Juan Bautista Wilson aka John B. Wilson (Jan 8th, 1847 - Dec 6th, 1870) was the only son of Benjamin Davis "Don Benito" Wilson (Dec 1st, 1811 - March 11th, 1878) and his first wife María Ramona Anselma Marcelina Yorba y Alvarado Wilson (April 20th, 1828 - May 21st, 1849). She was the daughter of Bernardo Antonio Yorba, owner of Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana.
March 25th, 1870, John Wilson and Charles E. Bean, aka Beane, the assistant editor of the newspaper "Los Angeles News" fought a duel at Arroyo Seco (the creek running from the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, flowing into the Los Angeles River) just beyond the than city limits of Los Angeles. As is tradition, each man had a second, and a doctor was present as well. The ground was measured off, the men were instructed to walk twenty or thirty paces, and then upon giving a certain order, each was to wheel about and fire. With the first signal, both turned, Wilson raised his rifle the quickest and pulled the trigger; the percussion cap snapped and the rifle misfired. Bean generously refused the advantage. Wilson's rifle was reloaded, and again the signal was made, to which both turned and fired. Wilson was shot through the left arm (a flesh wound) and dropped his rifle. Bean was unhurt. The incident was reported upon and then reprinted in various newspapers.
Whether or not the duel was a contributing factor, his alcoholism was almost certainly a major reason why John Wilson (coupled with the estrangement from his father), at just a few weeks shy of his 24th birthday took a room at the Bella Union Hotel, in Los Angeles (an establishment his father once owned), and on Dec 6th, 1870, shot himself to death.
Perhaps because of the influence of his father, there was almost no mention in the press of the tragedy. His death was briefly mentioned in the San Francisco Examiner, Dec 7th, 1870 "John Wilson committed suicide by shooting himself in the head." And the Marysville Daily Appeal, Dec 7th, 1870, had a slightly different take on the story "John Wilson was found dead in his room at the Bella Union Hotel, yesterday. A large pistol was found in close proximity to the body. It is apparent that deceased committed suicide. He had a gun shot wound in his breast which penetrated the heart and caused his death. An inquest last evening rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts."
Bio suggested by Contributor: Mark Mutz (50050028)
March 25th, 1870, John Wilson and Charles E. Bean, aka Beane, the assistant editor of the newspaper "Los Angeles News" fought a duel at Arroyo Seco (the creek running from the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, flowing into the Los Angeles River) just beyond the than city limits of Los Angeles. As is tradition, each man had a second, and a doctor was present as well. The ground was measured off, the men were instructed to walk twenty or thirty paces, and then upon giving a certain order, each was to wheel about and fire. With the first signal, both turned, Wilson raised his rifle the quickest and pulled the trigger; the percussion cap snapped and the rifle misfired. Bean generously refused the advantage. Wilson's rifle was reloaded, and again the signal was made, to which both turned and fired. Wilson was shot through the left arm (a flesh wound) and dropped his rifle. Bean was unhurt. The incident was reported upon and then reprinted in various newspapers.
Whether or not the duel was a contributing factor, his alcoholism was almost certainly a major reason why John Wilson (coupled with the estrangement from his father), at just a few weeks shy of his 24th birthday took a room at the Bella Union Hotel, in Los Angeles (an establishment his father once owned), and on Dec 6th, 1870, shot himself to death.
Perhaps because of the influence of his father, there was almost no mention in the press of the tragedy. His death was briefly mentioned in the San Francisco Examiner, Dec 7th, 1870 "John Wilson committed suicide by shooting himself in the head." And the Marysville Daily Appeal, Dec 7th, 1870, had a slightly different take on the story "John Wilson was found dead in his room at the Bella Union Hotel, yesterday. A large pistol was found in close proximity to the body. It is apparent that deceased committed suicide. He had a gun shot wound in his breast which penetrated the heart and caused his death. An inquest last evening rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts."
