STORIES OF
STANISLAUS
A Collection of
Stories on the History and Achievements of Stanislaus County
By
Sol P. Elias
Modesto, Cal.
pg.
303
CHAPTER XXXV
The Vigilante Era
“We have
made no order we do not mean to enforce: no promise we do not intend to
fulfill. No notice has been given without positive proof that the parties named
were guilty as charged. We take nothing back; apologize for nothing. We wage
war on none but the evil doer. No one, be he laborer,
saloon keeper, merchant or farmer, need fear anything from us as long as he
conducts himself as a law-abiding citizen – but we do intend to make every one
responsible for the gang he keeps around him and protects and supports, and for
the character of the house he keeps. Our work is before the people – they can
see what we have done. Compare the condition of affairs in Stanislaus county now with what they were prior to March 19th
and see if we have done anything good or saved the taxpayers any burdens. But one arrest in Modesto in six weeks; no fights; hardly a drunk.
Our wives and daughters can walk the streets without being insulted or being
pushed from the walk by prostitutes. Our nights are no longer made hideous with
drunken rows; the “Alley” is silent and deserted; and our courts
are no longer blocked with criminal cases and all with no cost to the
taxpayers, but is solely the work of the San Joaquin Valley Regulators.
Modesto,
Cal., April 28, 1884.”
The foregoing
was one of the last proclamations made by the San Joaquin Regulators in Modesto
in 1884. It contains a statement of their purposes and intentions. It gives a
resume of the activities of this organization which worked swiftly and
decisively in the dark to ameliorate peculiar conditions in Modesto which,
because of the dominating influence of certain social and political forces, the
elected officers of the law were powerless to cope with. Containing the
justification of their acts, it was transmitted to and published in the local
press.
Pg.
304
After
its publication, the Regulators as quietly vanished from the scene of their
operations as they suddenly sprang into action.
When
the J. N. McCrellis family, consisting of the father,
mother, and their two daughters, aged respectively nine and eleven years, early
in the year 1883, moved from Mariposa county into Stanislaus and took up their
abode in the small house in the rear of the saloon and home of Joseph Doane on the Waterford road, it seemed that the heavy hand
of fate had marked Doane as a victim. Through all the
tragic events that followed in rapid succession after this apparently
insignificant incident, the shadow of the McCrellis
family hung over the entire drama as it relentlessly unfolded before the public
eye.
Doane's association with the McCrellis family set in motion a series of circumstances
that plunged Modesto into a turmoil of excitement for
several months and caused the courts to try two of the most prurient cases that
ever arose in the county. It was Doane's relations
with the McCrellis family that was the incentive for
the creation of a lynching party at the Modesto railroad station in which J. J.
Robbins was the person sought by the infuriated mob, and for the reorganization
of the San Joaquin Valley Regulators that made the spectacular raid in 1879. It
was Doane's connections with the McCrellis
family that finally led to his death. And it was these episodes that divided
the community into two factions – one to pro-Regulator and the other
anti-Vigilante – with the prospect of an open clash between the opposing
elements, that invited a general clean-up of the town, resulting in the exile
of a number of its citizens, and brought to the city unenviable notoriety as a
village in which lawlessness stalked unmolested.
The
outburst of resentment and indignation that manifested itself in the raid of
1879 left an impress on the community for but a few months. There was no change
in the conditions that continued to exist after the effect of this occurrence
ceased. Modesto was still in the vise-like grip of the rougher elements. On the
Front the old life that the Regulators sought to eliminate flourished without
abatement. There were the brutal pistol duels, the customary bruisings, drunken brawls and fights, the wide open
gambling, the highway robbery, pocket picking, petty thievery, and thuggery, and all the other accompaniments of saloon and
tenderloin control.
pg.
305
The
police were unable to keep the denizens of the Front within the bounds of
decency. The red light districts were as disorderly and as obtrusive as ever.
While
the criminal elements were supreme in Modesto, the saloon faction continued to
be the dominating factor in the county, possessing the decisive power and
influence in the nomination and in the election of all public officials from
the judge on the bench to the least important constable. Delivering the votes
that elected, the saloon received in return protection and non-molestation. In
vain would the candidate inveigh against the saloon activity.
Many a worthy and competent candidate, many a legislative nominee who would
have served the county with conscientious honesty during the saturnalia of
official corruption that in that day prevailed in Sacramento, remained in private
life because the saloon element had been bribed with the money and influence of
the predatory politicians to vote for his opponent.
