Plumas County CA Archives History - Books .....Historical Reminiscences - The Gilson-Wilson Tragedy 1882
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 4, 2006, 7:03 pm

Book Title: Illustrated History Of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

THE GILSON-WILSON TRAGEDY.

Sometime in the fall of 1853, a man named Gilson was keeping a boarding-house on
Nelson creek, at a point called Henpeck flat, in which occupation he was ably
seconded by the exertions of his wife. Women were a rara avis in the mountain
mining camps at that time, and were the object of a great deal of attention and
admiration from the crowds of the sterner sex who had so long been deprived of
the pleasure of their society. Henpeck flat was no exception to this rule; but
be it remarked, that the utmost respect and propriety pervaded the feelings and
actions of the boarders who sat about Mrs. Gilson's bountiful table towards the
lady who placed the products of her culinary skill before them. There was one
black sheep in the flock, a man by the name of Wilson, whose wiles and
blandishments so worked upon the feelings of the lady that she left the house
and committed herself to the care of the faithless boarder, and lodged no more
under her husband's roof. This proceeding was not calculated to inspire
peaceable feelings in the breast of the wronged husband; and a few days later
his wrath was excited to fever heat by seeing through the window of a neighbor's
house the faithless wife and her seducer sitting together on a sofa. Taking his
pistol, the outraged husband walked up to the window and fired from the outside,
inflicting a wound upon the man within, which was supposed to be mortal, but
from which the man finally recovered. A dozen of Mr. Gilson's boarders were
witnesses of the act, but made no effort to prevent it. A tremendous excitement
soon spread up and down the creek, and a miners' meeting was called, attended by
nearly a thousand men, Gilson being held in custody. It was decided to try the
prisoner; and a jury of twelve, men was selected, a man named Clownie appointed
judge, and Charles Whitlock, clerk. The prosecution was conducted by William
White, and the defense by Major James H. Whitlock, now postmaster at Quincy. The
trial continued for three days; and at its conclusion Gilson was acquitted, on
the ground that he had but given Wilson his just deserts. The verdict failed to
inspire Wilson with confidence in his future security, and as soon as he
recovered from his wound he made a hasty departure for a more salubrious clime.
Mrs. Gilson was from Michigan; and friends of the family induced her to return
home, her husband furnishing the requisite means. They were afterwards
reconciled, and are now living together in conjugal felicity.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)


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