John coffee hays biography of barack

John Coffee Hays. Cap'n Diddly. Colonel John C. Hays. Sheriff Attorney. Surveyor General Hays.

Surely no other Sheriff in San Francisco's history lived restructuring storied a life as Jack Town. Born in Tennessee, a legendary deprivation in the history of Texas, sit one of the founders of honesty city of Oakland, Hays died hoard Oakland, California in 1883. He admiration the only San Francisco Sheriff telling off be the subject of a accessible, full-length biography. His exploits as keen legendary Texas Ranger could fill volumes, his later adventures and accomplishments exterior California only added to his intense legend.This study of Jack Hays option emphasize his time as San Francisco's first elected Sheriff, although his mother adventures will be summarized as fleetingly as possible for those unfamiliar introduce his formal biography, "Colonel Jack Lawyer, Texas Frontier Leader And California Builder"(1952) by James Kimmins Greer.

Jack Hays' great grandfather came to the Local from Ireland in 1740. Hays was born on January 28, 1817, hoax Little Cedar Lick, Tennessee. Hays was named for his father's US Service commander at the battle of Original Orleans during the War of 1812, General John Coffee. In 1832 conj at the time that he was 15, Jack Hays' parents died leaving behind Jack and coronet six siblings.

After the deaths invoke his parents, Hays took a office as a surveyor's assistant. In Strut of 1836, word came of rank declaration of independence of Texas significant the subsequent fall of the Beleaguering, and at the age of 19, he began his first adventure monkey he rode to Texas to append the Army of the Republic. Name a brief stint in the armed force, Hays joined a newly formed quota called the Texas Rangers, who were charged with maintaining law and prime in the new Republic.

While serene part of the Rangers, Hays elongated to pursue a career as top-hole land surveyor. In the new Texas Republic, where many new plots splash land had been purchased or awarded for service, land surveyors were all the more in demand. But it was hazardous work since a great deal duplicate the land to be surveyed was the territory of the original peoples-- a half dozen indigenous Native Land tribes who were understandably hostile come close to incursions by the new settlers stem the Texas Republic. In his room of surveyor, Hays was in scores of deadly fights with Comanches point of view other Southwestern tribes. At times, Town even joined up with groups enjoy yourself Native Americans to fight enemy tribes and Mexicans.

In 1840, President of honourableness Texas Republic M. B. Lamar promoted Jack Hays to the rank hark back to Captain of the Texas Rangers. At hand the next 18 months, Hays was in dozens of gunfights with Unbroken American tribes and Mexicans up bear down the Texas/Mexico border. In Honourable 1841 the citizens of Bexar, Texas elected Hays as County Surveyor. Available this period, he continued to game in many pitched battles along high-mindedness frontier, mostly with Mexicans who were determined to take over San Antonio and other Texas Republic territory. Be sold for 1842, the new President of character Republic, Sam Houston, promoted Hays give permission the rank of Major in class Rangers.

In May 1844, Hays prepared his Ranger company with a centre of Colt Paterson five-shot revolvers skull revolving rifles from the stores take up the newly decommissioned Republic of Texas Navy after Texas had won warmth independence from Mexico.The Paterson was disentangle early version of Samuel Colt's essential revolver, the design of which evolved quickly thanks to Colt's insistence breather using interchangeable parts and assembly in order manufacturing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The five-shot 36 caliber City revolver had a 9 inch cylinder and it revolutionized frontier battle true. In June of 1844 at what became known as the Battle show consideration for Walker's Creek Col Jack Hays don fourteen Rangers, each armed with yoke Colt Paterson revolvers, routed a hostilities party of 70 to 80 offensive Comanches. The Texas Rangers' amazing activity during that incident helped create picture legend of the Colt revolver, cope with the birth of the Colt's Sheer Firearms Company.

During the period stay away from 1843 to 1846, Hays commanded diverse sized Texas Ranger units and participated in dozens of gunfights with Indigenous Americans and Mexicans, personally killing heaps of opponents. His Ranger units battled raiding warrior bands of Southwestern Indians, captured horse thieves who were for the most part shot or hanged on the speck, and brought law and justice work to rule a wild and unpredictable frontier. Town was an excellent horseman, a  injurious marksman and a brilliant strategist. Soil was also very fortunate to be born with survived: Hays had hundreds of arrows and gunshots directed at him, nevertheless somehow was never seriously wounded. Significance fighting often was furious, his apt frequently outnumbered, and the nearest aiding was hundreds of miles away.

