Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-01-22
Lynch LAVA Young woman HING.

Commerce, alter detalilng Sesoiei
cases OF Lynching in California,
writes as follows:
Shocking. however, as these cases
are, both are outdone by the extra
judicial murder Of young girl at
Downieville, far up in the mountains
Of Yuba county.
She was a Mexican seniorita, with
all the passions and frailties which
attach themselves 10 the race. One
day she stabbed a man, so that he
died in short time. Public opinion
varies as to the enormitg OF this
crime. Some assert that il was
wanton and treacherous attack;
others consider it to have been an or
binary murder, under circumstances
of insufficient but considerable prov
ocaiion; while many affirm that the
blow was struck in defence Of her
person against a drunken assault.
The better opinion is, as far as |
can learn, that the killing was un-
lawful, but under palliating circum-
stances. II is Of little consequence
to my present purpose, to examine
into the degree Of crime. | am mere
ly TO relate how woman was pun
ished by unlawful hands in this high
noon of the nineteenth century.
1t seems that an example was need
ed in Downieville. Little or no
retribution had fallen upon former
murderers in that vicinity, and it un-
fortunately happened that the dead
man had many friends in the city,
while the girl elected no sympathy.
Her nation was despised, and she
was Of a character which always
draws more companions than friends
in California. The many headed
monster cried "Blood for blood"
The Mountain City is situated at
the confluence Of two branches oI
the North Yuba. and is connected
with the opposite bank by long
bridge. The co:d was thrown over
a cross-beam in the middle Of this
bridge, and thither the infuriated mul-
titude hurried their frail victim
Her bearing was naughty and COM
posed in the highest degree. She
was a beautiful girl, but neither her
beauty or unusual roundness of form
excited the slightest compassion in
the majority.
AT this point Of the proceeding, a
young lawyer mounted the bridge
railing, and denounced the whole
affair in words of more bitter justice
than discretion. He was not suffered
to speak long. A dozen hands pull
led him down, and as many feet were
vigorously applied 10 him along the
whole length of the bridge. When
upon the opposite bank, he was for-
bidden to enter Downieville again,
under penalty Of being tarred and
feathered.
Even the perpetrators of this out
rage should have been shamed into
common humanity by the next ap-
peal. A physician, well known in
the place, stated upon his professional
reputation and most sacred honor,
that the girl was enciente, and de-
manded for her the reprieve which
was always granted by the merciful
common law of England. even in
the darkest ages and most barbarous
periods. But mol Mercy to a MUIR
dress! Time to give birth to another
Of the Viper's bloodl They hooied
at the ideal The physician was Or
dered to leave town within three
days, for having dared TO disturb the
majesty Of the people, arisen to assert
justice.
Meanwhile the girl had been look
ing on with the utmost nonchalance.
At the failure of this last appeal, a
scornful smile distorted her lip, and
she at once began to perform the last
Offices for herself. The mantd was
removed from her head, and given
TO her paramour, with watch. purse
and ornaments. Her black hair fell
IN masses over her shoulders, but she
calmly grasped the moose, dangling
near by, and passing it around her
neck, concealed the hideous knot be-
meath the thick fall of her hair. She
made but one request-that her
hands might be left united and free
10 give the signal. Strange to say,
they did grant her one privilege, but
one which, in cases where the nerves
were not made Of steel, would have
been the most injudicious of all.
She then dew a bunch of cigaritas
from her bosom, and distributed them
among the bystanders, reserving one
for herself. This she lighted and
half smoked--then drew it from her
lips with--"I would do it again, the
npaldito-p She did not finish
thesentence, but dropped the cigarita.
This was the signal. and her light
form shot rapidly up into the air.
hardly struggling, so powerful was
the viii! that kept her free arms stiffly
pressed against her sides. There