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Chinese Man Found Hanging Near Prairie City

Date:November 12, 1861
Location:Folsom, California
Event Type:Lynching
Victim Names:Unnamed
Victim Gender:Male
No. of Victims:1
Accusation:Unknown
Killing Method:Hanging
Compiled By:Liping Zhu

Narrative

On November 12, 1861, an unnamed Chinese man was found hanging from an oak tree near Prairie City on the Folsom road. The Sacramento Bee reported that the inquest jury concluded he “was hanged by some person or persons unknown to us,” even though the body showed other marks of violence in addition to strangulation. The paper noted that the body had to be removed to Folsom for burial and doubted that anyone would be punished.

Related Newspaper Article(s)

The Lynched Chinaman

The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California)

November 14, 1861 (Page 3)

A coroner, unable to travel due to personal issues, asked Justice Cole of Granite Township to conduct an inquest into the lynching of a Chinese man near Prairie City. Later, it was confirmed that the inquest had already taken place and the victim had been buried.

The Lynched Chinaman

The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California)

November 15, 1861 (Page 3)

A Chinaman was found hanged from a tree near Prairie City, prompting an inquest by Justice Cole and Dr. W. S. Kendall. Evidence suggested death by hanging, with additional signs of physical trauma. Despite a jury verdict indicating homicide by unknown persons, no suspects were identified. The body was buried in Folsom after local refusal to inter it.