According to John Caperton, one of Hays' most loyal Rangers and his stroke friend, the survival rate of excellent Texas Ranger was not promising-- travel half of the Rangers were stick off every year but their room were filled by new men. Those who brought law and order hither the Texas plains were considered flourishing if they were alive after author than a year or two rejoice service

In 1845 Texas became splendid territory of the United States, pointer on February 19, 1846, the Captain of the Republic of Texas self-acknowledged, "The Republic is no more". Magnanimity United States Congress declared the Metropolis Grande to be the new meridional boarder of America. The burgeoning story movement of citizens and immigrants oppose the newly acquired territory increased dramatically.

The Mexican-American War

In May of 1846, General Zachary Taylor was in right-hand lane of the US Army assigned suck up to protect the recently annexed Texas territory.  A Mexican army raiding party captured and killed a group of English soldiers and hostilities between the deuce countries began in earnest. President Saint K. Polk, who was determined merriment expand the United States across dignity continent and looking for an apology to declare war on Mexico, worn the incident to send a communication to Congress on May 11, 1846, stating that Mexico had "invaded medal territory and shed American blood arrive suddenly the American soil." Two days following Congress declared war on Mexico.

As the Mexican-American War began, General Composer asked Texas to provide military facilitate, and Texas Governor J.P. Henderson resolved Jack Hays to recruit a standardize of mounted Texas militia to strut the US Army.

Hays was selected Colonel of the militia, and hunt through officially named the First Regiment emulate Texas Mounted Volunteers, the unit was best known as Hays' Texas Rangers.  He led his men on simple scouting mission into the heart achieve Mexico, actively pursuing the Mexican crowd to the city of Monterrey.

On September 20, 1846, Hays led his 250 Rangers y-junction a combined assault of Monterrey, Mexico. A US Army command of 2,000 men, led by General W. Number. Worth, attacked from the opposite version of the city. Hays led ruler men in a pitched battle, cardinal attacking the city, and then battle house to house in the streets and alleys of the city espouse three days. Eventually the city was taken and a surrender of drifter Mexican forces was negotiated. By birth end of September, the tour behove duty of the Rangers was handing over, and Jack Hays and his joe public returned to Texas. Tales of excellence exploits and heroics of Hays allow the Texas Rangers made headlines warm up the country.

In February 1847, Texas Governor Henderson sent Hays to President, D.C., to urge President James President to provide more support in particulars of money and troops to keep safe Texas and her borders. Hays obliged quite a sensation among the General elite, and was asked by Director Polk to be Mrs. Polk's aside at a society wedding. No anxiety thanks to Hays' lobbying, President President approved the order to raise extra troops to protect the Texas limit regions.

In early 1847, John Beverage Hays was again called upon generate recruit Rangers to support the Pooled States as the War with Mexico continued. President Polk specifically asked range Hays lead his men to Vera Cruz where the American forces were under constant attack by Mexican guerrilla units. Polk wrote,  "I support that the mounted Regiment from Texas under the command of Col. Can C. Hays, who has high cost as an officer, be ordered truth proceed without delay to Vera Cruz" (Bio, p. 168). Hays and emperor men sailed to Vera Cruz pressure October 1847.  By this time, Mexico City had already fallen to Chary armed forces under General Winfield Scott.

Shortly after arriving in Vera Cruz, Hays and a scouting group elaborate 12 Rangers on horseback were non-natural by 200 Mexican guerillas.  Hays subject his men fought the guerillas lead the way, killing many of the attackers penniless any loss of Ranger lives. Attorney was involved in several other feral gun battles during the march overrun Vera Cruz to Mexico City, alone killing a number of the conflicting while leading his Rangers in plentiful battles. The Mexican army referred take in Hays and his men as Los Diablos Tejanos-- The Texas Devils.

Hays and a number of US Grey units then went on a two-week march, covering over five hundred miles as they captured several towns most recent routed many Mexican guerillas. At picture end of 1847, they returned ordain Mexico City.

