”Trial of Ned McGowan.—One of the most interesting events of 1857 was the trial of the then famous Ned McGowan. All old settlers of California will well remember what a great excitement there was over the attempted capture of Ned McGowan by the Vigilance Committee in San Francisco. In the course of time, after being hunted like a wild beast from house to tule and from tule marshes to mountain fastnesses, receiving shelter and food at long intervals at the hands of God’s ministering angels—women, who could not see the man starve, no matter what his crimes, he came back to the city and demanded a trial at the bar of Justice. This was granted him; and on the 29th day of May, 1857, his trial began in Napa City, with the following gentlemen on the jury : David Hudson, P. D. Bailey, R. C. Gillaspie, W. H. Younge, James Glassford, Charles McBride, George Ware, Thomas Twist, Ralph L. Kilburn, Harrison Hornback and Charles Stillman. The jury was out only ten minutes, when a verdict of not guilty was rendered.”

Reference Data:

History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, 1881, page 241