A Chinaman Lynched

The Jury Fails to Save the Life of Hong Di

COLUSA, Cal., July 11.—At about 12:30 o’clock yesterday morning Hong Di, the Chinese domestic who murdered Mrs. Billiou at St. John some time ago, was taken from jail and hanged by a mob.

The murderer had been on trial for several days and a verdict of guilty was returned on Saturday, the jury fixing the punishment at imprisonment for life.

Mrs. Billiou, her two daughters, and William Weaver, head servant man, were sitting at supper when the door of the dining room was thrown open by Hong Di, the cook, who leveled a Winchester rifle at Weaver and shot him through the shoulder.

He fell on the floor, and a second shot went through Mrs. Billiou’s head, killing her instantly.

Both daughters fled to an adjoining room and escaped uninjured.

The Chinaman fled, and Weaver managed to get on his feet and lock the door.

No trace of the murderer could be seen for nearly a week, when he was found on the bank of the Sacramento River, nearly starved to death.

The circumstances of this assassination were still fresh in the mind of everyone, and on hearing the verdict the crowd became exasperated.

The judge refused to accept the decision of the jury, and a wild scene at once began.

Almost every man present was armed, and in an instant a hundred pistols were drawn amid cries of “Lynch him!”

The sheriff jumped to his feet and quieted the crowd long enough to say that while he disapproved of the verdict, he hoped no blood would be shed in court.

The crowd left the court room and the prisoner was removed to jail.

Soon an effort was being made to lynch the Chinaman, and while the sheriff and his charge were inside a large and determined mob was forming outside the jail.

All day long the crowd kept on the street, but no effort was made to get at the prisoner until nearly midnight.

At that time the town was alive with strangers from surrounding places, including the captain of a steamer and 20 of his crew.

Citizens were posted at all avenues of escape, and about 12:30 o’clock a break was made for the jail.

Guards had been posted by the sheriff, but as they were in sympathy with those on the outside, little resistance was made.

In a few moments the assassin was in the avengers’ hands.

Weaver, the man whom he had shot first, was present, rope in hand.

The prisoner was at once dragged out and conveyed to the bridge, shrieking and screaming in terror.

His cries were addressed to deaf ears.

The rope was put around his neck despite his desperate struggles, half a dozen men raised him in their arms, and he was tossed over the parapet.

The wretched man was probably half dead when thrown over.

He struggled feebly for a few moments and then the assassin of Mrs. Billiou swung quietly.

Shortly afterward the body was cut down by order of the sheriff and carried to the jail.