In
May, 1884, after the San Joaquin Valley Regulators had passed from the scene of
activity, in the Democratic convention that convened in Modesto, the saloon
influence determined the result of the deliberations of this political party as
it had done for many years theretofore and thereafter. Barney Garner, owner of
the “Golden Sheaf” was the leader of the saloon forces in the convention and a
most formidable candidate for sheriff. On the first ballot, the vote stood:
Barney Garner, 27 1/2; Pat Manning, 4 1/2; A. S. Fulkerth,
19; R. B. Purvis, 16; Silas Bishop, 28; Humphrey Jones, 10; On the
twenty-eighth ballot the vote was: Bishop, 35; Purvis, 46 1/2; Garner, 17 1/2;
Jones, 2. The decisive vote came on the twenty-ninth ballot. Purvis received
Garner's votes and with them the Democratic nomination for sheriff, the ballot
being Bishop, 37; Purvis, 62; Jones, 2. This incident was typical of every
primary, convention and election until the saloon, with its malign influence,
was removed from existence by the voice of the people who became weary of its
political domination. By the relation of this occurrence no aspersion is sought
to be cast upon the personality or the memory of genial “Dick” Purvis.
pg.
306
He
was a most likable man – a prince among men, a competent official, and
charitable in the extreme. He held the position of sheriff until his death a
number of years later, the entire county mourning his demise. Purvis merely
played the political game according to the rules then in vogue.
While
these were the social and political conditions in Modesto in 1884, a series of
events occurring in rapid succession to a focus in August. In May four or five
Front street toughs and gamblers led by the notorious Joe Buckner, familiarly
known as “Long Joe”, made an unprovoked attack upon two inoffensive Frenchmen
at the “Bridge House,” adjacent to the Tuolumne river bridge south of Modesto.
These Front street habitues clubbed the Frenchmen
with their own guns and nearly killed them. There was much excitement over this
affair among the farmers living in the neighborhood of the bridge. It gave rise
to what was called the “Bridge House Riots,” a struggle in which no one was
killed though much bad blood was engendered and many blows exchanged. “Long
Joe” was sentenced to serve a term in the penitentiary for his crime, leaving
behind him a beautiful young wife and an infant child. In August a gambler,
known as “Munn” murdered in cold blood a sixteen-year-old boy by the name of
Case at Turlock. This wanton crime created even greater excitement than the
so-called “Bridge Riots.” The lynching of both Buckner and Munn was openly
broached and was circumvented by the vigilance of the officers.
Within
a short time after the murder of Case the public was startled by the
disclosures in the Doane and the Robbins cases. Doane was accused of misconduct with the elder McCrellis girl at his home whither she had gone at his
request and with her mother's consent. She remained with Doane
for three days and nights. The McCrellis family had
previously removed to Modesto, where the father had eked out a precarious
livelihood as a casual carpenter. All being of a low order of intelligence and
shiftless in the extreme, they led a life of almost naked poverty. Nothing was
known of their antecedents. They bore a questionable reputation. Robbins was
charged with misconduct with both girls and with others in his office in the
Brown building.
pg.
307
Both
men were taken into custody. They secured the services of the best legal talent
in Modesto and Stockton, gave bail and were released.
As
the alleged details of the two cases spread throughout the community, feeling against
the accused became bitter. The first definite step taken against either of them
was on the afternoon of the 18th day of August, 1883, when Robbins
was expected to return in charge of officers from Lathrop whither he had fled
on the morning of his arrest after having given bail furnished by his attorney
and another citizen. It was not until that afternoon that the reported outrage
of the two girls was generally known and the seriousness and the magnitude of
the charges against Doane and Robbins realized. It
was an exciting day in Modesto, the parallel of which had never before nor since been seen in this city. There was subdued
whispering among the small knots of men gathered at the street corners. As Doane possessed an unsavory reputation, the story against
him was readily credited. Robbins' good standing in the community secured him
temporary immunity. Later in the day, however, a revulsion
of feeling took place against Robbins. Several hundred armed men, some
possessing rope of goodly size, gathered at the railroad depot and with
eagerness awaited the arrival of the afternoon train from the north. It was a
vengeful and determined mob that greeted the train. Had Robbins returned to
Modesto, he would have been lynched. A telegram had been sent to the officers
at Lathrop warning them of the ominous situation. As a consequence the prisoner
was taken to Stockton and lodged in the jail there. The vigilance of the
officers cheated the mob of its contemplated victim. There was apparently no
desire on the part of the mob to take summary action against Doane on this occasion, for his case was mitigated by the
fact that the elder girl had willingly submitted to his embraces. As a measure
of protection, the sheriff hustled Doane into the
county jail for safety.
