Paul Preston with Charlee Simons: New California is Now
AENN
Paul Preston was giving a New California State Town Hall in Placerville in El Dorado County, Ca at the Historic Smith Flat House (today its a first class dinning establishment) when he was interviewed by Charlee Simons for his radio show “Do Not Talk”. It was this town hall that Paul described the difference between a democracy and and a republic in the theater on the top floor of the building. In the story a horse thief is hung by a an incensed “mob” in which the mob votes to hang the accused horse thief. The mob out numbering the accused takes a vote and votes to hang the accused!
Placerville , CA has as its motto “Old Hangtown”. Originally referred to as Dry Diggins thanks to the hard soil miners had to work with, Placerville was also known as Hangtown. While the town is proud of its unique history, the name was changed to Placerville in 1954 when it was incorporated.
The name Hangtown became popular starting in 1849 when this spot became known for the numerous hangings that “we” carried out here.
The Smith’s Flat House was an important stage stop between Placerville, CA and Carson City NV on the Placerville/Carson Road.
Mining began in 1850 and eventually, this area became a prosperous mining camp as well. Ranching and logging kept the Smith’s Flat area going after the mines were shut down.
A hotel originally built in 1853 with substantial additions including a blacksmith shop in 1863. In the cellar is the famous opening to the Blue Lead Mine. Known early as “3 Mile House” the building has served as a stage coach stop, general merchandise store, hotel, post office and community hall for 135 years. This building is perhaps the best preserved frame structure of its size in the entire Mother Lode. The earliest owner of record was Elihu Meredith who owned hotels in Coloma and on Green Valley Road. According to the Mountain Democrat, this house also served as the voting precinct headquarters from 1854 until after the turn of the century.
The Smith Flat Cemetery was established by at least 1856, although there is reason to believe the actual date is probably earlier. The earliest burial with a headstone has a date of 1859. People probably started to use this land for burials before 1859; however, there are no marked graves with an earlier date.
“Friday morning came bright and clear. It was June 20, 1890. Many people came to town, mostly reporters, sheriffs and ex-sheriffs. An air of frenzied excitement swept over the whole community. Of those invited to the event, 52 came to witness the hanging. No ladies were there – all their requests were turned down”.
“At 10:30 a.m. officers offered the condemned a small bottle of booze. The alcohol was taken after a brief prayer by Reverend C.J. Porter. When the death warrants were read, Mrs. Potts lifted her right hand saying, “Innocent, so help me God. We are innocent, that’s all we can say; we are innocent from first to last.”
They were given another stiff drink then led from the jail to the yard and began calmly climbing the steps of the gallows. A silent crowd watched grimly.
Elizabeth was dressed in a white dress with black silk bows at her throat and wrists. Josiah was in a business suit. They were bound, their shoes removed, and legs strapped. The couple stood, leaned forward and kissed affectionately. Black hoods were pulled over their heads and nooses slipped around their necks.
Josiah kept murmuring,
“Lord have mercy on me.”
Elizabeth appealed,
“Lord have mercy on my soul.”
Barnard tripped the trap door at 10:44. A singular gasp was heard from the crowd as blood streamed down the front of Elizabeth’s white dress and dripped into a pool at her feet. Her head was almost severed because of her heavy weight. Josiah slowly turned around two or three times and his legs contracted once. At 11:08 Elizabeth was cut down and turned over to the undertaker. A few minutes later Josiah was placed in a coffin next to hers in the back of a wagon and they were taken to the cemetery”.
