An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 122

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 122
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 122
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 122
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 122

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Flower Festival Society is a unique or- ganization. In the month of April, every year, it holds a festival of a week's duration, at which the display and the decorations are entirely of the flowers grown in Los Angeles County. The exhibits are large and handsome, and these fes- tivals are very popular. The lady managers realize large sums of money, which are devoted to the maintenance of the Woman's Home and the Woman's Exchange. For the former they have built a large, handsome building, contain- ing accommodations for seventy, where working girls and women can have a respectable home at a moderate price.

Among other institutions of a charitable character in Los Angeles are: The Young Women's Christian Temperance Union; the Associated Charities of Los Angeles, for the prevention of pauperism, the promotion of thrift and the relief of the worthy poor; Los Angeles Orphans' Home; Ladies' Benevolent Society; Unione e Frattelanza Garibaldina; Order of Good Templars; Sons of Temperance; Ladies' Aid Society ; Ladies' Missionary Society ; Arion Band of Little Missionaries; the Los An- geles County Hospital; Los Angeles Infirmary (conducted by the Sisters of Charity); St. Paul's Hospital: Southern Pacific Railroad Hospital; Santa Fé Railroad Hospital; French Hospital; and two Orphans' Homes, one non-sectarian, the other Roman Catholic. There is also a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Grand Division Brotherhood of Railway Conductors was organized in Los Angeles, No- vember 13, 1888, with 104 charter members,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

consisting of railway conductors on the various lines centering in Los Angeles; but its gen- graphical scope is the whole of North America. Already auxiliary associations are organized in somne twenty other important railroad centers of the United States, and the total membership is already 2,700. The first grand annual conven- tion was held on September 16, 1889, in Los Angeles. None are eligible to membership but conductors who have served as snch for three years. The chief mission of this fraternity is the use of all honorable means in its power to prevent the hiring by railway companies of men for brakesmen who lack the qualifications neces- sary to make respectable, competent and intelli- gent conductors.

The Rifleros de Los Angeles, Pantaleon Zava- leta, Captain, were established March, 1873; the Los Angeles Guard, September 8, 1874, Captain James Bartlett. The Eagle Corps was organ- ized June 9, 1881. Its first officers were: W. H. H. Russell, Captain; Hamlet R. Brown, First Lieutenant; E. G. Barclay, Second Lieu- tenant. In the spring of 1883 the discipline of this company grew lax; some of the members regarded the enlistment as boys' play, others were guilty of non-attendance, ineligibility and drunkenness. For these causes thirty-three members were court-martialed and dishonorably discharged froin the service; notwithstanding which the company grew large enough to be divided, and accordingly in 1884 a second com- pany was organized. The first became Company A; the second, Company C; the San Diego City Guards were made Company B, and the whole was organized into the Seventh Battalion, N. G. C The following were the officers: W. H. H. Russell, Major commanding; A. M. Green, Captain and Adjutant; Cyrus Willard, First Lieutenant and Quartermaster; C. N. Wilson, First Lieutenant and Commissary; J. D. Gil- christ, First Lieutenant and Inspector of Rifle Practice; T. M. Plotts, First Lieutenant and Ordnance Officer; Dr. J. Ilannon, Major and Surgeon; Rev. P. W. Dorsey, Captain and Chaplain. The National Guard of California

consists of 4,417 officers and men, all told. There are fifty companies, of which Southern California has seven. Two years since the State appropriated $70,000 for the maintenance of the Guard, and $46,000 more for nniformning the men. The United States appropriates about $60,000 annually for the arming of the National Guard of the different States, and of this Cali- fornia receives abont $12,000 for the purchase of arıns. Los Angeles is the headquarters of the First Brigade, N. G. C., consisting at present of seven companies, each of which re- ceives an annual allowance of about $1,750, or for the present force, $12,250 per annumn. This money goes direct to the several companies, and is disbursed for rent of armory and other ex- penses. The First Brigade consists of one Brigadier-General, with fourteen staff officers; one Colonel, with thirteen staff officers; one Lientenant-Colonel, one Major, twenty-one com- pany officers, and 430 men. Brigadier-General E. P. Johnson is in command.

BENCH AND BAR.

