Today, only the remnants of the legendary Hangman's Tree stand adjacent to the grave of the man who once hung from it.
On Nov. 24, 1863, the hanging of William Armitage was carried out.
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He had been convicted of the murder of Thomas Clegg in a grand jury trial in Lillooet on Oct. 15, 1863, and was sentenced to hang by Justice Matthew Baillie Begbie, the infamous Hanging Judge.
The story continues that of the people hanged from the tree, their remains were buried under the Chinese rock pilings.
These pilings were left by the Chinese who came prospecting for gold on the Fraser River. They would wash the rocks, inspect them, then neatly pile up the discarded rocks on the shore.
HOW TO GET THERE -- From Kamloops, drive west on Highway 1 to Cache Creek. At Cache Creek, drive north on Highway 97, then turn west on Highway 99. Once in Lillooet, travel down Main Street to Seventh Avenue. Take Seventh Avenue, which turns onto Russell Lane. Keep an eye out for the information sign and the main Chinese rock piling on your right. Located just up the street is Cayoosh Park, where the Hangman's Tree is located.
