San Francisco Quote of the Day: on crime
Today’s quote comes from an interview with archaeologist Allen Pastron who worked extensively in the Bay Area. The actual interview is about that work, but the quote gives an interesting look into crime and vigilantes in San Francisco in the nineteenth century. Gotta love the lawlessness of the Bay Area.
San Francisco was so lawless during the Gold Rush and the municipal authorities so corrupt and impotent, that at two different times, in 1851 and 1856, the local citizens formed Committees of Vigilance to deal with crime and violence. These were committees of citizens who acted as vigilantes to deport criminals or, in extreme cases, to hang them.
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