After
this episode Modesto assumed its wonted aspect of quiet. Feeling subsided. The
orderly processes of the law were permitted to take their usual course.
pg.
308
Without
the knowledge of the public or of the officers, the San Joaquin Valley
Regulators, under the leadership of their former “Captain” - the citizen who in
1879 had marched in the van of the black masked and armed platoon from the
darkness of “No Man's Land,” between Ripperdan and
Modesto into the gleaming night lights of Modesto's tenderloin and closed
forever the notorious dance halls, depopulated the bawdy houses of the “Alley”
and razed the Chinese opium joints – quietly reorganized with practically all
their former membership. They sent out the courier as in the previous campaign,
assembled in the now historic warehouse in the northern part of the town,
discussed the developments and prepared for eventualities.
Both Doane and Robbins were given preliminary examinations
before C. W. Eastin, justice of the peace. Doane was discharged, it being proved that the elder girl
was over ten years of age – the age of consent – and had given consent to the
advances of Doane. The younger McCrellis
girl being only nine years of age, Robbins was held to answer before the
superior court.
After
many irritating delays the Robbins case was called for trial in the superior
court on February 11, 1884, Judge A Hewel presiding.
Three days were consumed in the selection of the jury which was chosen as
follows: J. M. Board, Henry Gregg, R. R. Snedeger, J.
M. Watson, J. McGovern, S. LeClert, J. R. Mickey, J.
F. Beausong, C. B. Brooks, A. M. Staniford,
A. R. Anderson and Frank Jenkins. District Attorney J. C. Simmons, W. O. Minor
and General J. R. Kittrelle, represented the state,
W. L. Dudley, of Stockton, and W. E. Turner, of Modesto, two of the ablest and
most adroit criminal lawyers in San Joaquin valley – forcible, persuasive and
eloquent jury pleaders – appeared for the defendant.
Owing
to the widespread interest manifested, the courtroom was crowded with curious
spectators. Additional interest was given to the proceeding by the repeated
claim of W. E. Turner that the case would never reach the jury. When it was
first called for trial in the superior court there was a postponement which
coupled with the statement of Turner created an undercurrent of mild
excitement. On the day of the trial on February 15th, Robbins
appeared early with his attorneys and displayed an air of confidence. He was a
finely formed man, apparently over the age of sixty, with a long flowing white
beard and silvery gray hair.
pg.
309
He
was a newspaper reporter, employed on the Farmers' Journal, edited by W. E.
Turner. He also followed the occupation of real estate agent.
After
the case was called, W. L. Dudley for the defense moved the court that the action proceed with closed doors. The request was seconded
by W. E. Turner. General Kittrelle opposed the motion
on the ground that the evidence had already appeared in the public press and
that none of the ends of justice could be subserved
by the privacy of the trial. Judge Hewel granted the
motion and the disappointed crowd left the courtroom.
Turner's
prediction was rapidly verified. The prosecution's case suddenly collapsed. The
defendant was quickly acquitted and discharged from custody. The principal
witnesses, who claimed to have been violated by Robbins, in addition to the
details given on the preliminary examination, swore to the existence of certain
marks and tattoos on the person of the defendant. Robbins immediately stripped
for examination in the courtroom. No such marks were found on his body. The
attorneys for the prosecution were dumbfounded. They abandoned the prosecution.
This one false statement in a material piece of evidence upset the entire case
of the prosecution. If the girls had lied in this instance, it was evident that
the whole fabric of accusation was false. The principal witnesses having
failed, corroboration was useless. Under the instructions from the court, the
jury acquitted the defendant. This unexpectedly abrupt termination of this
celebrated case became one of the unsolved legal mysteries in the history of
criminal practice in Stanislaus county.
As
the consequence of these mistrials, public opinion became bitter against the McCrellis family, Doane and Robbins.
Neither the people, nor the members of the jury were satisfied with the verdict
in the Robbins case. They believed he was guilty. Doane's
dismissal was held to be a mere evasion of the law.
After
the acquittal of Doane and Robbins, public sentiment in
a large degree subsided but as the days passed persistent rumors flitted
through the community that the vigilance committee had been reorganized.
Despite these reports the chief actors in the salacious drama remained in
Modesto. That these surmises were justified was made evident when Doane, Robbins and the McCrellis
family received notifications to leave the county.
Pg.
310
The
warning to Robbins read as follows:
“March
1, '84.
