the Vigilance Committee of 1856
The 1856 Vigilance Committee was almost ten times as large as the first one, claiming up to 6,000 members1The membership number varies from 3,000 to 9,000 (or three quarters of all White men in San Francisco) depending on the source. These were drawn, as in 1851, from the ranks of small merchants and laborers. Dedicated to eradication of Tammany Hall-style corruption, it was led by appropriately-named William Tell Coleman2The lovely mineral colemanite is named after him. It is found with borax deposits, such as the ones Coleman mined in Death Valley.. This second Committee adopted the constitution, medal, and banner of the first.
The Committee was arguably larger and better organized than the actual government of San Francisco. They were definitely better armed, having stolen two boatloads of weapons intended for the city militia and robbed the armory3Commanded by William T. Sherman, who resigned after just one week when a mere handful of men showed up to join the militia.. Their first act was to build a fort in front of the city jail, roll out cannon, and demand the surrender of two prisoners - James P. Casey and Charles Cora.
James P. Casey came to San Francisco after a stint in Sing Sing for larceny and ballot-box stuffing. Coincidentally, he was elected to the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors from a district where he did not live, did not campaign, and was not on the ballot. Somehow there just happened to be a lot of ballots with his name as a write-in candidate, all in the same handwriting. In his free time Casey published a newspaper, Sunday Times, as a platform for his pro-slavery views.
These views put him into opposition with James King of William 4His name was James King (, son) of William, but he used the shortened version, editor of the anti-slavery Daily Bulletin. King exposed Casey's criminal past and accused him of election fraud. In response Casey walked up to King in broad daylight and shot him in the chest.
Cora was a kind, amiable, and peaceful man. He ran the Cora House, San Francisco's fanciest gambling house and brothel with his partner, Belle. He shot a violent drunkard in self-defense after days of extreme provocation and was awaiting his second trial, after the first resulted in a hung jury. King's Daily Bulletin declared Cora's first trial to be an example of corruption. Moreover, Cora was Catholic5The Vigilantes did not distinguish between Tammany Hall Democrats, Irish-Americans, and Catholics in general., and city politicians did meet in his establishment6So did everyone else who could afford it. The Cora House was a magnificent place to meet.. That was enough to condemn him. Both Casey and Cora received quick "trials" and were hanged.
The Vigilantes went on with fortifying their offices, arming themselves with stolen weapons, and arresting people, including the California Supreme Court Justice Terry. They murdered two more men7Hetherington, who dueled a business partner and won; and Brace, a common murderer and exiled two dozen or so from California8Many, including Justice Terry, ignored the sentence of exile before holding a victory parade and reforming as the People's Party9Supporters of legitimate government, including Col. E. D. Baker, formed the opposing "Law and Order" party. which, in one form or another, continued in power for a generation.
1The membership number varies from 3,000 to 9,000 (or three quarters of all White men in San Francisco) depending on the sourceThe membership number varies from 3,000 to 9,000 (or three quarters of all White men in San Francisco) depending on the source
2The lovely mineral colemanite is named after him. It is found with borax deposits, such as the ones Coleman mined in Death Valley.The lovely mineral colemanite is named after him. It is found with borax deposits, such as the ones Coleman mined in Death Valley.
3Commanded by William T. Sherman, who resigned after just one week when a mere handful of men showed up to join the militia.Commanded by William T. Sherman, who resigned after just one week when a mere handful of men showed up to join the militia.
4His name was James King (, son) of William, but he used the shortened version His name was James King (, son) of William, but he used the shortened version
5The Vigilantes did not distinguish between Tammany Hall Democrats, Irish-Americans, and Catholics in general. The Vigilantes did not distinguish between Tammany Hall Democrats, Irish-Americans, and Catholics in general.
6So did everyone else who could afford it. The Cora House was a magnificent place to meet.So did everyone else who could afford it. The Cora House was a magnificent place to meet.