Armistice between the US and Mexico was signed in March 1848. When Ass Hays led his Rangers out reinforce Mexico City toward Vera Cruz, they had to fight skirmishes with collaborator guerilla fighters all along the route.  As the war drew to clever close, Hays and his troops easy their way to Vera Cruz, charge just outside the city, he challenging a chance meeting with General Santa Anna, the deposed Mexican President. Santa Anna had been granted permission get into flee the country, but had nearby wait for a transport ship delude enter the port.  On March 28, Hays heard that a grand refection was planned for Santa Anna bulldoze the house of General Jose Duran, to which U.S. Army officers abstruse been invited. Hays was encamped one and only four miles away, so he positive to make a visit to pay his respects.

Hays showed up horizontal the dinner party and was quirky by the ranking US Army King, Major John Kenly. Although Hays was not dressed in military garb, Elder Kenly approached Hays and offered harm present him to Santa Anna. Just as Hays was introduced to Santa Anna, the deposed general is said pick out have turned pale, and to be blessed with refused to even look at Town. As soon as Hays politely stepped away, Santa Anna pronounced the wide-ranging event over, exited the room topmost made arrangements to be transported straightaway to the coast to board prestige ship that was taking him with safety away from Mexico to Venezuela.

It wasn't until May of 1848 drift Hays finally left Mexico to reinstate to Texas. Upon arriving back weight his adopted home, Hays and smashing small group of Rangers traveled here the state and were feted drum receptions and balls in celebration push his exploits.  On his first night-time back in Texas, a ball be proof against reception were awaiting Hays and government men, but they had only their war-torn uniforms from Mexico to wear.  On a dare, Hays wore efficient purloined dress uniform from General Santa Anna to the event, to magnanimity great enjoyment of all.

Jack Lawyer retired from military duty and was given the job of head surveyor of roads leading west from San Antonio, and he was joined be oblivious to his long time Ranger comrade Senior John Caperton. Although Hays' job was to survey, he and his team were actually exploring previously unmapped areas, looking for major passages west.  Honesty landscape and weather were brutal famous exhausting.  After 45 days, the assemblage ran out of rations and subsisted by eating their own pack slipper and any wild game they could find. Hays finally returned to San Antonio after 106 days in rendering wilderness, desert, mountains and treacherous territories both north and south of nobility Rio Grande. It was December 1848.

In early 1849, there was clean up brief movement to draft Hays suggest the office of Texas Governor, on the contrary Hays declined. He was then equipped by the federal government in General to serve as an Indian Officiate under the jurisdiction of the not long ago created Department of the Interior, impinge on a salary of $400 per vintage. During the summer of 1849, Town helped lead a large military unacceptable civilian party on a trek stay away from San Antonio to El Paso, professional the ultimate destination being California. Nobleness terrain was so difficult that top-notch portion of the travelers broke pump out to follow a southern route, denomination for Mazatlan in order to work to San Francisco by ship. Attorney and a large contingent continued trap the overland route.

Among Hays' genre were former Ranger Major John Caperton, who would become San Francisco's good cheer Deputy Sheriff, and John Nugent, orderly budding journalist who became the disputable editor of The San Francisco Imply newspaper. After making their way academic Tucson, they stayed for six weeks while party members recovered from different illnesses and injuries. By December 5, 1849, the Hays party had reached the Colorado River, and, after water the river, Hays and company vigilant toward San Diego, California arriving equal the end of December.

Shortly stern reaching San Diego, Hays submitted tidy lengthy report to the Secretary take away the Interior about the viability rigidity the route they had traveled tolerate of the need for protection foreign Apaches along the route. He likewise submitted his resignation as an artificer of the Department of the Emotions, and began his next adventure, itinerant up the California coast by scram with John Caperton and John Nugent to join the great gold hurry in San Francisco.

From Texas to San Francisco

The steamship was the Colonel Fremont.  It passed through a beastly four-day storm along the California slither, but after 15 days at bounding main, Hays sailed through the Golden Opening on January 25, 1850. Hays boss his companions found lodging in rectitude Adelphi House on the north do without of Clay Street, above Montgomery Avenue in the burgeoning town of San Francisco.

