There were few females here, and they were said to be of very doubtful character.

As a general thing people were very patient with their wickedness, but not always.
Twice only in the history of California were women made the victims of mob violence, once at Los Angeles and once at Downieville.

The affair at the last-named place occurred in 1851, and the victim was a pretty little Spanish woman named Juanita.

She and her husband, like many another couple at that time, kept a monte game for the delectation of the miners who had more money than sense, but beyond this fact absolutely nothing was said against her character.
There was an English miner named Cannon living in town, who was very popular among a large number of gamblers and others.

He got drunk one night and about midnight went to the house occupied by the Spanish woman and her husband and kicked the door down.