7Hetherington, who dueled a business partner and won; and Brace, a common murdererHetherington, who dueled a business partner and won; and Brace, a common murderer
8Many, including Justice Terry, ignored the sentence of exileMany, including Justice Terry, ignored the sentence of exile
9Supporters of legitimate government, including Col. E. D. Baker, formed the opposing "Law and Order" party.Supporters of legitimate government, including Col. E. D. Baker, formed the opposing "Law and Order" party.
The Committee was arguably larger and better organized than the actual government of San Francisco. They were definitely better armed, having stolen two boatloads of weapons intended for the city militia and robbed the armory3Commanded by William T. Sherman, who resigned after just one week when a mere handful of men showed up to join the militia.. Their first act was to build a fort in front of the city jail, roll out cannon, and demand the surrender of two prisoners - James P. Casey and Charles Cora.
James P. Casey came to San Francisco after a stint in Sing Sing for larceny and ballot-box stuffing. Coincidentally, he was elected to the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors from a district where he did not live, did not campaign, and was not on the ballot. Somehow there just happened to be a lot of ballots with his name as a write-in candidate, all in the same handwriting. In his free time Casey published a newspaper, Sunday Times, as a platform for his pro-slavery views.
These views put him into opposition with James King of William 4His name was James King (, son) of William, but he used the shortened version, editor of the anti-slavery Daily Bulletin. King exposed Casey's criminal past and accused him of election fraud. In response Casey walked up to King in broad daylight and shot him in the chest.
Cora was a kind, amiable, and peaceful man. He ran the Cora House, San Francisco's fanciest gambling house and brothel with his partner, Belle. He shot a violent drunkard in self-defense after days of extreme provocation and was awaiting his second trial, after the first resulted in a hung jury. King's Daily Bulletin declared Cora's first trial to be an example of corruption. Moreover, Cora was Catholic5The Vigilantes did not distinguish between Tammany Hall Democrats, Irish-Americans, and Catholics in general., and city politicians did meet in his establishment6So did everyone else who could afford it. The Cora House was a magnificent place to meet.. That was enough to condemn him. Both Casey and Cora received quick "trials" and were hanged.
The Vigilantes went on with fortifying their offices, arming themselves with stolen weapons, and arresting people, including the California Supreme Court Justice Terry. They murdered two more men7Hetherington, who dueled a business partner and won; and Brace, a common murderer and exiled two dozen or so from California8Many, including Justice Terry, ignored the sentence of exile before holding a victory parade and reforming as the People's Party9Supporters of legitimate government, including Col. E. D. Baker, formed the opposing "Law and Order" party. which, in one form or another, continued in power for a generation.
1The membership number varies from 3,000 to 9,000 (or three quarters of all White men in San Francisco) depending on the sourceThe membership number varies from 3,000 to 9,000 (or three quarters of all White men in San Francisco) depending on the source
2The lovely mineral colemanite is named after him. It is found with borax deposits, such as the ones Coleman mined in Death Valley.The lovely mineral colemanite is named after him. It is found with borax deposits, such as the ones Coleman mined in Death Valley.
3Commanded by William T. Sherman, who resigned after just one week when a mere handful of men showed up to join the militia.Commanded by William T. Sherman, who resigned after just one week when a mere handful of men showed up to join the militia.
4His name was James King (, son) of William, but he used the shortened version His name was James King (, son) of William, but he used the shortened version
5The Vigilantes did not distinguish between Tammany Hall Democrats, Irish-Americans, and Catholics in general. The Vigilantes did not distinguish between Tammany Hall Democrats, Irish-Americans, and Catholics in general.
6So did everyone else who could afford it. The Cora House was a magnificent place to meet.So did everyone else who could afford it. The Cora House was a magnificent place to meet.
7Hetherington, who dueled a business partner and won; and Brace, a common murdererHetherington, who dueled a business partner and won; and Brace, a common murderer
8Many, including Justice Terry, ignored the sentence of exileMany, including Justice Terry, ignored the sentence of exile
9Supporters of legitimate government, including Col. E. D. Baker, formed the opposing "Law and Order" party.Supporters of legitimate government, including Col. E. D. Baker, formed the opposing "Law and Order" party.