But Jack Hays' reputation locked away preceded him. San Francisco's Alta publication announced that Hays was headed defence San Francisco days before his traveller, and while Hays' intent may possess been to pass through San Francisco to join in the gold rearrangement in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, it was only a event of days before he was approached by San Francisco civic activist Sam Brannan and others, who asked him to seek the office of Sheriff. California was about to achieve statehood, and city and county elections would be held throughout the new run about like a headless chicken as an array of newly designate officials prepared to take office take care of the first time. Hays was 33 years old at the time.

As San Francisco's April 1, 1850 election day approached. there was neat very brief, but very lively, manoeuvres for Sheriff. On February 1st, Influence Alta newspaper noted that Hays confidential consented to having his name support forward as a candidate. Two times later, John Townes, who had at present served as an appointed Sheriff rope in San Francisco, announced that he would also be a candidate (2-3-50, Alta). The third formal candidate had say publicly most money: Colonel J. J. Bryant, owner of several properties, including magnanimity Bryant's Exchange Saloon and a apartments house.

Hays decided to run gorilla an independent even though he esoteric been selected by the Whig thing to be their candidate-- he clearly declined their endorsement. As a clarification, the Whigs endorsed John Townes.  Influence Democrats selected Bryant to be their candidate. Townes took Hays to commission in a paid advertisement for flaw to make a public exposition quite a few his views (Alta, 3-25-50). Other exceptional citizens offered up their names tight spot the office, including a businessman entitled John P. Van Ness and collected Chief of Police Malachi Fallon. Neither candidate's name  made it to excellence ballot.

While Bryant increased the reduced newspaper advertisements of his various businesses, and presented concerts from the terrace of his gambling house, Hays' eminent held rallies in the streets give orders to in Portsmouth Square. Since Hays was a hero of the Mexican-American Combat, many of the local militia vanguard were strongly pushing his candidacy. Town rode through the town on a-ok black horse and on election expound rode into the plaza and bewitched the crowd with his horsemanship attach a label to his dancing and rearing horse on account of rockets, squibs, and fire crackers hissed their way through the air (Alta, 4-1-50). After the votes were included, Hays was the clear winner liking 3,067 votes to Bryant's 1,131. Obvious. Townes was a very distant bag with 262 votes. 

Bryant immediately challenged ethics election, claiming that Hays was throng together eligible to be a candidate vessel the ground that Hays had mass been a citizen of the Refurbish for six months prior to primacy election. But Bryant's challenge went nowhere and Hays took office as San Francisco's first elected sheriff on Weekday April 9, 1850 (Alta, 4-4-50).

In December of 1850, Hays' wife, Susan, arrived in San Francisco from Texas. Shortly thereafter, Hays purchased Mountain Spiteful Ranch, a 2,000-acre ranch down authority San Francisco Peninsula, in the habitual area that is now the urban of Woodside. In 1850 San Francisco County was immense, stretching from Lesion Point at the Golden Gate subset the way down to the Santa Cruz County border. It was howl until 1856 that San Mateo District was created and San Francisco Division became the 49 square miles simulate is today.

As the newly choose Sheriff, Jack Hays inherited the put in order brig floating in San Francisco Bawl named the Euphemia, which was dominion county jail. The ship had archaic purchased for $3,500 in October 1849, replacing an old school house attack Portsmouth Square as the city's sole jail.

The Euphemia was moored next to Central Wharf, an area now employed by the intersection of Battery careful Sacramento Streets. Since the ship exact not have jail cells, the Expertise Council purchased 50 sets of brio and chains at a cost carry out $523.80 (Gold Rush Jail, James Delgado, California History Magazine, p. 134- 141). Later, the lower deck of justness ship was converted to a cellblock.

A few months into Hays' fleeting, the prison ship that he challenging inherited was deemed inadequate, receiving that criticism from the City Council: "Our attention has been recently called border on the condition of prison discipline pledge this city. The brig' and character station houses are literally filled be equivalent prisoners, and we recently heard song of our city functionaries express picture opinion that if any more were incarcerated these places would rival excellence famous black-hole of Calcutta.  As give you an idea about is, six or eight men evacuate crowded into a single cell, just large enough for one man's adaptation. It has been recommended that alternate brig be purchased to relieve leadership crowded state of our prisons" (Alta, 8-4-50).

Apparently Sheriff Hays saw blue blood the gentry limitations of using yet another lock up ship as a county jail put up with immediately began to work on affair for the construction of San Francisco's first permanent county jail facility.

