ing of the horses. Myers admitted having fired the fatal shot, bus
_cjLaimed that—the-gun had gone off accidentallyand that—he-had then
bludgeoned Lowell over the head to "put him out of his misery," After
all had meen convicted and sentenced to die, Myers made a statement in
which he claimed that. he alone was responsible for the murder and
‘Drager and Olsen received stays of executions while their case was
appealed to the California Supreme Court, Myers did not appeal and
he was hanged before ac large crowd which had gathered on the hills
and fences overlooking the jail yard at Placerville on Nov,, 30, 1888,
He refused to eat the day before his execution and when the death march
began, he broke completely and began sobbing. When he came within
sight of the gallows, he fell to the ground and reused to walk, After
he had been carried on the scaffold, he lay there screaming so loudly
that his cries could be heard for many city blocks while he was bound
and he-was then held upright until the trap fell, H is neck was not
broken by the fall WRX amd he strangled over a 15 minute period of tim
Drager and Olsen were hanged the next year, Ls ae
PLA CERVILLE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT, Placerville, Calif, 6-16-1888; 9-15-'88
12-1-1888; 10-19-1889 ° : cama
See also: DRAGER, William and OLSEN, John
| ing of the horses. Myers admitted having fired the fatal shot, but
ciaimedthat—thegun— had_gone-off accidentally and that—he had then —
bludgeoned Lowell over the head to "put him out of his misery," After
all had meen convicted and sentenced to die, Myers made a statement in
which he claimed that. he alone was responsible for the murder and
Drager and Olsen received stays of executions while their case was
appealed to the California Supreme Court, Myers did not appeal and
he was hanged before ac: large crowd which had gathered on the hills
and fences overlooking the jail yard at Placerville on Nov,. 30, 1888,
He refused to eat the day before his execution and when the death march
began, he broke completely and began sobbinge When -he-came within
sight of the gallows , he fell to the ground and reused to walk, After
he had been carried on the scaffold, he lay there screaming so loudly
that his cries could be heard for many city blocks while he was bound
and he was then held upright until the trap fell, H is neck was not
broken by the fall WKX amd he strangled over a 15 minute period of timq
raser and Olsen were hanged the next yeare
PEAGPRVILLE MOUNUAIN DRYDCRAT, Placerville, Calif, , 6-16-1888; 9-15-'84
12-1-1888; 10-19-1889 °
See also: DRAGER, William and OLSEN, John
ing of the horses, Myers admitted having fired the fatal shot, but
A@Uatned that the gun -had-gone-of2 aecidentally and netwatiy
bludgeoned Iowell over the head to "put him out of his misery." After
all had heen convicted and sentenced to die, Myers made a statement in
which he claimed that. he alone was responsible for the murder and
Drager and Olsen received stays of executions while their case was
appealed to the California Supreme Court, Myers did not appeal and
he was hanged before a large crowd which had gathered on the hills
and fences overlooking the jail yard at Placerville on Nov,. 30, 1688.
He refused to eat the day before his execution and when the death march
began, he broke completely and began sobbing. When he came within
sight of the gallows , he fell to the ground and reused to walk, After]
he had been carried on the scaffold, he lay there screaming so loudly
that his cries could be heard for many city blocks while he was bound
and he was then held upright until the tran fell, H is neck was not
broken by the fall MEX and he strangled over a 15 minute period of tim
Drager and Olsen were hanged the next years
PLAGPRVILLE MOUNIAIN DEMOCRAT, Placerville, Calif, 6-16-1888; 9-15-'8!
1-1-1888; 10-19-1889 *
See also: DRA Nilliam and OLSEN, John
yare adnittet having fired the fatal sbot, but
etal ee at ececatiy oe hd
RENTS ONE Ta
Bere eels
| MYERS, John Henry [|- 20-1855
Myers, a white resident of Sacramento, Calif,, and John Olsen leased
the Klotz ranch in El Dorado Co,, in Dec., 1887, agreeing to make
a payment in March, 1888, They were joined on the ranch by William
Drager, an employee, and the, three men were frequently visited by
John Lowell, an elderly and prosperous rancher, who had a nice herd
of horsese, When they were unable to make the payment due on the
lease, they were evicted and on March 2h, they went to the Lowell
ranch, early in the morning, and asked for jobs chopping wood, Mr, |
Lowell prepared breakfast for them and after all had eaten, they
left the house to walk over the ranch with Mr, Lowell in the leads
Myers shot him through the back of the neck with Lowell's own gun
and then bludgeoned him on the head, after which the three men
carried his body back into the house and buried it in the cellar,
They drove Lowell's horses, to Woodland and Sacramento where they
Sold them, ~In-fact., some were sold ah an auction attended by Loweblls
son who failed th recognize his father's stock, After dividing the
proceeds, they went ih skate directions, After Lowell's body was
found some time later, all were arrested with Myers being taken into
€ustody in Los Angeles where he had gone with his wife. All made
statements admitting their presence umm ab the murder and the steal-
TR
MYERS, John Henry We o-(6 so"
Myers, a white resident of Sacramento, Calif,, and John Olsen leased
the Klotz ranch in El Dorado Co,, in Dec., 1887, agreeing to make
a payment in March, 1888, They were joined on the ranch by William
Drager, an employee, and the, three men were frequently visited by
John Lowell, an elderly and prosperous rancher, who had a nice herd
of horsese, When they were unable to make the payment due on the
lease, they were evicted and on March 2h, they went to the Lowell
ranch, early in the morning, and asked for jobs chopping wood, Mr,
Lowell prepared breakfast for them and after all had eaten, they
left the house to walk over the ranch with Mr, Lowell in the lead.
Myers shot him through the back of the neck with Lowell's own gun
and then bludgeoned him on the head, after which the three men
carried his body back into the house and buried it in the cellar,
They drove Lowell's horses, to Woodland and Sacramento where they
sold them, -In-fact, some were sold ab an auction attended by Lowebllg
son who failed th recognize his father's stock, After dividing the
proceeds, they went ih a Laat directions, After Lowell's body was
found some time later, all were arrested with Myers being taken into
€ustody in Los Angeles where he had gone with his wife. All made
statements admitting their presence am# sb the murder and the steal-
‘ MYFRS, John Henry U-20-(E§F
Myers, a white resident of Sacramento, Calif, , and John Olsen leased
the Klotz ranch in El Dorado Co,, in Decs, 1887, agreeing to make
a payment in March, 1888, They were joined on the ranch by Villian
Drager, an employee, and the, three men were frequently visited by
John Lowell, an elderly and prosperous rancher, who had a nice herd
of horses.. When they were unable to make the payment due on the
lease, they were evicted and on March 2h, they went to the Lowell
ranch, early in the morning, and asked for jobs chopping wood, Mr,
Lowell prepared breakfast for them and after all had eaten, they
left the house to walk over the ranch with Mr, Lowell in the lead.
Myers shot him through the back of the neck with Lowell's own gun
and then bludgeoned him on the head, after which the three men
carried his body back into the house and buried it in the ace
They drove Lowell's horses, to Woodland and Sacramento where they
sold then, In-facty some were sold ab an auction attended te Loweklld
son who failed th recognize his father's stock, After dividing the
proceeds, they went ih separate directions, fter Lowell's body was
and sohe time later, ali were arrested with Myers being taken into
anes in Los Angeles where he had gone with his wife, All itade
atements admitting their presence xm# th the murder and the steal-
is thence te ae Bare Ee
