hands of the
Committee. My company was stationed directly across the street lined
up on the sidewalk. Immediately in front of us was a small brass
cannon, which a detachment had shortly before secured from the store

of Macondray & Co. It was the field piece of the First California Guard.
It was loaded, and alongside was the lighted match, and all was in
readiness should any resistance be offered. Other companies were
stationed so as to command the entire surroundings. We marched from
the general headquarters of the Committee at 41 Sacramento street
(Fort Gunnybags), one block from the water front, up that street to
Montgomery, thence to Pacific and along Kearny to the jail, which was
situated on the north side of Broadway, between Kearny and Dupont
streets. Other companies came via Stockton and Dupont streets[2].
Casey was then ironed and escorted to a coach in waiting and, at his
request, Mr. North took a seat beside him; Wm. T. Coleman and Miers
F. Truett also riding in the same conveyance. Another conference was
held with the Sheriff, requesting the prisoner, Charles Cora, who had
murdered General Richardson, to be turned over to the Committee.
Scannell declined and asked time to consider. The Committee gave the
Sheriff one hour in which to decide. In less than half that time the
Sheriff appeared at the door of the jail and turned Cora over to the
Committee. The Committee reached the rooms on Sacramento street
about 2 o'clock. Casey was placed under guard in a room above
headquarters. Cora was also removed to the Committee's rooms in the
same manner as Casey, the Committee having to go back to the jail for
the second time. About three hundred men remained on guard at the
Committee rooms after their removal there.

Fort Gunnybags.
Our headquarters and committee rooms were at the wholesale liquor
house of Truett &