Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- State of California vs. John Chinaman
- Dates:
- 1854
- Creators:
- California. Grand Jury (Trinity County)
- Abstract:
- Extent:
- 1 leaf
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
State of California vs. John Chinaman. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center
Background
- Scope and content:
-
A brief manuscript record of the agreement of what is assumed to be the Trinity County grand jury, regarding probable cause to try (a “true bill”) a Chinese man in court after he had been charged with assaulting an officer on the Trinity River on or about July 1, 1854. In this case, the People of the State of California vs. John Chinaman, William M. Lowe was a witness; R. T. Miller was jury foreman; the true bill was filed October 4, 1854. The outcome of the subsequent trial is unknown.
- Biographical / historical:
-
John Chinaman was a generic name given to any Chinese person, especially male, in the early to mid-nineteenth century. William M. Lowe was sheriff of Trinity County in 1855. The grand jury probably convened in Weaverville, the county seat. Richard T. Miller later moved to Silver City, Idaho, serving in that state as a judge and attorney.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Chinese -- California -- Trinity County
Indictments -- California -- 19th century
Grand jury -- California -- Trinity County
Court records -- California -- Trinity County
Criminal courts -- California -- Trinity County - Names:
- Lowe, William M.
Miller, Richard T., d. 1873 - Places:
- Trinity County (Calif.) -- Social conditions -- 19th century.
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- 1854
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
- Preferred citation:
-
State of California vs. John Chinaman. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center
- Location of this collection:
-
San Francisco Public Library100 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102, US
- Contact:
- (415) 557-4567