Sierra County CA Archives History - Books .....Lynching At Chip's Flat 1882
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 20, 2006, 11:39 pm

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

LYNCHING AT CHIP'S FLAT.

   In the vicinity of Forest City, Alleghany, and Chip's flat petty robberies by
Chinamen were very frequent during the year 1865. P. Curry owned a store-house
at Chip's, which was broken into several times, and goods stolen. These
nocturnal visitations finally became very annoying to Mr. Curry, and to put a
stop to them he employed a man by the name of Newhouse to watch nights and
discover who the rascals were. The first morning after assuming the duties of
night-watchman, Newhouse was missing. Search was made for him, but without
success for a time. In looking through a Chinaman's cabin one day, blood was
discovered, which was sufficient to fasten suspicion on the proprietor. He was
induced by threats and rough treatment to confess having killed Newhouse, and
agreed to tell where the body was. He conducted them to the trail in a ravine,
where the remains of poor Newhouse were found to be buried. To facilitate the
carrying of the corpse to this place, John had cut it in two, putting a half on
each end of his pole. Short work was made of the murderer. A lynch court was
immediately organized, a short trial given the prisoner, and he was hung without
more ado. Before death had relieved his sufferings, the men began throwing rocks
at him, one of which crushed in his skull; and he was otherwise mutilated. After
this hanging, the thefts in that vicinity ceased entirely.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sierra/history/1882/illustra/lynching310ms.txt

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