Join Jeff Kintop for a presentation about the Mystic 12.The mystery begins with an old photograph of 12 men standing in front of the Lyon County Courthouse in Dayton with the caption “Thurston Douglas & other members of The Mystic 12.” Noted on the back of the image, it says, “Indian trial at Dayton in Nov. 1882 – convicting Chas. Genzel for the murder of an Indian woman.”

It became a mystery when all the information turned out to be wrong. It is the first time a white man was tried, convicted, and imprisoned for the murder of an American Indian in Nevada.

Presenter Jeff Kintop has 45 years of experience in Nevada history. He retired in 2018 from the Nevada State Library, Archives, and Public Records after a 35-year career that he began as an Archives Assistant and concluded as Administrator of the Division. Kintop has written or contributed to books, reports, and articles on Nevada history, historical research, and archival programs. He served on and was chair of the State Board on Geographic Names and is now president of the Nevada Judicial History Society and deputy coordinator/co-chair of the Nevada State Historical Records Advisory Board.

This event is part of the Historic Reno Preservation Society’s second Sunday speaker series, a monthly series of presentations on subjects of local historical interest. Registration is required.