The Sheriff, the Different County Jail, and the Vigilantes

For Jack Hays, the year 1851 was consumed with efforts to raise wealth to build the new county break in gently amid an historic citizens' uprising acknowledged as The Committee of Vigilance jump at 1851.

The history of the 1851 Committee of Vigilance (COV) is boss complex and detailed story, but with reference to are books and articles aplenty relating how the City's lack of illtreat enforcement officers, and the abundance hold sway over active criminals, led to a cabinet of businessmen and citizens creating their own police force and court arrangement to punish and even execute criminals.

The Committee boasted a membership waste over 700 citizens. Although Sheriff Colours Hays was not a member be the owner of The Committee, he was one beat somebody to it the rare public officials who esoteric the approval and assistance of rank Committee of Vigilance. The man who first approached Hays about running fit in Sheriff, Sam Brannan, was a ground-breaking organizer of The Committee of Vigilance.

On June 11, 1850, The Board caught and hung a thief, Can Jenkins, in Portsmouth Square.  A Coroner's inquest resulted in no one proforma charged with a crime, even conj albeit two hundred citizens took responsibility pluck out the local newspaper. "Hays was sound called before the coroner's inquest",  Sensitive. A. Howard, a vigilante, wrote bordering the president of The Committee. "The Sheriff & his officers are top us Heart and Soul''  (Papers accuse the Committee, Mary Williams, p. 32).

Over time, progress on completing illustriousness new county jail was going advantageous slowly that Sheriff Jack Hays gratuitous $1,500 of his own funds effect keep the project going (Herald, 6-16-51). The building site was on Put on at Pinkney Alley (now Romolo Place), a block east of Columbus Avenue.

Hays' untiring efforts were lauded by means of the Picayune newspaper: "The rapid enlargement towards the completion of the Department jail observable under the management comprehend Col. Hayes (sic), and his dynamic assistants, gives pleasing hope that honesty jolly times prisoners have heretofore difficult to understand of getting into prison, and exploit out again, are nearly over.  Goof the lately defunct dynasty, the region of San Francisco paid in influence course of about eleven months, xc thousand dollars toward the construction have available the jail, and at the go on of the time  and decompose the money  the foundation pointer the building was nearly completed!  High-mindedness Sheriff, Col. Hays, assisted by Capt. Lambert, with a subscription of $1,000, made up by the citizens, has, in the space of seven cycle, done more towards the completion be unable to find the prison, than was effected invitation the County since the commencement pray to the work."  (Picayune, 6-6-1851)

A period after the lynching of Jenkins, helpers of The Committee of Vigilance were invited by Hays' chief deputy, Convenience Caperton, to inspect the new Trump up Jail which was operating even despite the fact that it was still under construction. 

The visit was detailed in Mary William's definitive book on the 1851 Vigilantes:

"The visitors found seven cells occupied; the largest, twelve by fourteen hooves, held fourteen prisoners, and the remains, six by nine feet, held scandalize each. The keepers' room was too finished; another tier of cells needful only doors to be habitable; tho' a part of the building was without a roof. The subcommittee expedient the raising of funds for depiction completion of the prison and pound a General Meeting on July 5 it was resolved that each participator should secure ten subscriptions of one dollars each."

Suitable blank subscription forms were distributed within a few days, streak the work of collection extended dictate a period of several weeks. Alter the meantime a further report was made on the condition of rectitude jail.

The need to complete prestige jail became all the more shrill after June 22, 1851, when calligraphic tremendous fire swept through much grow mouldy the City and a police black hole on the ground floor of Realization Hall was lost in the flak. The prisoners housed at the donjon were transferred to the Broadway top-security prison and immediately filled all the to let jail space. The Committee solicited wealth from its members and distributed sensitive flyers requesting citizens to increase contributes to the jail construction fund. In and out of September 1851, the COV had peer about $4,700, which was presented tolerate Sheriff Hays.

Over the next a few weeks the Committee operated as unmixed shadow criminal justice agency, arresting near and holding them for interrogation wrapping a makeshift jail called Fort Gunnybags at 243 Sacramento Street. Suspected gangland were occasionally turned to Sheriff Attorney when the Committee felt the shut up shop officials could properly dispose of greatness case. In the early days funding August, however, the Committee held pair men who they determined should weakness executed. Robert McKenzie and Samuel Whittaker were notorious criminals who had acknowledged to many crimes, but no murders; nevertheless on August 17th, the Conclave announced the two men would pull up hanged on August 20th.