“J.
J. Robbins: From this date you are notified to leave this county within ten
days of date, fail not on pain of death.
“San
Joaquin Valley Regulators.”
On
receipt of this portentous missive, Robbins posted on the bulletin board in
front of his office a manuscript of which the following is a copy:
“100 REWARD
“Will
be paid for information leading to the detection of the cowardly scoundrel who
addressed me an anonymous letter on March 1st and signed “San
Joaquin Valley Regulators.”
“J.
J. ROBBINS”
The
request for information remained in its place for three days. On being informed
that the “Notice to quit” was only a joke,” Robbins removed his offer of
reward. The notes sent to Doane and to the McCrellis family were couched in identical terms, written
in the same broad back hand chirography on the light brown tinted grocer's paper
bag on which all of the proclamations of the Regulators were inscribed. To
those who were acquainted therewith, notwithstanding the evident attempt to
disguise, the handwriting was identified as that of a well known merchant, a
politician of some note, and once a candidate for the postmastership
of Modesto. The tragic sequel demonstrated the authenticity of the orders.
The
receipt of the message from the Regulators caused Doane
to became violent in language and conduct. Ignoring
the advice of his friends that he transfer his business to his assistant and
leave the community for several months, and being a fearless and desperate
character, he immediately visited Modesto to defy the Regulators. He took
delight in displaying the letter to his cronies on Front street.
They plied him with liquor and advised him to “fight the gang that wanted to
run him out of town.” Thus intoxicated he wandered up and down the streets of
Modesto asserting in a maudlin manner that he was not a coward and that he
defied the Regulators to come and “get” him.
pg.
311
Matching
the word to the deed, he acquired an extensive arsenal for his home and for the
reception of the Regulators. Continuing in his violent course, on March 10, and
while intoxicated, he drew two pistols on W. C. Clark, a highly respected
farmer and the father-in-law of Superior Judge William O. Minor, and would have
shot him, had not Clark used a cane on Doane's body
to good advantage and had not bystanders interfered to prevent bloodshed.
He
placed the visible evidence of his crime in plain view in his bar-room and
flaunted them to the gaze of patrons and passerby, admitting and giving the
shocking details of the outrage in coarse language and coarser jest. With this
evidence in his possession he paraded the streets of Modesto, taunted the
officers and dared the police to interfere. In this scandalous conduct he was
unmolested. It was the brazen attitude and not so much the crime that caused
the Regulators to decree his death.
Rumor
that emanated from an indefinable source at the time of these occurrences, now
recalled by the writer, was to the effect that the death of both Doane and Robbins was decreed by the Regulators at an
assembly held in the warehouse in the northern part of the town, and that at
this meeting the “clean-up” of Modesto's tenderloin was determined. Robbins
escaped by permanently departing for San Francisco. Doane
invited his fate by remaining in Modesto, by defying public sentiment, and by
his drunken utterances and profane4 conduct.
On
Wednesday night, March 19, 1884, the Regulators gathered at the old Dry Creek bridge. It was their intention to take Doane
alive, convey him to the bridge, hang him and leave the body dangling from it.
Twenty-five men were left at the bridge to guard it. Others were scattered
along the road approaching Doane's home. Another
twenty-five, led by the “Captain” - all on horseback – journeyed to the Doane place to capture him. Halting close to the saloon
they dismounted. Seven or eight of them, heavily armed and completely masked,
entered it and pointing their guns at all present, ordered the uplifting of
arms. J. R. Briggs and Steve Girard, who had been playing cards with Doane since their supper with him earlier in the evening,
immediately complied.
pg.
312
Doane started toward the door of the
room in which his arsenal was kept and in which he slept. One of the Regulators
fired. Doane fell dead. Briggs and Girard were
ordered out of the saloon, placed in their buggy and requested to return to
their homes. Instructed to leave the locality, the barkeeper went to Turlock.
Briggs and Girard had been in the neighborhood, conveying cattle to pasture and
on their way home had remained over to dine with Doane.
The
effect of the killing of Doane was indescribable. It
created consternation among an element that had assumed that it was immune from
official molestation. That the Regulators were a living force was evident, and that they intended to execute their threats was
apparent from their course of action. Their membership was unknown. Their
origin, number, plan of conduct, meeting place, their next step and the
probability of their continued operations – these were interesting problems to
Modesto's citizenship. While these matters were being discussed the McCrellis family pleaded poverty, and having been exiled
from the county as indigent paupers, removed to Los Angeles on the day
succeeding the death of Doane.
