Who was California outlaw Joaquin Murrieta?
Bandit Joaquin Murrieta (picture) is a legend, especially in the Central California region where he rode in the 1850s. Some consider him a freedom fighter, attacking the Anglos who were trying to take Mexican land. As a result, schools, medical clinics and more have been named after him. But Californian researcher/writer John Boessenecker says that image is wrong. The real Murrieta attacked mining camps and killed Anglos, Chinese and Mexican workers. His motive: money. It’s a case where the legend has overwhelmed the truth.
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