HOW THEY EXECUTE "JUSTICE" IN CALIFORNIA. [From the "San Francisco Herald,"June 1lth.] A MAN AERESTED FOR STEALING A SAFE.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 560, 27 August 1851, Page 4

HOW THEY EXECUTE "JUSTICE" IN CALIFORNIA. [From the "San Francisco Herald," June Ilth.] A MAN AERESTED FOR STEALING A SAFE.

HIS THIAL AND EXECUTION. Last night a man was apprehended who had entered the store of Mr. Virgin, who keeps a shipping office in Washington block on Long Whaif, and, in the absence of the proprietor, had carried off a safe about two and a half feet square. Shortly after, a boatman met two men with a square package in a bag slung across the shoulders of one of them. The safe was missed — the alarm given— and the man with the safe pursued. He got into a boat and sculled out into the bay, hotly pursued by a dozen boats filled with men. They gained upon him, and he threw the safe overboard. Part continued the pursuit and finally overtook the fugitive, and after a fierce struggle succeeded in capturing him— another portion of the boatmen got a pair of oystertongs and raised the safe. The prisoner was committed to a man who at once carried him up to the corner of Sansome and Bush streets. A few moments before ten o'clock, the citizens were startled by two taps repeated on the bell of the Monumental Engine Houße. It was the signal for the assemblage of the Secret Committee, who have it is understood been organized for the punishment of offenders. In a short time some eighty of the committee assembled and were admitted into the building on giving the countersign. All who did not know the secret pass-word were resolutely excluded. A number of citizens, not members of the society, soon assembled around the building as rumouis of what was going on spread through the city. The number outsids gradually increased, but great order prevailed. For two hours and a half the citizens paced the streets opposite the house without offering any interposition to the pioceedings within. Anxious and excited knots congre- I gated discussing the propriety of the course pursued by the society— some approving and others disapproving it. About midnight the bell of the California Engine House commenced to toll, and struck upon the ear with awful solemnity in the silence of the night. It was the death knell of the prisoner. His judges had condemned him to be hung. Thus was the silence of the night bioken by these melancholy sounds, while the Society within preserved the most impenetrable silence, and tbo.«e without had but vague rumour to found a judgment upon. Immediately after sentence of death was passed upon the prisoner, who gave his name as John Jenkins, he was asked if he had anything to say, he replied \" No, I have nothing to say, only I should wish to have a cigar." A cigar was handed him, and he afterwards asked for brandy and water, which was given him. He betrayed not the slightest trepidation or compunction. It is probable he expected to be rescued up to the moment the rope was placed around his neck. At a quarter before one o'clock, a.m., Mr. Brannan came out and ascended the mound of sand to the east of the Rassette house. The crowd followed, and Mr. Brannan addressed them, stating that he was deputed to inform them of the action of the committee. They had taken the evidence against the piisoner, and that evidence was clear as to his guilt of the crime of which he was charged. Thpy had before them the persons who siw him drop the safe into the water. The committep, after healing the evidence, had decided he should then be punished, and the punishment be death by hanging — the execution to take place on the Plaza in an hour. He called on them as they valued the importance and gravity of the occasion to make no rush or disturbance. — The committee would conduct all things to the entire satisfaction of the citizens. They had sent a request to the clergymen to come and assist the unfortunate man in his preparation for death. He asked the people whether the action of the committee was satisfactory ? A tumultuous cry, mingled with cheers, and some ' noes,' was the response. A Voice in the Crowd. — *' Who ia the speaker?" Mr. Brannan was named. Another Voice. — " Who are the committee ?" This was answered with the cry of "No names ! no names ! " and the crowd broke up, and the greater portion repaired to the Plaza, some remaining behind to see the prisoner taken out. Two and a-half O'Clock. — A clergyman was sent for who remained with the prisoner about three quarters of an hour. A little before two o'clock the committee came from the building, having the prisoner with his arms pinioned, in a ring formed bj a rope around which those entrusted with the execution closely clustered to prevent a rescue. Two men were within the ropes having hold of the arms of the condemned. The procession was formed and the crowd moved slowly up Sansome street to California, thence through Montgomery up to Clay street, thence to the Plaza, where the necessary preparations for the execution had been previously made. Arrived at the flag-staff, some were climbing up it to arrange the baiter, when an earnest cry was raised by some presnt, " for God's sake not to hang him on the liberty pole." The appeal was heard, and those in charge of the execution mounted the beams on the south porch of the adobe — a rope was stretched across between two of the supporters, to the middle of which a block and pulley were fastened, another rope was run through this, with a noose at one end. Volunteers were called for to man the other end. The prisoner, who had not spoken a word as far as we could hear during the whole march and the dreadful preparations going on before him, was taken by his guaid beneath the beam, the noose adjusted arouud his neck, and, in an instant, at ten minutes past two o'clock, he was jerked high into the air and hung dangling from the beam. He was a very tall, stout, heavy man, and bis struggles were violent and continued several minutes. Gradually they ceased, andhe swung slowly round and round. Those who were executing him held steadfastly on the end of the rope — keeping it tense and allowing no interference. They held him thus for twenty minutes, when, no doubt, the effort being very great, or the rope stretching, the hanging wretch impel ceptibly lowered until bis feet hung several inches below the top of the railing. No effort was made to avert his fate. Several hundred persons were on the ground at the time of his execution. When we left at balf-past 2 o'clock, he was still hanging, and a proposition had been offered to appoint a committee to hold him there until day light. He is probably dead at the time of writing this. Four O'Clock. — He is still hanging — dead.