The United States Land Commission ap- pointed by act of Congress to pass upon the validity of Spanish and Mexican land grants in California brought here some of the ablest legal talent in the United States. The fees in these cases were large, and many fortunes were founded upon these claims, as the lawyers in not a few cases bargained for half the lands contingent upon confirmation. The following were the earlier lawyers, who arrived in the order mentioned: Don Manuel C. Rojo, 1849; Russell Sackett, 1849; Lewis Granger, 1850; Benjamin Hayes, February 3, 1850; Jonathan R. Scott, March, 1850. The last four, as well

as Mr. Hartman, were overland emigrants. Law books were very scarce. A brief passage in " Kent's Commentaries," that was found somewhere in town, decided an interesting case between a rich Peruvian passenger and a liberal French sea captain, some time in March, before Alcalde Stearns. The captain lost, but he com- forted his attorney, Scott, with a $1,000 fee, all in

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

$5 gold pieces, as it happened. In 1850 came also William G. Dryden and J. Lancaster Brent, the latter bringing a good library; in 1851, I. K. S. Ogier; in 1852, Myron Norton, James H. Lander, Charles E. Carr, Ezra Drown, Co- lumbus Sims, Kimball H. Dimmick, Henry Hancock, Isaac Hartman; in 1853, Samuel R. Campbell; in 1854, Cameron E. Thom and James H. Watson ("Colonel Jack Watson "); in 1856, E. J. C. Kewen and W. W. Hamlin; in 1858, Alfred B. Chapman; in 1861, Volney E. Howard; in 1865, Andrew J. Glassell and James G. Howard, who arrived on the same steamer from San Francisco, November 27. In 1859, Myer J. Newman was admitted to the bar in September, and Andrew J. King in Oc- tober. Other attorneys prior to 1860 were: Hon. S. F. Reynolds (afterward district judge of San Francisco); Joseph R. Gitchell (in April, 1858. appointed district attorney); A. Thomas and William E. Pickett. Casanueva & Jones advertised December 13, 1851, this being Will- iam Claude Jones, well known in Missouri. Scott & Hayes were partners from March, 1850, until April, 1852; then Scott & Granger; after- ward Scott & Lander. Ygnacio Sepulveda was admitted to the bar September 6, 1862. Be- tween 1852 and 1860, the land questions before the Commissioners and the United States Dis triet Court brought, almost as residents, many distinguished lawyers-HI. W. Halleck, A. C. Peachy, F. Billings, C. B. Strode, William Carey Jones, P. W. Tompkins, Gregory Yale, John H. Saunders, H. P. Hepburn, and many others. Kimball H. Dimmick had been a cap- tain in Colonel Stevenson's regiment, and he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1849. J. Lancaster Brent stood high as a lawyer and a statesman. He now resides in Louisiana, near New Orleans, and represented a part of that State at the late Democratic Na- tional Convention at St. Louis. Lewis C. Gran- ger came from Ohio to Los Angeles; he was a refined, gentle, polite man, a college graduate, a fine lawyer, kind and generous. In 1857 he removed from Los Angeles to Oroville, Butte

County, where he still resides, ripe in age and full of merited honors. Of the early firms of attorneys practicing before the commission, William Carey Jones, a son-in-law of Thomas HI. Benton, only remained a short time, but returned to Washington; "Pat" Tomp- kins, of Tompkins & Strode, born of the poorest of parents in Kentucky, was self-educated, a man of eccentric character, of great ability, and a mnost humorous wit; he remained in California but a few years, and died many years ago; Jon- athan R. Scott was a man of great physical strength, almost a giant, but greater mentally than in body; at the bar he was a tornado; he died in the '60s. Charles Edward Carr was a Lonisianian, a scholarly man, good, jovial, and generous, believing strongly in the code of honor; he left Los Angeles in 1854. I. S. K. Ogier was a South Carolinian; in 1854 he was appointed Judge of the United States District Court of the Southern District of California; he died in San Bernardino County about 1864. His widow, a relative of ex-Senator Guinn, still lives in Los Angeles. Myron Norton was a New Yorker and a graduate of Harvard, who the day after his graduation joined the army and served in Scott's line in Mexico, afterward joining the Stevenson California Regiment, with which he came to California. He was chairman of the judiciary committee of the first Con- stitutional Convention of this State, and Judge of the Superior Court of San Francisco, and in 1855 he was judge of Los Angeles County. The same year he was the Democratic nominee for the Supreme Court Bench, but, this being the Know-Nothing " off-year," he was defeated; this ended his political career. He died in Los Angeles in 1887. General Ezra Drown came here in 1853 from Iowa, where he had been brigadier general of militia. He and his wife and children were passengers on the ill-fated steamner Independence, which was burned off the coast of Lower California in 1853, on which occasion his wife was drowned, pushed by a human brute from the support on which her hus- band had placed her. Drown was a scholarly,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

able and most eloquent advocate. He died here in the '60s.