The
purpose of the Regulators was shown when the following notice was posted on the
numerous trees that then adorned Modesto's business district and sent to over
thirty citizens of the town:
“You
are hereby notified to leave Modesto within twenty-four hours and never return,
under peril of your lives. Remember Doane's fate.
“SAN JOAQUIN REGULATORS”.
“Modesto,
March 21st, halfpast 10 p. m.”
Another
notice contained the general request that all persons, winning their bread by
gambling, living about houses of ill-fame and by means not visible to the
public, leave Modesto by the following Saturday. These warnings caused many to
tread the ragged path of uncertainty, and to impell the flight of the rough element who feared the fate
of Doane. Many departed for the north at once. A
warehouse at Salida housed a number of them for
several days as they journeyed to safer quarters.
pg.
313
Other
remained in Modesto, refusing to obey the dictum of their unknown enemies, and
arming themselves, prepared to resist. Modesto
promised to become a scene of bloodshed. Not a few called loudly upon the
authorities – whom they had theretofore ignored – for protection.
In
response to a telegram sent him, imploring the services of an attorney to plead
with the sheriff, the district attorney and the superior judge in behalf of the
prospective exiles, a well known saloon keeper of San Francisco delegated a man
by the name of Hurlburt to represent the persons
proscribed by the Regulators. This ambassador having arrived in Modesto, he
introduced himself to the sheriff and vigorously demanded that the outcasts be
protected from the so-called mob. Receiving no satisfaction he produced a
petition to the governor, requesting that the latter invoke the aid of the
militia, upon the alleged ground that the county authorities were powerless to
meet the situation. He requested the sheriff to sign this petition. The sheriff
declined. Hurlburt then desired that the sheriff call
out the Hancock guards, a local military organization. The sheriff again
refused. Hurlburt received no assistance from either
the district attorney or the superior judge. He was in fact one of San
Francisco's tenderloin lawyers, and represented that Chris Buckley and Colonel Flourney had sent him to Modesto. He subsequently acted so
boisterously, talked so loudly, and imbibed so freely of liquor that he was
summarily ejected from the bar-room of the Ross House. Thereafter he
disappeared after advising his clients to fight the Regulators.
On
Saturday, April 5th, about ten o'clock in the evening, the
Regulators again appeared on the streets of Modesto. The pedestrians were
ordered to their homes. The Regulators then visited the famous “Alley” which
had revived after the effect of the previous raid in 1879 had worn away. The
inmates of the houses were ordered to depart from Modesto at once. The houses
in the other portions of Modesto's red light district were instructed not to
permit boisterous conduct about them. After these forays the Regulators marched
to Chinatown, followed by Constable Clark who was the only officer in Modesto
who possessed the courage to attempt to ferret out the identity of the
Regulators. In Chinatown, they destroyed all the opium layouts and opium that
they discovered.
pg.
314
As
Clark approached within thirty feet of the Regulators, he remarked: “How are
you getting along?”
“All
right”, was the answer from the “Captain.”
Clark
then went into the wash houses and instructed the Chinese to make no resistance
to the Regulators. As he stepped out from one of these places, the Regulators
cried “Halt” to him. He complied with this request and asked that they do no injury
to the Chinese stores, assuring them that the Chinese prohibited the use of
opium by the whites. The “Captain” approached Clark, who had started to go back
to the center of town. As Clark turned the “Captain” hurled a beef bone at him which struck Clark on the head, cutting a hole in his hat
and a gash over his eye. For the moment he was stunned. Blood flowed profusely
from the wound. Believing himself to have been
seriously injured, Clark hastened away for help, which he received in one of
the saloons. Here he met his son who reproved the father for having the
temerity to endeavor to molest the Regulators.
Remaining
in the town for a considerable period that evening, the Regulators in the work
that they attempted to do hit one resisting Chinaman over the head, but did not
seriously injure him. The women of ill fame who were ordered from the community
sold their furniture at a great sacrifice between the darkness and the daylight
and left for parts unknown.
On
the evening of the second and last appearance of the Regulators on the streets
of Modesto, an amusing incident occurred which for a
time threatened to disorganize their plans for the night. A charming society
belle was the unwitting cause of excitement in the ranks. There was a social
dance in progress in old Rogers' hall at the hour that the Regulators passed up
H street. Several of the participants had just emerged
from the hall and were passing over the bridge which was a part of the exit and
were coming down the stairs when the Regulators passed in review in their
uncanny costumes. This sight so frightened one of the ladies of the party that
she stumbled and rolled into the street under the feet of of
one of the Regulators, causing him to fall and drop his gun. The Regulators
picked himself up and marched on. Recovering her equilibrium, the young lady
rapidly left the locality.
pg.
