The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-11-12
Es.s,
only Woman
fver Iynched
He-rfeon Girl Who A ,Hea Cali
fornfa Gambler
..s.s,,a,s
fornfa Gambler

"Aiefitic pears the unique and un-
saVofy reputation Of having lynched
woman. There is no other authentic
case Ike II In Western history. The
chiyalry Of the pioneers might have
been selectiye. IL was as a rule. even
and scrupulous. but in this case IL was
iost IN the savagery and barbarism
which actuates a mob.
The victim was a Mexican woman.
by name Juanita, "a years old. She
was pretty and had the dark skin and
hair OF her race. II Is said that her
character was not OF the best and she
was living in the house OF a monte
dealer, whose name has not come down
TO US. and who stepped back and let
the mob take its course without pro-
test.
On the evening Of the Fourth OF
July, 1851, there was a great celebra-
ton in DOwnieville. John b. Weller,
candidate for Congress. had made a
speech from a platform raised in the
center OF the town. close TO the hotel
Miners had come in from camps and
diggings for miles up and down the
muddy length Of the Yuba. and the
hilarity was great. Among others who
became exceedingly merry was Joe
Cannon. an Australian. who, together
with two companions. ranged through
the town drunk and jovial
Cannon was one of the most popular
men in the district. He is described
as a cheerful. easy-going giant. over
six feet in height. weighing 240
pounds In their riotous course
through the camp the men arrived at
the cabin OF Juanita and the monte
dealer. Friends of the woman de-
clared that Cannon with brutal Ian
guage had attempted TO break down
the door Of the cabin. His friends per-
site that all he had done was 10 strike
the door in a spirit OF tipsy revelry.
and so powerful was the blow OF the
giant that he burst II from it's frail
hinges. After this the men departed.
The next morning when Cannon had
recovered his senses. he was told of
the damage he had done. He at once
declared his intention of going to the
monte dealers cabin and paying for
the broken door.
IL was said by the MexicaRs that,
whether or not he went TO the cabin
for the purpose Of paying. he renewed
his language OF the previous night, and
u
had listened TO il, still and fiery-eyed.
Whatever words passed. Cannon went
TO the doorway. where the broken
door hung loose, and. standing with
hand on either post. looked into the
cabin. Suddenly from the corner
where she sat Juanita rose and rushed
upon him. Before he could move she
had driven a knife helt deep into his
chest The force OF the blow, for one
so small and fragile was amazing. II
was given as Charlotte Corday had
( struck hers that ended the life OF Ma
rat-"sheer through the clayicle into
the lung"
Cannon fell where he stood. stricken
10 death. He lived an hour. Two
thousand men stood about him as he
died. and then in a body marched TO
the house of Juanita. She was ready
for them. made no plea for mercy and
showed not the least fear. There was
stoical, almost a cynical calm In the
manner she faced the situation that
added a last touch -of horror TO the
grisly performance. She asked for a
few minutes delay until she arranged
her dress and made her will. This
latter she did verbally. and then. sur
rounded by the miners. she calmly
walked TO the platform that had been
used the day before for the Fourth OF
July exercises. Here a travesty OF a
trial was had. Juanita sitting calmly
and sometimes smiling in the midst OF
her judges.
The camp was by this time in a
frenzy OF excitement Some men
realized that one OF the most barbar
Gus acts in the history OF the far West
was about TO be perpetrated, and vain
~ attempted TO stem the tide. DR.. c.
ID. Aiken arose and testified that the
woman was not physically fit TO be
hanged. Before he could further ex-
plain he was hauled down and thrown
from the platform. Mr.. Thayer, of
Nevada. climbed on a barrel and at
tempted to address the furious mob in
the woman's behalf. but the barrel was
kicked from under him and he was
driven bleeding and wounded from the
scene. In the hotel overlooking the
platform was Weller, the candidate for
Congress. and by his side Mrs. Bryant.
who afterward became Mrs. John
Mackey. Some one rushed 10 him and
begged him TO address the crowd and
try to stem its anger. Mrs. Bryant
Joined In the appeal. But he had seen
The fate Of her two champions. and so
left Juanita to her fate. The crowd
voted that she must die by hanging.
The gallows was built upon the
bridge spanning the Yuba, and con
sisted OF a narrow plank under a cross
beam over the edge OF the bridge. The
woman had dressed herself carefully
in white. Her black hair was neatly
coiIed and braided. On her head she
wore a mans hat lent by one OF her
friends She was grave but unmoved.
she assembled the scaffold with a firm
step. and taking of her hat with
quick whirl Of her wrist sent IL to its
owner in the crowd. Her hands were
quickly bound. She bowed TO the
throng. and said clearly: Adde'S. mes
amigos" A moment later her body
a., the air