THE LOS ANGELES BAR ASSOCIATION.

The object of this organization, as stated in the constitution and by-laws, is as follows: " The association is established to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law; to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice; to cultivate social intercourse among its members, and when deemed necessary or advisable to procure and maintain a library for their use." Any attor- ney in good standing who has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of California is eligible to become a mem- ber by paying the regular admission fee of $20, and signing the constitution of the association. The officers are elected by ballot at the annual election holden on the first Tuesday in June of each year; and these are president, senior vice- president, junior vice-president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer, five trustees, and a committee on admission, to consist of seven members. The first regular meeting of the association was held on the first Tuesday in June, 1888, and the constitution provides for monthly meetings to be held on the first Tuesday of every month. The association was organized with fifty charter members, em- bracing the leading attorneys of Los Angeles. The first officers of the association, all of whom were re-elected in June, 1889, were as follows: President, Albert M. Stephens; Senior Vice President, John D. Bicknell; Junior Vice President, Anson Brunson; Treasurer, Robert N. Bulla; Recording Secretary, James A. Anderson, Jr .; Corresponding Secretary, C. W. Pendleton; Trustees, John H. Haynes, H. T. Lee, J. A. Anderson, John S. Chapman, Stephen M. White. Committee on admission, J. A. Graves, W. F. Fitzgerald, R. H. F Variel, H. A. Barclay, Julius Broussean, F. H. Howard, B. W. Lee. Committee on the amend- ment of the law, Stephen M. White, W. P. Wade, James H. Shankland, John S. Chapman,

J. M. Damron. Judiciary committee, James A. Anderson, George H. Smith, Walter Van Dyke, Anson Brunson. Committee on griev- ances, William F. Fitzgerald, Jolın D. Bicknell, J. A. Graves, John Haynes, George J. Denis. Committee on legal education, Lucien Shaw, F. H. Howard, John R. Scott, Bradner W. Lee, Samuel Minor. Committee on invitation and reception, G. Wiley Wells, George S. Pat- ton, Shirley C. Ward, J. D. Bethune, R. F. Del Valle. The Law Library of Los Angeles was established in 1886 as a private enterprise intended for the benefit of the shareholders, but open to subscriptions. The shares are $100 each and about 100 are taken by eighty mem- bers. The library contains $10,000 worth of books, including all the State Reports but four, which are to be supplied in the near future. The Library is situated in the Law Building. The monthly dues are $1 for each member, and they are enough to cover current expenses. The present officers are: James A. Anderson, F. H. Howard, Richard Dunnegan, Lucien Shaw, Albert M. Stephens, Trustees; Albert M. Stephens, President; and H. H. C. Horton, Secretary.

CRIMES.

Los Angeles is not without a record of crimes dark and bloody. After the first spell of the gold fever from 1848 to 1850 a large number of people were drawn here by the good times. The wine, fruit and cattle of Los Angeles found a market in the mines, and money and gold- dust were plentiful. Men from every quarter of the globe, mostly unaccustomed to prosper- ity, and freed from the restraints of home sur- roundings, plunged into excesses of every kind. Gambling, drinking, fighting and other disor- ders ran riot, and crime flourished. This era of crime, common to all new countries, and some- times recurring in older communities, at last ran its course.

In 1851 there came from the north a party of thirty rough men, under the command of one Irving, ostensibly bound for Arizona. They

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

threatened to hang two grandsons of José Maria Lugo, then in jail charged with a murder com- mitted in Cajon pass, Lugo having refused their previous offer to rescue the young men for a certain sum. They were prevented from carry- ing ont their plans by the timely arrival of a military party. About the last of May, this precious gang, then reduced to sixteen, left for Mexico, but while they were endeavoring to kidnap some of the Lugo family near San Ber- nardino, all but one man were slain by Indians, in a ravine west of Timoteo valley.

On October 26, 1854, Felipe Alvitre, a half- breed Indian, was arrested for the murder of James Ellington, at El Monte, and he was hanged January 12, 1855.

On November 8, 1854, Mrs. Cassin, wife of a merchant, was murdered in her own door by a Mexican, who then was pursned and killed in the suburbs.

