A man without past does not have future

A man without past does not have future

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A man without a past does not have a future. In this context, it is vital for one to be aware of the historical happenings as they can be of importance to the individual. Some historical events attract attention than others that depends on the importance of the event. Generally important things are those that draw ones attention, which means that things that do not seem important to one, because they don’t attract our attention, are actually important to someone else. Bearing that in mind, no past event can be of any importance, as they happen for a reason. In history, important events are those that have facts that can be seen. Some historians have committed their time in some historical events, that they consider important than others, if that judgment is not based on sincere judgment but on personal preference then those are rationale judgment. Generally something is regarded as important if it calls for ones attention. The connotation here is something that is important needs to have some value. In history, the question that is considered is the intrinsic nature, time, and the essential importance of the event. The other thing that is considered is the outcome of the event and the effects of the event activities on the years to come. In that respect, all past events have some value, reason as to why they took place, and their effects can be felt several years later. The study of historical events is vital as each event is unique, and is of importance to some section of the society, even if the historical events do not affect one directly, they are just as important as the events that have an impact on us.

Vigilantes were mainly groups formed by members of a particular community. The community set up the vigilance committees, to help keep in check criminal activities within their areas of residence. The vigilante committees were formed after the community felt that the law enforcers were not doing enough. Frequently the communities that felt they were under threat of the criminal gangs, came together to form the committees which arrested, charged, and prosecuted the criminals. In most cases, the vigilante used crude methods of arrests, charging, and prosecution of the criminals. The committee’s main punishment was hanging and at times extradition of the criminals.

During the great gold rush of San Francisco, thousand of people went to San Francisco to join in the seeking of riches. With time various crime gangs emerged. The small number of law enforcers that comprised of one constable backed up by six conservators could not handle the crime gangs. The gangs would start fires in order to distract the people to go and put out the fire as they robbed their houses, and some people whom they found in their houses. The gangs that included groups such as the Sydney Ducks and the hounds took place in looting, murder, daily brawls, and even robbery.

On the 15^th of July 1849, a strong group of 230 men volunteered to form a police force to help in fighting crime, under the authorization of Alcalde Thaddeus Leavenworth. The formation of the police force did not help much as more and more people came into the area overwhelming the police force. On the 9^th July 1851, a group of local people came together, and formed a vigilance committee with an intention of eradicating crime. The vigilance committee arrested wrong doers, formed mock trials that resulted to a number of people convicted of various crimes being hanged. The committee was effective in reducing the rate of crime, although some people were not in favor of the methods used by the committee. The committee was disbanded after two months of existence. A few years after the committee was disbanded the rate of crime shot up once again.

Following deportations of criminals, and hanging of some by the vigilance committee that was formed in the year 1851, the rate of crime reduced, but after the disbandment of the committee crime surfaced again. By the year 1856, the rate was so high, even public officials were corrupt. By 1856 the crime rate was so high that the only defense left was an independent press that was fearless, and would write about the criminal elements. From 1822-1856, James King William was the editor of a local paper the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, a paper which was bold enough to expose the criminals. The paper also insistently pursued a campaign against the criminals. In the year 1856, the deaths of two prominent person lead to the formation of the vigilance committee.

James was born on the 28^th January 1822, He was the last born in the family, he called himself to,” (“James King, son of William”). This was to distinguish himself from other people called James king who were living in the same town of Georgetown. He arrived in San Francisco in the year 1848. After a short time, James made fortunes with which he started a banking business, called James King. The business went on well until 1854, when an agent James had contracted to purchase gold dust for him, but the agent bought dust of no value. In the end, James closed the banking business, and he became an employee of an express firm. In turn the company that had employed James agreed to pay all James Creditors. That was not the end of James problems the company that had bailed James out also was closed. After the closing, of the company, James with financial help of some friends started a publishing firm.  The firm began publication on the 8^th of October 1855 (the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulleting). That publication would write about criminal activities and the criminals.

Lell Hawley Woolley was born in 1825, in New York City. He went to California and ventured into gold mining, later he took up hotel keeping. Lell went into business and became a member of the committee of 1856. He was an active member of the committee. He wrote down his experiences with the vigilante group, and his thoughts.

Most of the people that witnessed the atrocities of the crime syndicates, before the formation of the committees, and even after, are exaggerating the power that the crime groups wielded. The committee itself was not also sincere as at times it delivered many judgments that were very much unfair. That led to many people joining the committee not because they were supportive of the committee but to avoid the wrath of the vigilante group. Many criminals joined the vigilante group to avoid arrest and hanging. To some extent the vigilante group was not any better the criminal gangs.

Context & Chronology:

After the dissolution, of the vigilante group crime rate in California soared. On the evening of 17^th of November 1855, Mr. Charles Cora, and a United States Marshall called William Richardson, had an argument which resulted in William being shot dead, by Charles. The shooting to death of William took place on Clay Street. Cora was arrested later, and placed under the custody of the City Marshall.

After unsuccessful attempts of inviting James to a duel, a man named Selover resulted to insulting James every evening on his way home. After getting tired of all the insults, James wrote an article about the threats from Selover. In the article, James belittled the gambler, which led to James acquiring more enemies. The case concerning Cora and Richardson held on the 17^th of November 1855, James lost faith in the judicial system after it failed to deal with the case in the right manner.  When the confrontation finally came, it was not with Selover, but with an ex-convict turn politician called James P. The politician was known for cheating in elections by stuffing ballot boxes. He even had a publication Sunday Times even though the politician could not write a word. The politician had two secrets that were very sensitive; one was the fact that he stuffed boxes, and the other being that at one time, he served time at the Sing Sing jail in New York for robbery. Cora had been jailed for 18 months for the crime.

On May 14^th 1856 James published an article referring to a fight between Casey, and Bagley. James went ahead to mention the two sensitive issues that the politician did not want known. In the same evening after t.............