The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-24
LYNCH LAw-HoRRIBLE SCENE in KY

LYNCH LAW-HORRIBLE SCENE IN KY.
The facts that drover of Kentucky, named Ut
terback had been nearly murdered, and robbed, and
that two men named Maythe and Couch had been ar
rested on suspicion of being the perpetrators of the
outrage were published last week; and we now learn,
by the Cincinnati Republican, that both the accused
have already fallen victims to popular wrath.
At the time Of the execution, the prisoners had
been in confinement in the jail in Williamstown,
Grant county, KY, the above charge. Mr.. Utter
back it seems, has been lingering in miserable state
his throat having been shockingly mangled-at a
tavern some three or four miles beyond Wilamstown,
much travelled road, and an object Of commise-
ration with every passer by He is citizen of Bour-
bon the adjoining county to Grant, and where the
element has been increasing since the attempt
murder him. 1t being problematical, however wheth-
Mr.. Utterback might not survivealthough in such
situation as to be neither useful himself fellow
men-the uncertainty increased whether the utmost
penalty of the law would be visited upon the prisoners
pothing less than which, it seemed would pacify the
people of Bourbon. Many of the citizens of that
county therefore, deliberately resolved upon the sum
mary execution They first deputed ten citizens of
the county visit Williamstown and inform the citi
Of the place. and the prisoners particularly that
| at such time the prisoners were to be executed
This notice thirty six hours previous to the actual
| execution, and clergyman also sent and actu-
ally went to the prison. for religious converse with the
| prisoners. a"
On Saturday in pursuance Of the notice, about five
hundred citizens of Bourbon, to which were added
|
Wiamstown in solemn procession and most perfect
order. They had chosen their sheris act for the
OCCASION and proceeded to the JAIL and demanded the
prisoners, Maythe and Couch The sheriff of Grant
refused 10 give them up, the keys Of the prison he
offered however other resistance and the people at
once broke open the doors They then took the pri-
soners placed them in open wagon, their irons
them took up their line of march without the least
noise confusion, to the spot of ground where the
murder was attempted, about four miles distant BY
this time the number assembled was believed to have
been at least two thousand After arriving on the
| ground, Mr. O'Hara member of the bar, addressed
the people for time upon the proprety of permit
ting the law to take its He listened to with
the utmost silence and respect but without apparently
altering the determination of single person present
The preminaTies were then adjusted and the prison
asked if they had anything say previous the
closing of thier earthly accounts. One of them
Maythe, addressed few remarks to the people, ad-
hitting the commission of the act for which they were
to suffer- denying, however, that it his wish to
commit actual murder. Religious service was then
performed by clergyman present, and Maythe and
Couch were hung in their irons upon tree standing
over the same spot where the crime committed =
Rude coffins were constructed and there they were
buried The crowd then dispersed in the perfect
order. ..,. ..'' VI W. ',.'
When we add that one of the criminals, Maythe,
has been long known by many citizens of Ohio and
| Kentucky as man of VIGOROUSLY bad character
having been confined at different times and escaped
from the pententares of both States-we have stated
all the facts and whatever there may be of paatiug
nature in this case.-Ne,oark Daily Advertiser