CALIFORNIA.

Colonist, Issue 67, 11 June 1858, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

We (Sydney Empire) are in possession of papers from California to tbe 25th February. A horrible case of poisoning occurred at Grass Valley, on the 21st February, when a man and his wife poisoned themselves and three children. The name of the father was Michael Brennan, late president of the Mount Hope Miuing Comr pany.

-A grand banquet was given at San Francisco, by the French Republican Union, on the 24th instant, in honor of the French revolution of 1858.

At Sacramento, the new Sunday law had been occupying the attention of the Senate, and was to take effect on the Ist June, 1858.

-Mr. Merritt's bill, repealing the law authorising married women to transact business in their own names as sole traders, was passed on the 25th February, by a vote of 18 to 13.

The Sacramento River had risen 19 feet above low water mark. Throughout the Northern and Middle counties, severe storms had occurred, and many of the valleys were inundated.

The exploring expedition up the Colorado, under the command of Lieutenant Ives, had been unsuccessful, the steamer in which they were embarked having struck on a sunken rock and gO'te down, within 40 miles of Fort Yuraa.

The suuthern frontier has received several additions of troops from the United States.

News from the gold fields were very encouraging. At Spaora and Tuolumne, quartz veins of unexampled richness had been lately discovered.

A shocking affray had taken place at Auburn, on the 18th February, between a man named Barney Murphy, and a negro named Bracy, which resulted in the former receiving a mortal blow from a pickaxe. Bracy, the murderer, was taken into custody, but the next morning, a crowd assembled in front of the gaol, and with sledge hammers and other implements, they forced an entrance. He was then carried to a place a mile.off, and hung to the limb of a pine tree. The sheriff and his deputies were seized, and held while this summary justice was being enacted. ,