315
The
wrap she lost in her hasty departure was placed on a pole in the neighborhood.
The Regulators continued in their course.
During
the intervening periods there was exhibited much opposition to the activities
of the Regulators and they received severe criticism. Many of the men who came
under their ban were members of the first families of Modesto. These were more
the victims of the rude environment of the open town than tough characters at
heart. After sowing their wild oats, they adopted other means of livelihood. In
all cases they became successful in the larger affairs of life. Others of the
gang were just hard characters whom the community
could well afford to eliminate from its citizenship. The opposition came from
both of these classes and their friends. The general public was satisfied with
the work of the Regulators and was pleased with the riddance of the
undesirables.
For a
time it was thought that the opposition would develop into an open clash, many
residents having received notices to refrain from censure and opposition.
Despite this antagonism and disapproval, the Regulators went forward in their
mission. One of the notices that the Regulators caused to be posted in the most
prominent places in the town read as follows:
“Modesto,
April 17, 1884.
“Whereas,
On the 21st and at different times since,
certain persons were ordered to leave Modesto and never return, and,
“Whereas,
Many of them are lurking in the vicinity of Modesto:
“Now,
Therefore, all such persons are ordered to leave Stanislaus county immediately
and never return under penalty of death, and all persons are forbidden to
harbor any one ordered to leave, under the same penalty.
“All
gamblers, pimps and prostitutes are forbidden to come into Stanislaus county. Remember Doane's fate.
“SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGULATORS.”
The
Regulators proceeded relentlessly with their program. Later on this day while
crowds were discussing the latest developments in the Regulators' activity, an
affrighted individual joined the men and exhibited the customary paper bag on
which was written:
“Pardee and Dyer: You are hereby notified to leave the town
and never return, under penalty of your life. Remember the fate of Joe Doane.”
pg.
316
Notices
were also posted in Hill's Ferry warning all persons of evil repute to leave
that community.
Even
in this critical time, Modesto was not without its practical joker. Several prominent citizens whose characters and careers were above
reproach, received letters purporting to emanate from the Regulators, requiring
them to perform impossible feats or leave the community. This practice
evoked the following from the Regulators, which was published in the Farmers'
Journal:
“It
is reported that evil minded persons have been sending notices signed 'San
Joaquin Valley Regulators' to a number of citizens of Modesto, including Dr. Tynan, ordering them to leave town and to perform other
impossible deeds.
“Now,
therefore, this is to inform all such persons that if we ever find out who they
are, we will deal with them according to our law.
“SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGULATORS.
“Modesto,
April 8, 1884.”
Probably
the last notice issued by the Regulators was the one addressed to Barney
Garner, who presumably was the leader of the opposition. It read as follows:
“Barney
Garner: This is to notify you that if any disturbance is made, property
destroyed, or persons injured by the gang ordered out of the county, or if any
band is organized to resist the Regulators, or, as has been threatened, any
person's property is burned on the supposition that the owner is a Regulator,
you will be held personally responsible with your life.
“SAN JOAQUIN REGULATORS.
This
letter was published in the News by Mr. Spencer at the request of Garner and
twenty other citizens who accompanied him in his visit to the newspaper's
office. These men desired the Regulators to withdraw the threat, protesting
that under it Garner could be made the victim of his enemies. In publishing the
letter Mr. Spencer deplored the attitude of the Regulators in denying the right
of free speech, and also the evil reputation they had given the community as a
city of lawlessness. Garner, however, was never molested by the Regulators.
pg.
317
This
period of Modesto's history – the reign of the Vigilante – was an exciting era.
The justification of the existence of the Regulators is found in the
accomplishment. Through their activities the town developed into a safer and
more law abiding community. The sturdy men who constituted this extra-legal
band believed that when the fabric of society falls into untoward hands, when
the elected officers are either unwilling or unable to cope with lawlessness
and to afford the protection that the forces of government should give to the
citizen, it is proper to combat lawlessness with lawlessness until the majesty
and the dignity of the law are vindicated. The Regulators left an indelible
impression on the town and county.
Transcribed
by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Elias, Sol P., Stories
of Stanislaus – A Collection of Stories on the History & Achievements of
Stanislaus County. Modesto, CA.
1924.
©
2012 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
STORIES
OF STANISLAUS CONTENTS
Golden
Nugget Library's California Statewide Databases