This is dark history. Please bear with me, this story should be told correctly. There is much confusion and very little source material for the story of Josefa's (AKA Juanita) hanging on July 5, 1851. You can read more about the event by following the labels attached to this story, and read this post, and this post. The article below sheds some light on their names, the specifics of the event and the burial location of Cannon and Josefa. - MF
WHEN THE WOMAN WAS HUNG.-In the old graveyard, now being washed away, lie the
remains of Frederick Cannon; and close by those of the woman who was hung, on
Durgan Bridge, for killing. The killing was done on the morning of the 5th of
July, 1851, and the woman was hung shortly after. The fol- lowing may be
deciphered on the head-board of Cannon's grave: "Sacred to the memory of
Frederick Cannon, died July 5th, 1851, aged 25 years. He was born at sea, of
Scottish parents, and for some years was a resident of China. During a
residence of some months in this mining district he formed a large circle of
friends by whom his death is much and sincerely regretted. Requiescat in
Pace." Were a similar killing to be done to-day it would be hard to find a
jury that would convict the woman. Cannon was a rough customer, and when he
broke into the woman's house she no doubt thought that he intended to do her
bodily harm, and reasonably enough, too, as he had been drunk and abusive the
night before. The hanging was really the work of Cannon's friends, a lawless
and dissipated set, and is now condemned by all as it deserves.- [Downieville Messenger, April 1st.
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