ELDORADO 141 



thrown over a limb, and he was hauled up and left to 

 die. The trial was had at the "Old Daily Adobe" hotel 

 and ranch house, the proprietor of which at the time 

 was a justice of the peace. A deputy sheriff was also 

 present from Sacramento during the entire proceed- 

 ings, but was not permitted to interfere. 



On another occasion, near the same locality, two men 

 were caught with stolen horses and mules, driving 

 them to the horse market at Sacramento. As in the 

 case above related a meeting was called of nearby 

 ranchers and the miners of Cook's and Michigan bars, 

 three miles above. A judge and jury were selected 

 and the testimony of the owner of the stock was heard, 

 proving his "brand," and that it had not been "vented" 

 or a bill of sale given, as was customary in all cases of 

 sale and transfer of property. 



The prisoners were found guilty and sentenced to 

 have one-half of their heads shaved, to be branded "R" 

 on the right cheek, receive 100 lashes on the bare back, 

 and if found in the county after three davs, to be hung. 

 One of them, a fine-looking man. well dressed and gen- 

 tlemanlv in appearance, begged to be hung instead of 

 receiving the penalty prescribed by the jurv. After 

 being stripped to the waist thev were lashed to a tree 

 and an Indian emplove was ordered to do the whip- 

 ping with a braided rawhide riata, such as was used 

 for lassoing stock. A committee was appointed to see 

 that the lashes were properlv laid on. One of the 

 committee was a Presbvterian deacon of large pro])- 

 ertv interests and a ranch owner. 



After administering 50 lashes the committee decided 

 to remit the balance, as the men were unable to bear 

 the torture. Tt looked cruel and inhuman, and not all 



