Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-05
TIE LYNCHING OF A WOMAN
Geraldine Bonner Writer Dark Chapter in Caliiorna's
Earlier History.
,n6


once there he had renewed the brutal
and insulting language Of the night be-
fore, and that Juanita, crouched IN a cor
ner of the room, had listened to II, stlll
and hery-eyed.
Whatever words passed, Cannon came
To the open doorway, whence the broken
door HUNG loose, and, standing with a
hand on either post, looked into the
cabin Suddenly from the corner where
she sat. Ju0nlta rose, and rushed upon
him. drawing from her clothing a long
knife. The attack was so unexpected
and swift that before Cannon could
move she had driven the knife, HIT deep
into his chest, The force of the blow,
for one so small and fragile, was amaz-
ing IL was as well directed and UNI
swerving as that which Charlotte Cor
day delivered to the man In his bath
sheer through the clavicle into the
lung" Cannon fell where he stood.
stricken to death.
He was carried away and laid on the
puncheon floor of a half built shanty in
the middle of the camp. From here, the
news Of the attack flew like wildflre
through the town, and up and down the
banks OF the'Yuba. Such miners as had
not attended the Fourth of July celebra-
ton dropped their picks and shovels and
turned their faces to Downievile BY
the hundreds they stood round the body
Of the dying man; by the hundreds they
filed In and out, taking last look at
him AZ he drew his labored breaths. He
lived an hour. At II o'clock he was dead
and 1000 men walked through the camp
to the house of Juanita.
She was ready for them; made nq at
tempt TO plead for mercy. and showed
not the least fear. one Of the most re-
markabe things In the whole remark
able story Is the demeanor Of this wo-
man. She PROFESSIONALLY killed Cannon
in return for real or imagined insults.
Having killed him she seemed quite
satisfied TO pay for her revenge with her
own life There vas stolcal, almost
cynical, calm In the manner she faced
the situation that added a last touch to
the grisly horror Of the whole perform
ance. She asked for n moments delay
in order to arrange her dress and make
her will This she did verbally, then,
calm and tranquil surrounded by the
1000 miners she walked to the platform
that had been used the day before for
the Fourth Of July exercises.
Hero a travesty OF trial took place,
Juanita sitting, ever calm and some
The camp was by this time In n frenzy
of excitement. There were men who
realized that one Of the most barharous
acts IN the history OF the far west was
about to be perpetrated. and attempted
TO stem the tide. Or. c. ID. Aiken rose
un and testified that she was not, phys
lcally. In a 1T condition to be hanged.
He was howled down and driven from
The platform. a Mr. Thayer OF Ne
vada. then lifted himself above the mob
by standing on barrel and began to
make n speech In her defense. The
hnrrel was Kicked from beneath him,
his hat and glasses fell of and he was
hustled through the crowd and kicked
and struck at as he fed The accusers
Of Juanltn were, for the time being out
side themselves, They were snvages
demanding blood for blood
In the hotel, overlooking the scene,
was John b. Weller the candidate for
Congress. Some one rushed In TO him
and pleaded with him to address and
try and qucl the fury Of the mob. But
the gentleman, evidently feeling his
eloquence not equal TO the occasion, re-
fused. He had probably seen the treat
ment awarded the two champions OF
Juaiiita ana deemed the moment one
where silence was golden. SO, left
10 nef 1utf, Julnlla WAS lllclt lounu
guilty and led to execution.
The -four hours that elapsed between
her conviction and death were spent by
her In her own house. saying good-bye
to her friends and making her toilet for
her final appearance upon this erthly
stage Her accusers occupied the time
In arranging a scaffold for her in the
middle Of the bridge across the Yuba.
Two posts had been left standing In the
center OF the bridge and below these
they dashed two planks, which extended
out over the rushing stream,
When the hour arrived Inanlta mp
peorod, walking among an escort Of her
friends. She had dressed herself care
fully in white; her black hair was neat
~ brushed and braided ON her head
she wore q mans hat lent by one Of her
friends. Her mperturhable calm was
as marked as ever II was impossible
10 notice a tremur In her step or voice.
When she had heard the words Of her
conviction SPOKEN. she had given a lit
tie laugh Now she was grave but UNI
moved She mounted the temporary
scnffold and, taking on the hat, sent
II with a quick whir Of her wrist
through the crowd to It's owner. Then.
turning TO the still, staring throug. she
bowed TO the right and left, making n
gesture Of farewell With each bow
she pronounced clearly and firmly the
words. Adds, mes amigos, ADDS"
A few moments after her dead body
hung quivering over the stream The
crowd dispersed to rs cabins and tents |
with what feelings we maV wonder =