Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1852-01-06
YNCHING OF A WOMAN IN CALIFORNIA

I YNCHING OF A WOMAN IN CALIFORNIA
A California letter TO the Journal OF Commerce con-
,ains the following particulars of the execution Of a
young girl at Downieville:
She was Mexican senorits, with all the passions
and irailtiea which attach themselves to the race.
One day she stabbed man. that he died in shur
time Public opinion varies 10 the enofmity oil this
crime. Some assert that it wanton and treach
erous attack others consider it have been ordna
ry murder, under circumstances OF insufficient but
siderable provocation while many affirm that the
blow struck in defence OF her person against
drunken assault The better opinion is as far as car
learn, that the killing was unlawful, buJ under pailia
ting circumstances. 1t is OF little consequence to my
present purpose, 10 examine into the degree of crime
| am merely to relate how a woman punished by
unlawful hands in this high noon of the nineteenth cen
fury.
1t seems that an example was needed in Downievle
Little or rel ribuon had fallen upon former mur
derers in that vicinity and unfortunately happened
that the dead man had many friends in the city, while
the girl ELECTED no sympathy. Her nation des-
pited, and she oil character which always
draws more companions than friends in Ca lifornia -
| The many headed-monster cried Blood for blood !"
| The Mountain City is situated at the confluence oil
two branches of the North Yuba, and is conuec ed
with the opposite bank by long bridge. The cord
was thrown over a cross beam in the mi dde of this
bridge and hther the inurated multitude hurried then
trail VICTIM Her bearing was naughty and composed
| IN the highest degree She beautiful gill, but
neither her beauty nor unusual roundness OF form ex-
| cited the slightest compassion in the majority.
| ftt tlls point Oh t0e proceeding young lawyer
mounted the bridge railing, and denounced The whole
| flair in words OF more bitter justice than discretion.
| He was not suffered to speak long. dozen hands
pulled him down, and many feet vigorously
applied 10 him along the length OF the bridge. When
| upon The opposite bank he was forbidden TO enter
Dowuieyle again, under penalty OF being tarred and
| feathered.
Even the perpetrators Of this outrage should have
| been shamed into common humanity by the next ap-
| peal. A physician, well known in the place, stated
upon his profess ona repu alton and slcred ho-
mr. that Tho
the repreve which always granted By the metci-
ful common law OF England, in the darkest ages
and most barbarous periods But mol Mercy a
murderess Time to give birth 10 another OF Ite vi
per's. blood They hooed at the ideal The phys-
clan ordered 10 leave within three days Tor
having dared to disturb the majesty OF the people, arisen
to assert justice.
Meanwhile The girl had been looking on with the
utmost nonchaance. AT The failure of this last ap-
peal, scornful smile distorted her lip, and she at
began peform the last Offices tor herself The
n,ant6 was removed from her head, and given to her
paramour, with watch, purse and ornaments. Her
black hair fell IN her shoulders but she
calmly grasped the moose, dangling by, and pass
ed it around her neck, concealed the hideous knot
beneath the thick fall of her hair She made bat one
reques,that her hands might be left united and free
to give the signal Strange say, they did grant her
priv ge but the one which, IN cases, where the
nerves we've not made OF steel would have been the
| most ln]udicious.
| She then drew bunch of cgaritas from her bos-
ON and distributed them among the bystanders. re-
| serving one Tor herself. This she lighted and halt
| smoked-lhen drew it from her lips with-"I would
| do it again, the madito-! She did not finish the
sentence, but dropped the cisara. This was the sig
nal, and her light form shot rapidly up the air. hard
| y struggling, powerful the will that kept her
free stlfy pressed against her sides. There she
| hung over that foamng river-belween sky and earth
the mark of deepest disgrace upon all our fair land
Ever since that moment of delirium, the citizens Of
Downlevle have been called by press end people, the
| "Downlevllans
Contrasted with like these, how lofty have
| been the motives and actions Of the Vigilance Com
miltee How dastardly, too, those who have infesl-
ed the Bench and Bar. till Judge became title of
| doubtful honor in California and honorable lawyers
| blushed for their prote sson