Near Bishop in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Lynching of the Convicts

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 15, 2013

1. Lynching of the Convicts Marker

Inscription. Near this location, on Oct. 1, 1871, escaped convicts Moses Black and Leander Morton were lynched by vigilantes to avenge the killing of Robert Morrison, a well liked Wells Fargo agent from Benton. Morrison was a member of the sheriff's posse who captured the convicts who had escaped from the Nevada State Penitentiary in Carson City. Following a two hour "court" proceeding the "jury" agreed that Black and Morton were guilty and they were immediately hung from a make-shift scaffold, which was quickly built during the trial.

Erected 2005 by Slim Princess Chapter No. 395, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 37° 22.562′ N, 118° 27.264′ W. Marker is near Bishop, California, in Inyo County. It is on U.S. 395, on the right when traveling north. Located at the Bishop Gun Club. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3951 N Sierra Highway, Bishop CA 93514, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: San Francis Ranch (approx. one mile away); Izaak Walton Park (approx. 1.2 miles away); Manor Market (approx.

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1.4 miles away); Millpond Recreation Area (approx. 2.3 miles away); Bishop Creek Battleground (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Mule (approx. 3 miles away); James D. Birchim (approx. 3.2 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Bishop (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bishop.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Marker at Convict Lake

Also see . . . Gun Play at Convict Lake. (Submitted on March 25, 2014.)

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 15, 2013

2. Lynching of the Convicts Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 5, 2025

3. Lynching of the Convicts Marker

Located at the Bishop Gun Club.

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 5, 2025

4. Lynching of the Convicts Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,476 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3, 4. submitted on November 9, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.