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Sierra County Sheriff's Gallows
On November 27, 1885, 20 year-old James O'Neill was hanged from this gallows for the August 7, 1884
murder of Webber Lake dairyman John Woodward. That execution, conducted by Sheriff Samuel C. Stewart
approximately 100 feet west of this site, was the last legal execution in Sierra County and the only
time this gallows was used. Changes in State law in 1891 ended local executions in California and
further changes in 1941 ended hanging as a means of legal execution within the state.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 971
Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the County of
Sierra and Sgt. Lee Adams, Project Director.
October 16, 1988
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