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Hong Di Was Lynched; Lee Moultan Was Mistakenly Killed

Date:July 11, 1887
Location:Colusa, California
Event Type:Lynching
Victim Names:Hong Di, Lee Moultan
Victim Gender:Male
No. of Victims:2
Accusation:Murder
Killing Method:Hanging
Occupation:Domestic
Compiled By:Ken Gonzales-Day

Narrative

After a jury sentenced Hong Di to life imprisonment for the murder of Mrs. Billyon, an armed mob broke into the Colusa jail and lynched him in the early hours of July 11, 1887. The Brooklyn Eagle reported that “a break was made for the jail” and that Hong Di was dragged to the bridge “shrieking and screaming in terror.” The Fort Worth Daily Gazette said about 200 armed men surrounded the jail and left him hanging from a railroad turntable. The wider panic also claimed another Chinese life: Lee Moultan was mistakenly shot by a posse during the search for the killer. Widely reported across the country, the case became a public spectacle of anti-Chinese mob vengeance.

Related Newspaper Article(s)

A Chinaman Lynched

The Times Leader (Los Angeles, California)

October 23, 1877 (Page 1)

The same Colusa lynching of Hong Di draws the entire town: armed crowds overrun sympathetic guards near midnight on 11 July 1887 and execute the convicted murderer on the bridge while he screams for mercy.

A Chinaman Lynched

The New York Times (Los Angeles, California)

October 23, 1877 (Page 1)

New York coverage repeats the Colusa tale: jury’s life sentence sparks fury; mob takes Hong Di from jail and lynches him after midnight, ignoring his pleas and the sheriff’s efforts.

A Chinese Murderer Lynched

Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn, New York)

July 11, 1887 (Page 3)

A Brooklyn paper provides a vivid, minute-by-minute narrative of the Colusa lynching of Hong Di: angry townspeople rejected his life sentence, mustered at midnight, overwhelmed sympathetic guards, and hanged the terrified prisoner while injured victim William Weaver looked on.

A Chinaman Lynched

The Macon Telegraph (Los Angeles, California)

July 11, 1887 (Page 1)

A Colusa, CA mob stormed the jail after a life-sentence verdict on Hong Di, the Chinese cook who murdered Mrs. Billiou and wounded William Weaver, dragged him to a bridge at 12:30 a.m. on 11 July 1887, and hanged him despite the sheriff’s protests.

An Outrage

San Jose Weekly Mercury (San Jose, California)

July 11, 1887 (Page 1)

Colusa outrage: jury spares Hong Di; crowd storms courtroom, militia ordered, rope hung on bridge, town clamors for lynch law.

Hong Di Dead

Stockton Mail (Stockton, California)

July 11, 1887 (Page 3)

Mob of 150 overruns Colusa jail, drags Hong Di out, hangs him, twice checks pulses, then fires celebratory shots; community cheers verdict against jury.

A Chinaman Lynched

Fort Worth Daily Gazette (Fort Worth, Texas)

July 12, 1887 (Page 6)

After a life-sentence verdict angers townspeople, 200 armed men in Colusa, California, overpower guards at midnight, drag convicted murderer Hong Di through Chinatown, and hang him from a railroad turntable despite earlier state troop protection.

A Chinaman Lynched

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)

July 12, 1887 (Page 4)

A Pennsylvania paper reprints details of Hong Di’s lynching in Colusa: the Chinese cook shot Mrs. Billyon and William Weaver; after a life sentence, an armed mob breaks into jail, hauls him to a bridge, and hangs him despite his pleas.

Unceremonious [followed by] Negro ravisher Lynched

Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas)

July 12, 1887 (Page 1)

Colusa, CA life sentence for Hong Di triggers armed mob; National Guard called to protect jail amid calls to lynch Chinese murderer.

A Chinaman in the Hemp

The Morning News (Savannah, Georgia)

July 12, 1887 (Page 1)

Re-tell of Colusa lynching: mob seizes Hong Di at midnight and hangs him from bridge despite sheriff’s guards.

Chinese Murderer Lynched

The Boomer (Ryansville, Kansas)

July 15, 1887 (Page 1)

After guards were withdrawn from Colusa jail, a 200-man mob overpowered the sheriff, dragged convicted murderer Hong Di through Chinatown, and lynched him from a railroad turntable; troops had earlier protected him following a life-sentence verdict for killing Mrs. Billyon.