The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-04-20
A BEAUTY LYNCHED.
A Tragedy Of the Early Days Of California
Recalled.

A Tragedy Of the Early Days Of California
Recalled.
From the Rocky Mountain News.
Al Downeyville, Cal, on July 8, 1851, was
enacted the most awful tragedy that has
ever stained the annals OF California. In
one of the adobe houses there dwelt n
young woman named Juanita, of the
mixed Spanish and Mexican race, and Of
remarkable beauty. As some American
miners were walking past her house late
on the night of July 4, 1851, full of patriot
ism and something else n good deal
stronger, one Of their number named
Canaan stumbled against the light, rudely
constructed door and fell half inside he
dwelling. As he was helped to his feet by
his friends with the words:
"Hush! come out; there's a woman liv-
ing In that house." He picked up a hand
kerchief or some such trifie from the
ioor. His comrades got IL away from
him with some difficulty n threw il
back into the house.
The next morning Canaan, sober now,
persuaded one OF his companions of he
nightsbefore to accompany him to juan
ita's house that he might apologize for
the slight disturbance he had created
there. The woman's Spanish companion
met them at the door, appeared angry
and seemed to threaten Canaan, but as
IIlel NOilttGkntloh was Ilo III sfDttillSlls
of which Cannan's friend was ignorant,
he could not tell what passed. Then the
woman herself came to the door, and
seemed even more angry than her male
companion.
Canaan, as il seemed to his friend. tried
to pacify them, and spoke in a concilia-
tory tone, but his words, whatever they
were. only increased the woman's anger,
and before either of the Americans had
the slightest conception of her purpose
she drew q knife, rushed at Canaan, and
plunged 1t into his heart. He fell dead Mt
her feet.
The citizens at once assembled, elected
n Judge and jury, and proceeded to try the
woman and her male companion forth
with. A man named Thayer protested
against this summary and illegal admin
istration OF justice, but he was quickly
~silenced by the crowd, who menaced him
with death IL he did not keep quiet, and
shouted themselves hoarse with such cries
as 'Hang the Greaser devils" "Give
them q trial." "No, no; hang them now "
.Give them n trial first and then hang
themw
The last compromise suggestion was &c;
cepted, and the trial began. The story OF
the previous nights trifing affair was
quickly told. Cannan's friends stated
that there was no intention to insult OF
annoy the woman, and that the occur
renee was wholly due TO q drunken mis-.
hap and an insecure door. II was evident
that the woman's companion had no share
in the murder, and the man was, there.
fore, permitted to go free. The woman's
sole defense was hat Cannan's breaking
into her house at night n using insult.
ing language to her on the following
morning had made her act perfectly JUST.
fable. and even IL IL were not b had
been beside herself with rage at the time
so as to be wholly irresponsible.
The case was closed and the jury, with
out wasting any time in deliberation,
promptly found the woman guilty oi
murder In the first degree and sentenced
her to death. The sentence was carried
out that same afternoon. Juanita never
lost her composure or her cheerfulness
Surrounded by her friends and chatting
gaily with them, she walked with a firm
elastic step to her death. Without n tea
or q tremor she mounted the ladder to an
improvised scaffold. Her beautiful black
hair was neatly braided and she wal
tastefully and richly dressed.
Juanita made a short speech, saying she
did not regret what she had done, as sh,
had merely inflicted well deserved punish
mcnt upon a man who had grossly insultet
her, and that IL her life were to be sparet
she would again act In precisely the sam,
way under the same provocation. Witt
her own hands she passed the moose owe
her head and arranged the rope. Then
with a graceful wave of her unboun,
hands and a cheerful "Adios, senores,
she sDrauU of into eternity.