and poverty-stricken in resources, these men acted merely as footpads, highwaymen, and cheap crooks.  As time went on, however, they gradually became more wealthy and powerful, until they had established a sort of caste.  They had not the social importance of many of the “higher-ups” of 1856, but they were crude, powerful, and in many cases wealthy.  They were ably seconded by a class of lawyers which then, and for some years later, infested the courts of California.  These men had made little success at law, or perhaps had been driven forth from their native haunts because of evil practices.  They played the game of law exactly as the cheap criminal lawyer does today, but with the added advantage that their activities were controlled neither by a proper public sentiment nor by the usual discipline of better colleagues.  Unhappily we are not yet far enough removed from just this perversion to need further explanation of the method.  Indictments were fought for the reason that the murderer’s name was spelled wrong in one letter; because, while the accusation stated that the murderer killed his victim with a pistol, it did not say that it was by the discharge of said pistol; and so on.  But patience could not endure forever.  The decent element of the community was forced at last to beat the rascals.  Its apparent indifference had been only preoccupation.

The immediate cause was the cynical and open criminal activity of an Englishman named James Stuart.  This man was a degenerate criminal of the worst type, who came into a temporary glory through what he considered the happy circumstances of the time.  Arrested for one of his crimes, he seemed to anticipate the usual very good prospects of escaping all penalties.  There had been dozens of exactly similar incidents, but this one proved to be the spark to ignite a long gathering pile of kindling.  One hundred and eighty-four of the wealthiest and most prominent men of the city formed themselves into a secret Committee of Vigilance.  As is usual when anything of importance is to be done, the busiest men of the community were summoned and put to work.  Strangely enough, the first trial under this Committee of Vigilance resulted also in a divided jury.  The mob of eight thousand or more people who had gathered to see justice done by others than the appointed court finally though grumblingly acquiesced.  The prisoners were turned over to the regular authorities, and were eventually convicted and sentenced.

So far from being warned by this popular demonstration, the criminal offenders grew bolder than ever.  The second great fire, in May, 1851, was commonly believed to be the work of incendiaries.  Patience ceased to be a virtue.  The time for resolute repression of crime had arrived.  In June the Vigilance Committee was formally organized.  Our old and picturesque friend Sam Brannan was deeply concerned.  In matters of initiative for the public good, especially where a limelight was concealed in the wing, Brannan was an able and efficient citizen.  Headquarters were chosen and a formal organization was perfected.  The Monumental Fire Engine Company bell was to be tolled as a summons for the Committee to meet.