Jose Chamalis
Jose Chamalis was one of two men held in the Santa Cruz jail when, according to a letter from Santa Cruz reprinted in the Daily Gazette, a mob took them from the jail and hanged them from the Upper San Lorenzo bridge. The letter says the jailer and under sheriff were surrounded, the jail yard door was broken open, and the keys were taken from the officers. The bodies were reportedly found on the morning of May 20, 1877. The account is a single letter, and no other sources in this record describe what officials did to prevent the killing or what happened afterward.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A letter from Santa Cruz, reprinted in the Daily Gazette, says a mob took Chamalis and another man from the county jail and hanged them from the Upper San Lorenzo bridge after the jailer and under sheriff were surrounded and the keys were taken from them.
Reported by: letter from Santa Cruz, reprinted in the Daily Gazette (reporters).