From a pamphlet by Ben. C. Truman is taken the following account of early lawless- ness at Los Angeles: "Shortly after the cap- ture and death of Joaquin Murrietta, Luis Bulvia, one of his lieutenants, came to Los Angeles County, bringing with him a remnant of Murrietta's gang. Here they were joined by Atanacio Moreno, a bankrupt merchant, who in the reorganization of the party was elected captain, Senati being a member of the same. Society in Los Angeles was in a most disorgan- ized condition. It had been found necessary to equip a company of rangers, who, upon oc- casions, took the law into their own hands, and were always ready to assist in the arrest of malefactors or put down disturbances. In 1854 a party of lewd women, who had but lately arrived from San Francisco, signalized the opening of an elegantly fitted-up bagnio by a grand ball, to which certain men were in- vited. While the revelry was at its height, Moreno, with his gang, numbering eighteen men, swooped down upon the scene of the fes- tivities, surrounded the house, and demanded unconditional surrender. Certain of the party were detailed, who entered the ball-room, and

relieved every man and woman of all the valu- ables they had about them. Leaving, they went to the house of a then resident of Los An- geles, recently deceased, and robbed it in the most thorongli and systematic manner; after which they committed an outrage too horrible for recital. A perfect reign of terror existed. Citizens were under arms; the rangers were scouring the country, but outrages seemed to multiply. But a short time atter the event just narrated the same band made another raid upon Los Angeles, robbed several houses, and carried off a number of Mexican girls.

During one of their forages a deputy city marshal was assassinated by Senati. A price was set upon his head; $1,500 was offered for his delivery at the jail yard, alive or dead. The jailor was awakened one night by a demand for admission. Opening his doors, he found Moreno with an ox cart containing the dead bodies of Bulvia and Senati. Moreno claimed that he had been captured by Bulvia's gang, and that he managed at once to free himself and compass the death of the men whose bodies were in the cart. Bulvia and Senati were identified by the women who had been so cruelly outraged, as members of the party by whom the offense was committed. The re- ward offered for the delivery of Senati's body was paid to Moreno. For a few days he was the lion of the town, and lived royally upon his blood-money. He happened one day to step into the jewelry store of Charles Ducommnnn, who then did business on Commercial street below his present stand, and offered a watch for sale. Mr. Ducommun at once recognized it as the watch taken from the husband of the woman above alluded to, at the time of the assassination. Mr. Ducommun asked Moreno to wait until he stepped ont for the money to complete the purchase. Instead of looking for money Mr. Ducommun made a straight track for the headquarters of the rangers, and in- formed Captain Hope, who was then in com- mand, of the facts above stated. William Getman at once arrested Moreno. He was

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

tried, convicted of robbery, and sent to the State Prison for fourteen years. It afterward transpired that he had killed Bulvia and Senati in the most treacherous manner. He and Sen- ati were left alone in camp, all the other mein- bers of the gang having left on a scout. While Senati was eleaning his saddle, Moreno blew his brains out, supposing he could get his body into town and obtain the reward before any of their companions returned. Bulvia had not, however, gotten out of the sound of the shot which killed Senati. He returned to camp and asked the meaning of it. Moreno told him that Senati's pistol had gone off accidentally. Bulvia inquired where Senati was, and was told that he was sleeping. Distrusting Moreno, he stooped to raise Senati's blanket from his face, when Moreno completed his murderous work by plunging a sword blade through his heart! The bodies of Senati and Bulvia were buried on Mariposa Hill, where they were disinterred in 1886 when excavations were made for the pres- ent county jail. Their bones were carted to the city's dumping grounds.

On October 13, 1854, one David Brown killed Pinckney Clifford in this city, the act causing great excitement. A public meet- ing on the next day was appeased only by the mayor's promise that if the law should fail, he would resign and help to punish the murderer. Brown was tried November 30. The District Court, Benjamin Hayes, Judge, sentenced hin to be executed on January 12,1855. The saine day had been fixed by that court for the execu- tion of Felipe Alvitre for the murder of James Ellington at El Morte. Brown's counsel, J. R. Scott and J. A. Watson, had obtained a stay of execution from the Supreme Court. Public ex- pectation waited for it, but a like stay did not come for the wretched, friendless Alvitre. This still more inflamed the native Californian and Mexican portion of the population. The fatal day arrived, and with it a gathering at the county jail of a great multitude of all classes. Meanwhile, the mayor had resigned. Sheriff Barton posted within the jail yard an armed

guard of forty men. Alvitre was hung-the the rope broke, he fell to the ground.

