MURDER!!! 159 years ago this date (Jan 23, 1857)

[Tsalagidave]

159 years ago this date (Jan 23, 1857), LA County Sheriff James Barton, Constable William Little, Constable Charles Baker, and Deputy Charles Daly were ambushed and killed by a gang of Robbers "Las Manillas" (about 50-60 strong) while en route to San Juan Capistrano (at a point across the 405 from present day Irvine Spectrum) in an attempt to halt the gang's rampage of looting and murder.  It would Unite the people of Southern California; Gringo and Latino "Californio" militias, European immigrant militias, Mormon militias, US Army Dragoons, and warriors of the various California Indian tribes united to ride together, hunt down and destroy the outlaw gang as Las Manillas scattered to the wind.   The fighting ranged  from San Diego County to Santa Barbara.  Another American would die from an accident while 2 posse members were wounded in the fighting over the next few days. By Feb 7, 1857, the fighting was over. At least 19 gang members died by that time. The last of the murderers (Andres Fontes) would be executed by Mexican authorities under the command of Feliciano Ruiz De Espana in 1860 along with 15 other Californian desperadoes whose unlawful behavior wore out their welcome with our southern neighbor.

Take a moment to remember fallen law enforcement officers and the wild days of America's frontier past.  Many of the sites where all this happened still stand as forgotten witnesses in modern neighborhoods, shopping districts and even the sweeping coastal hills of Southern California.

-Dave

[Tsalagidave]

Barton's Mound where Barton and 3 posse members died in the Jan. 23, 1857 ambush.

[Tsalagidave]

Diego Sepulveda Adobe as it stands in present day Costa Mesa. This is where Barton and Posse had their last meal and were warned by Californio Rancheros about the gang's intent to ambush them.  It was also the refuge of the 2 surviving posse members after the attack.   

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[Tsalagidave]

Manuel Garcia Adobe in the town of San Juan Capistrano is the site where "German George" Pflugart was murdered in his shop by gang member Luciano Tapia (Alias: Leonardo Lopez)

[Tsalagidave]

Juan Forster house in Mission San Juan Capistrano. It was the epicenter of the great bandit raid and was a rallying point for the Posses and Militias pursuing Las Manillas after the robber gang abandoned the town.   

[Tsalagidave]

Flores Peak, site of the bandit hideout where Juan Flores, Luciano Tapia, and Jesus Espinosa were captured after a sharp fight and horse chases down a 50-ft cliff.

[Tsalagidave]

Site of the Precitos Canyon "Hangman's Tree" where Andres Pico and his Californio Lancers gunned down one gang member and hanged 2-others ( Guerro Adriello & Juan Silvas) on Jan. 27, 1857. The bodies were left out to rot until what little remained was  buried in 1860.

[Quick Fire]

Great history. Thanks Tsalagidave.

Quick Fire

[Major 2]

Flores Peak, site of the bandit hideout where Juan Flores, Luciano Tapia, and Jesus Espinosa were captured after a sharp fight and horse chases down a 50-ft cliff.

Here is the Historical plaque on the mount.

[Major 2]

This  plaque reads ...

"Under this tree," General Andres Pico Hung Two Banditos of the Flores Gang in 1857."


The tree was native sycamore , not the scrub in the photo.

[Tsalagidave]

There are old photos of the original tree online. Google Precitos canyon hang mans tree.  The area is where I often teach my daughter woodcraft.

[Niederlander]

Excellent stuff!  I wish I would have known about this stuff when I still lived out there!

[Tsalagidave]

Here is the Historical plaque on the mount.

Major2, I know exactly where that plaque is and what i'd give to rewrite it.  Flores was actually captured there along with two bandits and taken to Santa Ana Vieja (Old Spanish/Mexican era town) that was located on the east bank of the Santa Ana river 300m South of the Chapman crossing. (Nothing remains now).   The three prisoners promptly escaped from their gringo captors.  Flores was recaptured at the Simi Pass, North of Los Angeles (Executed Feb. 14, 57), Jesus Espinoza was recognized, caught and lynched in Santa Barbara, and Leonardo Lopez (Luciano Tapia) was caught, tried and hanged alongside a white murder by the name of King.

-Dave

[Major 2]

Another view of the hangman's tree plaque

[Tsalagidave]

That one is off a jeep trail that you can access where Chapman/El Toro road departs from the 133 Toll Road. Don't attempt reaching it with a regular car. After researching first hand accounts, it appears that Andres Pico and his Lancers accompanied by The Monte Rangers.  They came up Santiago creek through what is now Irvine Park and where Irvine lake now sits.  They captured half of  the bandits, leaving the other half to flee out through the mouth if what it now Modjeska canyon and attempt to go North to where they were finally caught and annihilated by Pico and his Lancers 

[Oregon Bill]

Fascinating stuff! Thanks Dave.