hubert howe bancroft - Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History ...

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 211
while both had figured in the squatter riots, and also
owed him a grudge. Wilson defended himself with
a cane-sword, which he thrust into the lawyer's left
lung. A sheriff named McDonald interfering, disarmed
the judge, whereupon the latter was shot at,
but the sheriff, in endeavoring to shield Wilson, received
the bullet in his own person. A great excitement
arose, and the vigilance committee was called
together. The offender was taken in charge, and placed
on the prison brig, and the committee demanded an
immediate trial. Chief Justice Willis could not preside
at the case because the affray took place at his
rooms. Aldrich, the district judge, could not try him
until he was indicted. It was decided, however, to let
the law take its course, and the wounded man recovering,
the affair blew over. Grand juries were extremely
negligent in bringing evil-doers to trial,
frequently ignoring assaults with intent to kill, and
manslaughter. Men of criminal reputation often
went free for years, committing numerous crimes
against life without being punished."
The difficulty in bringing a cause to trial where the
parties charged with crime were of southern antecedents,
and especially if they occupied official positions,
was illustrated by the ease with which Terry eluded
the law for the Killing of Broderick. A change of
venue to a district where the judge was also a southerner
and sympathizer, a trick to delay witnesses, a
n The Lloyd family were an example. Edward Lloyd shot and killed
Thornton, a teamster, in 1861, at Oroville. He was tried and sentenced to
10 yean in state prison, bnt through a decision of the supreme conrt was
released. In 1862 he waa killed by T. N. Smith, in the fight between steamboat
runners in Sacramento. Smith remained in the county jail six months,
when the grand jury ignored the charge against him. Within an hour after
his discharge he was killed by George Lloyd, who was tried and acquitted;
but was killed in a quarrel over mining claims in Nevada, the murderer being
supposed to be his brother-in-law, Coleman, who was also shot and killed at
Pioche, by Barney Flood, in 1867, the grand jury refusing to indict Flood.
Thomas Lloyd snot and killed a man in 8. F. in 1865, ana was sentenced to
10 years in prison. Sears, an intimate of the Llovda stole a horse, was pursued
and killed. Not long after the owner of the horse was assasinated,
presumably by the Lloyds, or their friends. Four other deaths resulted from
the violence of this ruffianly association, making 12 in all, yet the only one
punished by the law was Thomas Lloyd. 8, F. Alia, April 15, 1871.