Sonoma Democrat, 17 December 1857
We take the following account of the execution of three murderers at Sonora, Dec. 12th, from the Sonora Correspondent of the Morning Call:
“The all-absorbing topic of conversation at this time is the hanging of Lyons, Poer and McAuley, for the murders perpetrated by them some time back. At ten o’clock yesterday the prisoners were taken to the place of execution from the jail, guarded by the Columbia Fusileers, under the command of Brigadier-General Cazenau, and the Sonora Greys, Captain Stuart.
On arriving at the place of punishment, some mile and a half from Sonora, to which the prisoners were conveyed in a carriage, the multitude of spectators were astounded with surprise when they observed the prisoners visibly affected with strong drink. After ascending the scaffold, the death warrant of McAuley was read by the Sheriff, as also that of Lyons and Poer. Lyons then stepped forward and addressed the people, fully acknowledging the justice of his punishment. Up till a few days since, he stoutly denied his guilt, but in his last speech he gave a detailed statement of his crime, and the causes which he alleged induced him to its perpetration. He averred that his brother had been wronged by the Blakelys out of some property, on which he resolved to be his brother’s avenger, although he knew nothing of his intentions to attack the wrongdoers. He charged some of the witnesses against him with false swearing, but declared his belief of his brother being an honest citizen, a good man. Poer, convicted of the same crime, being Lyons’ accomplice, also addressed the crowd, and substantiated in the main the previous statement made by Lyons. He particularly directed his remarks to the youths present, urging them to be industrious and honest, and more especially to shun the companionship of bad people, men and women. These men had lived many years a most infamous life. Lyons has been considered a dangerous man, being thought the murderer of many persons whose remains have been found contiguous to his residence in the mountains; and Poer was a notorious horse-thief, but on the scaffold denied participating in the murder of any white man until he joined Lyons, although he frankly avowed having killed 5 greasers. McAuley never denied the killing of Wesley Bond, for which he suffered. He also spoke a short time, attributing his crime to bad habits and strong liquor, which destroyed his reason. Some hours had thus passed since their reaching the scaffold, and the criminals kept imbibing liquor until Poer and McAuley could scarcely stand erect. Just before the caps were drawn over their eyes, and while the Sheriff was adjusting the ropes on their necks, the prisoners littered the most disgusting imprecations, and thus continued until they were launched off the platform.