" Arriba! arriba!" (Up! up!) was the cry from outside; and all was instantly adjusted and the law's sentence carried into effect. Words fail to describe the demeanor then of that mass of eager, angry men. Suspense was soon over. Persuaded by personal friends, the odds against him seeming too great, Sheriff Barton withdrew the guard. The gate was crushed with heavy timbers, blacksmiths were procured, and the iron doors were forced. Within the next hour Brown was dragged fromn his cell to a corral across the street, where, amidst the shouts of the people he uttered some incoherent observations, but quickly was hung from a beam of the corral gate. Another cell held a third person condemned for a later day, but him the crowd did not molest. He was finally allowed a new trial, by the Supreme Court, and at Santa Barbara he was acquitted. It was stated that a week after the lynching an order of the Supreme Court in favor of Alvitre, was received, it having been delayed by various canses.

On May 30, 1856, Nicholas Graliam was hung for the murder of Joseph Brooks in the previous January. A large crowd attended, but there was no disturbance, as he confessed from the scaffold his crime.

In 1856 crime had increased to such a degree that a vigilance committee was organized, with Myron Norton as chairman, and H. N. Alexan- der, secretary. They expelled a great many people, some of whom returned later, and be- came very pretentious folk in Los Angeles.

On January 22, 1857, came the band of Pancho, Daniel and Juan Flores. Through the day they plundered the stores of Miguel Kra- zewsky, Henry, Charles and Manuel Garcia, fin- ishing their work by the cruel murder of the German merchant, George W. Pflugardt. Sheriff James R. Barton, on the night of the 22d, left the city with a party consisting of William H. Little, Charles K. Baker, Charles F. Daley, Alfred Hardy, and Frank Alexander.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Within fifteen miles of San Juan on the San Joaquin Rancho, the next morning, Little and Baker advanced a few hundred yards in pursuit of a man in view on horseback. The bandits, eight in number, sallied out from behind a hillock, killed the two men, and then attacked Barton's party. After a short conflict Barton and Daley were killed, the other two escaping only through the swiftness of their horses, and bringing the news to Los Angeles, where five companies, French, German and Americans, and two of native Californians, were organized; also one at El Monte and one at San Bernardino. A company of United States infantry came from Fort Tejon; and at San Diego, under a warrant issued by the district judge, Captain H. S. Burton placed at the disposal of the sheriff thirty of his mounted artillerymen. These companies sconred the country. One body, under James Thompson, was sent toward the Tehunga, with some of the infantrymen, who were sta tioned near Simni pass as a lookout. Two of the soldiers, hidden behind the rocks, captured a man who had come for water, mounted on a poor horse, unarmed, and only a little dried beef ticd to his saddle. He gave his name as Sanchez, said he belonged to San Fernando Mission, was out hunting horses, and would now go no farther. Taken into camp, Pancho Johnson recognized him as Juan Flores. In accordance with a vote of the mass of the peo- ple, he was executed on February 14, 1857, on the top of Fort Hill, in the presence of almost the entire population. In January, 1858, Sheriff Murphy found Pancho Daniel concealed in a haystack near San José, and he was jailed in Los Angeles. His case came before the District Court, and great delay ensued, owing chiefly to the challenging of successive venires of jurors, the case at last being transferred to Santa Barbara County. On November 30, at about 6:30 A. M., as Richard Mitchell, the jailer, was on his way to Market, he was stopped and inade deliver over the keys of the jail. A piece of artillery was planted so as to bear upon the jail door, and a large number of men marched

from a neighboring corral. The door was opened, and Pancho Daniel was summoned to come forth, which he did with coolness and resignation. At 7:20 he was hung in the jail- yard. The body was delivered to his wife. A coroner's jury examined a number of wit- nesses, and rendered a verdict that he " came to his death by being hanged by some persons to jury unknown."

On September 27, 1857, at the Montgomery saloon, Thomas King and Lafayette King quar- reled over a game of cards, and as the other was leaving the house, Thomas King stabbed him to the heart. He was arrested, tried, con- victed of willful murder, and, on February 16, 1858, hung at the same time as Leonardo Lo- pez, for the murder of Pflugardt.

Late in the evening of March 30, 1857, James P. Johnson, of El Monte, entered the saloon of Henry Wagner, at Los Angeles, evidently bent on making a disturbance. He was at last per- suaded to leave, but returned and shot Wagner dead. After a long and tedious trial he was convicted, and he suffered death at Los Angeles, October 3, 1857.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038