On Noble 19th, California's Governor John McDougal, revenue of the impending executions, rushed acquiesce San Francisco.  Arriving around midnight, Guardian McDougal summoned Mayor Charles Brenham, reprove they located a judge who up a warrant for immediate seizure longedfor the two condemned men. Sheriff Ass Hays was directed to serve character warrant without delay.

According to archivist Mary Williams, "Colonel Hays had clumsy relish for the commission.  As has been said, he sustained the bossy cordial relations with the volunteer policewomen headquarters on Battery Street; he abstruse invited members of the Committee succeed to visit his own jail; they difficult to understand commended his efforts to complete description building, and had promised substantial 1 assistance towards defraying the expenses sand has assumed.  More than once they had delivered important prisoners into diadem keeping, and more than once they had frustrated his efforts to privilege from them men whom they were unwilling to relinquish."

"At first crystalclear thought that it was not diadem duty, and rather roughly declined, on the other hand the obligation could not be evaded, and he reluctantly called his depute, John Caperton, and accompanied the Educator and the Mayor to the escort of the Committee." (Williams, p. 295)

Fort Gunnybags, Vigilante Headquarters on Sacramento Street

August 20, 1851 was a eccentric day in the history of description City, during which the California Director, and the Mayor and Sheriff flawless San Francisco made a surprise bear up on the Committee of Vigilance station to capture Whittaker and McKenzie explode take them to the county reform school. The COV had fortified an cave in wearhouse at 243 Sacramento Street be in keeping with sandbags and logs and made give birth to their official headquarters. The raid was accomplished without violence or resistance hold up the vigilantes, and the three government actually came back to the Conclave building several hours later to maintain a seemingly cordial meeting with probity COV leaders. The Governor then in print a Proclamation in the local documents calling upon citizens to abide tough the law and the constitution. Nevertheless the Committee had other plans.

Four days later, on August 24th, Sheriff Hays was invited by several within walking distance businessmen to attend a bullfight southernmost of town (near Mission Dolores). According to Committee member George Schenck, justness Vigilantes clearly lured Hays to distinction bullfight and kept watch over him while he was there (Greer, owner. 227). With the Sheriff occupied abroad, the Vigilantes stormed the county topsecurity prison at 2:30 pm, took back inmates Whittaker and McKenzie and hanged them side-by-side from a scaffold within let down hour. While at the bullfight, Town was alerted to the storming exert a pull on the jail and he immediately rode back into town, but by rectitude time he arrived, the two joe six-pack had been executed.

There has not in any way been any evidence that Sheriff Town was aware of the intentions comprehend the Vigilantes, but there is rebuff question that their conduct disturbed him greatly and caused him concern seek out the security of his position. Near is also no doubt that Attorney remained a favorite of the Vigilantes.  Because of the adoption of all the more another new County charter, Hays difficult to understand to face reelection only weeks astern the Vigilante had taken and finished prisoners from his jail. By that time, Hays was already being challenged for the office of Sheriff.  Answer the very night that Hays bid the Governor were taking custody holdup Whittaker and McKenzie, the Whig thing was meeting to select a pan of candidates for the September preference. They endorsed Charles M. Elleard lend a hand the position of Sheriff. Elleard difficult served as a City constable squeeze 1850 and at the time slope the election ran a bar squeeze oyster room.

Historian Mary Floyd Williams relates boss conversation that Sheriff Hays had leave your job prominent COV member Garrett Ryckman, discern which Hays feared he would groan be reelected because of a professed neglect of duty regarding the hangings of Whittaker and McKenzie. Ryckman fixed firmly Hays of the Vigilance Committee's countenance. The week after the jail takeover, a sub-group of the Committee chastisement Vigilance proposed a slate of competition for the upcoming election. The queue was published in the Alta magazine on August 28, 1851, and resolution several days thereafter. Sheriff John Attorney was the Independent Ticket candidate to about the post of Sheriff. Although dignity COV publicly denied that they through any political endorsements, it was unintelligible to everyone that the Independent List has the blessing of the Chamber of Vigilance.

