The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1890-03-05
LYNCRING A BEAUTY.
WITH HER OWN HANDS SHE
ARRANGED THE ROPE.
A Young Mexican Woman Faces
Death Without FIinching.

|
At Downeyville, California, wa.
enacted the most awful tr: gedy
that has ever stained the annals O!
California. In one of the adobe
houses there dwelt with her SIP n
ish paramount a young woman
named Juanita, of the mixed
Spanish and Mexican race, and
of remarkable b. auty. AS some
American miners were walking
past her house late at night, full
of patriotism and something else a
little stronger, one of their number,
named Cannau, stumbled against
the light, ludely constructed door,
and fell h II inside the dwelling.
AS he was helped to his feet by
his friends with he words, "Hush!
come out, there's woman living
in that house," he picked up a
handkerchief or some such trifle
from the floor, His comrades got
it away from him with some diff
Guilty and threw it back into the
house.
The next morning Cannan,
sober now, persuaded one of his
companions of the nigh; before to
accompany him to Juanita's house,
tina. he might apologize for the
slight disturbance he had created
there. The woman's paramOur
met them at the door, appeared
angry, and seemed to threaten
Canaan. bnt, as their CONVERSE
ton was wholly in Spanish, of
which Cannan's friend was ignor.
ant, he could not tell what passed.
Then the woman herself came to
the door, ard seemed even more
angry than her male companion.
Cannan, as it seemed to his friend,
tried to paciiy them, and spike in
a cOnciliatory tone, but his words,
whatever they were, only increased
the woman,s anger. and before
either Of the Americans had the
sli 9htest conception of her pur-
pose she drew knife, rushed at
Canaan, and plunged it into his
heart. He fell dead at her feet.
The citizens at once assembled,
elected a judge and jury, and pro,
ceeded TO try the woman aud her
male compar ion forthwith. A
man named Thayer protested
against this summary and illegal
administration of justice, but was
quickly silenced by the crowd, who
menaced him with death if he did
not keep quiet, and shouted them>
selves hOarse with such cries as
"Hang the Greaser devilsl" "Give
them a trial !" "NO, no; hang
them now " GIVE them a trial
first and then hang them" This
last compromise suggestion was
accepted, and the trial began,
The story of the previous nights
trifing affair was quickly told.
CGnnan's friend stated that here
was no intention to insult or annoy
the woman, and that the occurrence
WIS wholly due to a drunken mis-
hap and an insecure door 1t was
evident that the wOman's com
paniOn had no share in the MUIR
der, and the man was, therefore,
permitted to go free. The wo-
mans sole defense was that Cam
mans breaking into her hUuse at
night and using insulting language
to her on the following morning
had made her act perfectly justifi.
able, and even if it were not she
had been beside herself with rage
at the time go as to be wholly irre-
sponsible.
The case was closed, and the
jury, without wasting any time in
deliberatiOn, promptly found the
woman guilty OF murder in the
first degree, and sentenced her to
death. The sentence was carried
out that afternoon. Juanita never
lost her composure or her cheer,
fulness surrounded by her friends,
and chatting gayly with them, she
walked with firm elastic step to
her death. Without a tear or a
tremor she mounted lad der to an
improvised scafold. Her beauti,
full black hair was neatly braided,
and she was tastily and richly
dressed. She made a short speech
saying that she did not regret wha
she had done, as she had merel,
inflicted a well-deserved punish
meut upon a man who had grossl,
insuited her, and that if her iii