Daily Alta California, Volume 19, Number 6418, 11 October 1867 — LETTER FROM FATHER COTTER [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM FATHER COTTER

Editors Ai.ta: I will again trespass on your kindness to reply to the charge made in the tksUu Examiner of 10th October against the statements made by me in your last issue in reference to the connection of E. W. McKinstry with the Aurora Vigilance Committee, in 1864. The Examiner asserts that they are " false in eveiy essential particular." I herewith append the aflidavit* subatantiatitur tlio fact*.

uaiiiig uio iacut. From those affidavit* it is certain— 1. That Mr. McKinstry was a member of the Ex......f1. „ 1'„„,,.,1114.,. I'm- first In Isal

ecuuve i.ouimmee irom nrsi io ii~u. 2. That he had the lives and libertx of conscience of the men in his hands, and oould have saved »__«.

tnem. The Examiner pretends to say the prisoners wero not Catholic*. I must be supposed to be better potted than the editor, and I assert that Daly Masterson and Buckley were Catholics. Again, the Examiner says that it was the work of a mob. This is simply false; there was no mob, but a regular, preconcerted Vigilsnoe Committee, the Executive of which were assembled while the case was before the Coroner* jury and by which the prisoners were taken in charge It wa* not a popular outburst of a day, for its deliberations lasted one week. As regards the resolutions proposed, that was a sham to get men into the organization; some joining under this impression left when the real object was revealed. He a*k* ii I desire to teach San Franoisoo Democrat* their duty? Nothing, was further from my intention. I respect the dignity of an American citizen too muoh. I appreciate the intelligence and integrity of my friends too dearly ever to dictate to their political judgment. I am not actuated by political -motives, nor am I engaged in a political canvas*, but I am defending liberty of conscience, sacred to every true American citizen. Never shall I remain silent when the honor of our institution* are at stake by tho action of publio men who hang out false light* and hoist false color*, in order to sail securely into offioe. A* a Catholic, I viewed thi* matter from a Catholic stand-point, and did not want Mr. McKinstry to boast that he oould hang Catholics one day, and oblige the balance whom he didn't hang to vote for him the next. The Examiner wants to know how I stand on Hou. Judge Cowles. This i* a question foreign to the subject; yet I will state for the satisfaction of the editor that I consider Judge Cowles too high-minded to aid in depriving his fellow-man of the right to exercise his religion at the hour of death. Respectfully, yours, Jamrb S. Cotter, Pastor of St. Rose's Churoh, Sacramento. Sajr F-arcisoo, October lOtb. IW7. State of California, City and County of San Francisoo, ss.— James S. Cotter being duly sworn, depose* and says: That E. W. McKinstry acknowledged to him, on Saturday, the fifth day of Ootober, i 1867, that he joined the Vigilance Committee in Aurora, in the year 1*64, and that bo met at A. M. Wingate'a atore, in Aurora. Jamks S. Cottrr. Subscribed and *worn to before me, this 10th day of Ootober, A. D, 1867. F. J. Thibaui.t. Notary Publio. i State of California, City and County of San Fran- ' oisco. ss.— William Cummingt, of said oity and > county, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he resided at Aurora during the year 1864. when the Vigilanoe Committee were in organisation; 1 that E. W. McKinstry wa* reputed to be a member < of said organisation: that said E. W. McKinstry attended the meetings of said Vigilanoe Committee frequently. Deponent further say* that he taw said McKinstry frequently go into the rooms used by said Committee. Wu. Cuii-ingh. Subscribed andliworn to before me, this 10th day , of Ootober, A. D. 1867. I V .T Tlllllil'l.-. Nnrarv PnKI.A

State of California, City and County of San Franoisoo, ss.— Mrs. Anne Amies Daly, of said city and county, being duly sworn, depose* and say*: 'lhat she resided in Aurora in the year 1864, at the time the Vi.it ance Committee wa* in organisation at that place, and at the time tour men were hung by said Committee for the murder of a man named Johnston; that she wa* informed by A. M. Wingate, the supposed foreman of the Executive Committee of that organization, that K. W. McKinstry did belong to it: that Charles Plummer told bet that he saw said MoKinatry go with seventeen others to read the death warrant, or article* of death, to tho prisoner.-; that she requested permission to visit the prisoner*, to offer them religious consolation and advice, which was at first refused on the night before the men were hung, but that afterwards, during the next morning, the received permission only at the last moment. Deponent further says that, in her opinion, E. W. McKinstry, with hi* influence, could have obtained the respite of four hour* before the men were executed. Arhr A. Daly. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 10th day of October. A. D. 1887.

Slate of California, City and County of San Francisco, ss.—A. C. Morse of said city and county, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he resided at Aurora during the year 1864, at the time the Vigilanco Committee wa* <n organization at thai place; that he knew E. W. McKinstry wa* a member of that Vigilance Committee, and one of the principal leading men of the organization, and wat informed and believe* that laid McKinstry wa* one of the Executive Committee that tried and convicted the four unfortunate men that were hung for the murder of a man named Johnston; and deponent believe* that if tbe said McKinstry had used hi* influence in their behalf they would no! have beeu convicted or executed. A. C. Morsr. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this loth day of October. A. D. 1867.

F. J. Ihihai lt, "Notary I'ublic. —John S. Mocby ha* just bought him a house in Warrenton, Va. -Phwbe Cary has a saw book in pre**.