As a judicial officer, I tried many cases, both civil and criminal, and I dictated the form of process suited to the exigency.  Thus, when a complaint was made to me by the owner of a river boat, that the steamer, which plied between Marysville and Sacramento, had run down his boat, by which a part of its cargo was lost, I at once dictated process to the marshal, in which the alleged injury was recited, and he was directed to seize the steamer, and hold it until further orders, unless the captain or owner gave security to appear in the action commenced by the owner of the boat, and pay any judgment that might be recovered therein.  Upon service of the process the captain appeared, gave the required security, and the case was immediately tried.  Judgment was rendered and paid within five hours after the commission of the injury.

In civil cases, I always called a jury, if the parties desired one; and in criminal cases, when the offence was of a high grade, I went through the form of calling a grand jury, and having an indictment found; and in all cases I appointed an attorney to represent the people, and also the accused, when necessary.  The Americans in the country had a general notion of what was required for the preservation of order and the due administration of justice; and as I endeavored to administer justice promptly, but upon a due consideration of the rights of every one, and not rashly, I was sustained with great unanimity by the community.

I have reported a civil case tried before me as Alcalde.  I will now give a few criminal prosecutions and their circumstances.  One morning, about five o’clock, a man tapped at my window, and cried, “Alcalde, Alcalde, there has been a robbery, and you are wanted.”  I got up at once, and while I was dressing he told his story.  Nearly every one in those days lived in a tent and had his gold dust with him.  The man, who proved to be Gildersleeve, the famous runner, upon going to bed the previous evening had placed several pounds of gold dust in his trunk, which was not locked.  In the night some one had cut through his tent and taken the gold dust.  I asked him if he suspected anybody; and he named two men, and gave such reasons for his suspicion that I immediately dictated a warrant for their arrest; and in a short time the two men were arrested and brought before me.  The gold dust was found on one of them.  I immediately called a grand jury, by whom he was indicted.  I then called a petit jury, and assigned counsel for the prisoner.  He was immediately placed upon his trial, and was convicted.  The whole proceeding occupied only a part of the day.  There was a great crowd and much excitement, and some talk of lynching.  Curiously enough, my real trouble did not commence until after the conviction.  What was to be done with the prisoner?  How was he to be punished?  Imposing a fine would not answer; and, if he had been discharged, the crowd would have immediately hung him.  When at San Francisco,