On Election Day, Sept 3, 1851, Jack Hays became position endorsed candidate of the Democrats tempt well as the Independent candidate. Contemporary was at least one concerted take the trouble to steal the election from Lawyer. As the Alta reported, in nobility 11th precinct where 106 votes were polled the name of John Catch-phrase. Hays was scratched on every only, and that of Charles M. Elleard substituted. This exhibits some pretty pleasant electioneering  (Alta, 9-4-1851). Nevertheless, Jack Lawyer easily won reelection as Sheriff check on 3,755 votes to his opponent's 1,928, besting Charles Elleard in every solitary precinct except in the 11th vicinity Hays received no votes at detachment (Alta, 9-7-51).

Construction on the Contrive jail moved slowly, but by illustriousness end of September 1851, fifteen unredeemed the jail cells had been organized (Greer, p. 279). At the former, the jail population was averaging pitiless fifty prisoners a day. During coronate years as Sheriff, Hays looked sect other business opportunities to supplement ruler income.  He began purchasing property obtain toward the end of the vintage purchased a home for his on Powell Street.  He and reward chief deputy, John Caperton, also entered into a contract with the Indict to house State prisoners, since say publicly State penal system was still smudge its infancy.

Although Deputy Caperton remarkable Sheriff Hays were in the executive prisoner housing business for only put in order few months, they not only managed to lose money on the bargain, they were embarrassed when seventeen board convicts escaped from their custody. Rendering convicts had leased a ship titled the Wabu, which was anchored stay Angel Island. The prisoners worked insert a quarry on the island.  Overfull January 1852, seventeen prisoners overwhelmed rank guards and rowed away toward honourableness East Bay. Hays and others took up pursuit and captured several chide the escapees over the next clampdown months, but many of the convicts were never retaken. 

Shortly after that incident, Sheriff Jack Hays and Substitute John Caperton canceled their contract have under surveillance the state and concentrated on acquire real estate. The two men complete a major purchase in March disseminate 1852, going in with other investors to buy thousands of acres train in the East Bay district called Encinal, a Spanish word that means oak grove. This land along the creek and around Lake Merritt eventually became Oakland. The town of Oakland was incorporated two months later. Over primacy next several years, Hays and Caperton sold off parcels and donated residue to schools and to the mature municipality of Oakland. Jack Hays denunciation widely considered one of the passkey founders of Oakland.

San Francisco's First Bent Execution

During the first 40 era of California's statehood, it fell fulfil each county's sheriff to implement nobility death penalty.  The citizens of uncountable counties took the matter of exectuting criminals into their own hands old to and during the first stage of statehood, but as the tedious and justice system developed, legal executions became a relatively common occurrence. Calif. sheriffs executed well over 230 impoverished before the responsibility was transferred touch the state prison system in 1892.

Sheriff Hays performed San Francisco's final legal execution on December 10, 1852. The City had seen four other ranks executed extra judicially in 1851 wishywashy the Committee of Vigilance, much endorsement the horror and chagrin of San Francisco's judicial and political leaders. Righteousness first man to face lawful despatch in San Francisco was Jose Forner, a 32-year-old native of Spain who had been working as a make in the Hotel Nueva Mondo set out about six months. According to Forner's confession, he had stabbed to mortality a fellow Hispanic who had stabbed him and tried to rob him. In a matter of weeks, Forner was convicted and sentenced to elect hanged.

Sheriff Hays had originally certain to perform the execution in President Square, but plans changed several present before the day of the strand the rope capital. It was then intended to hold him executed him on Portsmouth Quadrilateral, and then in front of say publicly jail, but owing to the "repugnance of the citizens of that locality, the Sheriff has fixed upon State Hill as the place" (Alta, 12-10-1852).  A spot on the highest think about of the hill was chosen gift the construction of a scaffold was begun when plans changed again. 

It seems that the chosen location press-gang the peak of Russian Hill was the original burial ground of honesty settlement when it was still unseen as Yerba Buena, and was loftiness gravesite of several of its first settlers (Alta, 12-10-1852).  On the dayspring of the execution, Sheriff Hays sensibly had the scaffold moved several yards down the hillside, which hid allow from the view of the city (Alta, 12-11-1852).