Bio suggested by Contributor: Mark Mutz (50050028)
Juan Bautista Wilson aka John B. Wilson (Jan 8th, 1847 - Dec 6th, 1870) was the only son of Benjamin Davis "Don Benito" Wilson (Dec 1st, 1811 - March 11th, 1878) and his first wife María Ramona Anselma Marcelina Yorba y Alvarado Wilson (April 20th, 1828 - May 21st, 1849). She was the daughter of Bernardo Antonio Yorba, owner of Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana.
March 25th, 1870, John Wilson and Charles E. Bean, aka Beane, the assistant editor of the newspaper "Los Angeles News" fought a duel at Arroyo Seco (the creek running from the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, flowing into the Los Angeles River) just beyond the than city limits of Los Angeles. As is tradition, each man had a second, and a doctor was present as well. The ground was measured off, the men were instructed to walk twenty or thirty paces, and then upon giving a certain order, each was to wheel about and fire. With the first signal, both turned, Wilson raised his rifle the quickest and pulled the trigger; the percussion cap snapped and the rifle misfired. Bean generously refused the advantage. Wilson's rifle was reloaded, and again the signal was made, to which both turned and fired. Wilson was shot through the left arm (a flesh wound) and dropped his rifle. Bean was unhurt. The incident was reported upon and then reprinted in various newspapers.
Whether or not the duel was a contributing factor, his alcoholism was almost certainly a major reason why John Wilson (coupled with the estrangement from his father), at just a few weeks shy of his 24th birthday took a room at the Bella Union Hotel, in Los Angeles (an establishment his father once owned), and on Dec 6th, 1870, shot himself to death.
Perhaps because of the influence of his father, there was almost no mention in the press of the tragedy. His death was briefly mentioned in the San Francisco Examiner, Dec 7th, 1870 "John Wilson committed suicide by shooting himself in the head." And the Marysville Daily Appeal, Dec 7th, 1870, had a slightly different take on the story "John Wilson was found dead in his room at the Bella Union Hotel, yesterday. A large pistol was found in close proximity to the body. It is apparent that deceased committed suicide. He had a gun shot wound in his breast which penetrated the heart and caused his death. An inquest last evening rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts."
Bio suggested by Contributor: Mark Mutz (50050028)
March 25th, 1870, John Wilson and Charles E. Bean, aka Beane, the assistant editor of the newspaper "Los Angeles News" fought a duel at Arroyo Seco (the creek running from the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, flowing into the Los Angeles River) just beyond the than city limits of Los Angeles. As is tradition, each man had a second, and a doctor was present as well. The ground was measured off, the men were instructed to walk twenty or thirty paces, and then upon giving a certain order, each was to wheel about and fire. With the first signal, both turned, Wilson raised his rifle the quickest and pulled the trigger; the percussion cap snapped and the rifle misfired. Bean generously refused the advantage. Wilson's rifle was reloaded, and again the signal was made, to which both turned and fired. Wilson was shot through the left arm (a flesh wound) and dropped his rifle. Bean was unhurt. The incident was reported upon and then reprinted in various newspapers.
Whether or not the duel was a contributing factor, his alcoholism was almost certainly a major reason why John Wilson (coupled with the estrangement from his father), at just a few weeks shy of his 24th birthday took a room at the Bella Union Hotel, in Los Angeles (an establishment his father once owned), and on Dec 6th, 1870, shot himself to death.
Perhaps because of the influence of his father, there was almost no mention in the press of the tragedy. His death was briefly mentioned in the San Francisco Examiner, Dec 7th, 1870 "John Wilson committed suicide by shooting himself in the head." And the Marysville Daily Appeal, Dec 7th, 1870, had a slightly different take on the story "John Wilson was found dead in his room at the Bella Union Hotel, yesterday. A large pistol was found in close proximity to the body. It is apparent that deceased committed suicide. He had a gun shot wound in his breast which penetrated the heart and caused his death. An inquest last evening rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts."
Bio suggested by Contributor: Mark Mutz (50050028)
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