La Vereda del Monte – The walls of Cantua Creek, Tres Piedras in the rearground

In an interview with Captain Harry Love (Leader of the California Rangers,) following Murrieta’s demise at Cantua
Latta:

“Harry Love says that Joaquin, at a pinch could have raised two thousand desperados; and he believes that such was the bandit’s purpose, to scour the entire southern country, sack the small settlements, and before a body of troops could be raised announce himself at Sonora. The prisoner he took intimated as much to Captain Love”

The prisoner he refers to is Ochovo, one of two captured alive at Cantua, and transported to Benicia, where he was interrogated and jailed to stand trial – most certainly to be hung – However, he never got the trial, but he did get the noose. While Love met with Governor Bigler to collect the bounty for Murrieta’s head, he was escorted from Benicia to Martinez by Capt Howard after getting a tipoff that his prisoner’s life was in danger. All to no avail, Ochovo was taken the following night from Martinez jail and hung from a local oak tree, no doubt jerking his knees and spoiling himself as he dangled – this was not your typical lynching, common in the era of the Vigilante, he was hung by Mexicans, either to prevent further, disclosure of the gang and their network secrets, or because he was a snitch and already spilled the beans. Either way it’s evidence of the extraordinary reach, and influence of the Murrieta men.