Ee ee ee Pa PALE LU aanrae ORE ON Siar Cree TR We lt Sid NY Tee te
36 The Fraser River Mines.
a ce a NO Mee OF Ph eee Coe La

9. These two men then, with 12 or 14 others, all fully armed—
the usual weapons worn here being one or two revolvers and a large
knife—came to Yale, suddenly seized Captn. Whannell, who himself
also usually sat in Court with a revolver at his belt, and also the
gaoler, who refused to obey Perrier’s warrant for the delivery-up of
Dixon, the prosecutor. This was all effected with violence no doubt,
but happily without bloodshed or injury to property, although there is
no doubt that had the attack been less sudden and successful not one
of all these men—justice, gaoler, or special constables—would have
hesitated for an instant to use his revolver with the most deadly effect
to carry out his will.

10. But little remains to be told. Captn. Whannell and his gaoler
were both immediately taken before Perrier. The gaoler was dis-
charged as having acted under orders. Capt. Whannell was fined 25
dollars “ for contempt of Court” in Perrier’s Court.

11. Of all these circumstances we were informed at great length
on our arrival at Yale, and partly also on our way thither. Mr. Perrier
was immediately (on Saturday, 15th Jany) sent for, and Your Excel-
lency’s despatch announcing his suspension was communicated to him
on the next day, Sunday, after service in the Court-house read by
the Lieut. Govr and myself as clerk.*® The service was very well
attended. A copy was also affixed publicly at Yale and at Hill’s Bar.
It was also announced that the Lieut. Governor and myself would go
alone on Monday, the 17th Jany, to Hill’s Bar (the sappers having been
all left at Hopetown) to examine into the affair, and summonses were
prepared for that purpose. But on the afternoon of Sunday, the 16th
Jan., McGowan in the town of Yale assaulted one Dr. Fifer—it is true,
without inflicting any personal injury, but with circumstances of great
contumely, although he knew that the Lieut. Govr was then residing
within 100 yards of the spot where the assault took place. Under these
circumstances it was considered right to proceed more formally.
Summonses were issued to McGowan to answer this assault and the
assault on Captn. Whannell, and to Kelly for the latter assault, return-
able at Yale and with full legal notice. And on Wednesday the hearing
took place. On the summons for the assault on Fifer, McGowan
pleaded guilty, expressed his regret and his intention to observe the laws

(46) This was in pursuance of the Governor's decision, as stated to Lytton on January 8,
1859: ‘* Justice Perrier, who appears to have acted in the arrest of his brother Magistrate either
under the influence of fear or fraud, will also be struck off the list of officers.’’ Perrier continued
to mine on Hill’s Bar for at least a year longer.

(47) It was this assault, coupled with the bad reputation of the miners on Hill’s Bar, that
caused Colonel Moody to order up the Royal Engineers from Hope and the marines and bluejackets
from Langley. See note (27), ante, p. 29. Dr. Bifer was of the Vigilance Committee faction
of California; and in assaulting him McGowan was avowedly clearing off some old scores. This
appears later in the letter.