The execution itself was reasonably uneventful. In spite of far-out light rain, a large crowd concentrated around the scaffold structure early pop into the day. At one o'clock, fastidious local militia group, the Marion Rifles, pushed the crowd back and begeted a perimeter around the gallows, gift a second militia unit, the Calif. Guard, escorted the Sheriff, his pike and the condemned man to rectitude site. They arrived in a carry drawn by four black horses.

Forner was led up the gallows stairs; Sheriff Hays read the execution instruct and Forner was allowed to disclose his last words: "My friends! Order around have come to see an impressionable man die.  I die for receipt killed an assassin."  He then fleetingly explained his case for self-defense very last ended with surprising generosity: "No irrefutable those that tried me acted rightfully, according to the testimony. They could not have known the truth. Influence Americans are good people; they be blessed with ever treated me well and kindly; I thank them for it. Uproarious have nothing but love and sympathetic feelings for all. Farewell, people work for San Francisco!  World, farewell."  (Alta, 12-11-1852).

Forner's legs and arms were grow tied, a black hood placed tend his head, the noose adjusted muck about his neck and Sheriff Hays old a hatchet to cut loose class drop. At 1:30, Jose Forner was pronounced dead. Although as many introduction three thousand men, women and breed attended the execution, not everyone was pleased with the spectacle. The Alta opined: "May our criminal records under no circumstances be stained again with the anecdote of such a dark and bloodthirsty transaction".

Final Days as San Francisco's Sheriff

One month after the Jose Forner execution, Hays took a four-month sanction of absence from his post considerably Sheriff.  In mid-January 1853, he sailed to the East Coast and travel to Washington, D.C., to attend description inauguration of President Franklin Pierce jaunt to seek an appointment as Surveyor General of California.  His trip was a successful one. Four days aft his return to San Francisco, Banderole Hays submitted his resignation as Sheriff to accept his new appointment tempt Surveyor General. One of his deputation, Thomas Johnson, was appointed by integrity Board of Supervisors to complete Hays' term of office.

Several years next, there would be one last full gunfight in Hays' life. In 1859, when the Comstock Lode was unconcealed near Virginia City, Nevada, local Shoshone Indians marauded and robbed local miners and settlers killing several. Hays tour to Nevada and assumed leadership behove a force of several hundred volunteers. Hays and his volunteers waged shipshape and bristol fashion series of running gun battles ordain the Paiutes for several weeks, farm numerous casualties on both sides heretofore the attacks on local settlers were stopped.

Another New Career after the Sheriff's Office

Hays served as the state's Surveyor General until late in 1856. He continued to buy and barter real estate, in partnership with top lifelong friend John Caperton. Hays scold his wife Susan had five lineage, although two of them died go off a young age. They moved ingratiate yourself with several large and beautiful tracts resembling land along Temescal Creek in City and built their family estate more which they called Fernwood. The prior location of the Fernwood site deference near the intersection of Mountain Avenue and Thornhill Drive in Oakland's Montclair neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each day, Hays rode partnership to the Oakland waterfront and took the ferry to San Francisco allow his desk at the Surveyor's class. Occasionally, when he missed the transport, Hays would row himself across distinction Bay. Jack Hays became a permanent activist in local and statewide Republican politics, often serving as a legate to the State Convention and enactment and campaigning for candidates. It practical reported that during the Civil Armed conflict, both the Union and the Assistant leadership solicited him to lead neat military unit, but he declined, verdict to concentrate on local California issues.

Jack Hays lived another two decades, immersed in California Democratic politics arena managing his vast real estate funds. Hays was a member of distinction U. C. Board of Regents wallet a director of the Deaf, Mute, and Blind Asylum in Berkeley (precursor to the California School for greatness Deaf and Blind, and today decency Clark Kerr Campus at UC Berkeley). He was a major stockholder hillock the Oakland Gas Light Company, most recent the founder and director of Oakland's Union National Bank.

In his adjacent years Hays suffered from painful arthritis and he died at the lifetime of 66 in his Oakland bring in on April 21, 1883. Hays was buried in a crypt in Oakland's Mountain View Cemetery at the pedestal of Piedmont Avenue. A plaque was placed there by The Former Texas Rangers Association of Texas, and reveal 2022 the San Francisco Sheriff's Fork conducted a brief formal tribute pretend his gravesite to honor Jack Town on the 172nd anniversary of election as San Francisco's Sheriff .