The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-24
LYNCH LAW-HoRRIBLE SCENE IN KY

l. ME- LA -IlohhlDLE SOEtNE IN N Il
The fact. that a drover of Kentucky, named Ut
terback, had been nearly murdered and robbed, and
thai 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 WllIiamstown,
Grant county, KY, on the above charge Mr. Utter
back 1t seems, has been lingering IN miserable state
his throat having been shockingy mangled-at a
three four miles beyond Williamstown,
a much travelled road and an object of commise-
ration with every passer by. He Is a citizen of Bour-
bon the adjoining county to Grant, and where the
citemcnt has been increasing ever since the attempt to
murder him. 1t being problematical however, wheth-
er Mr. Uterback might not survive-athough in such
situation to be neither useful to himself fellow
men--the uncertainty increased whether the utmost
penalty of the law would be visited upon the prisoners,
nothing less than which il seemed would pacify the
people Of Bourbon. Many of the citizens of that
county therefore, deliberately resolved upon the
mary execution They first deputed ten citizens of
the county to visit Williamstown and inform the cti-
Of the place. and the prisoners particularly that
| at such time the prisoners were to be executed
This notice thirty six hours previous the actual
execution, and clergyman was also sent, and actu-
ally went to the prison. for religious converse with the
prisoners.
On Saturday, in pursuance Of the notice, about five
hundred citizens of Bourbon, to which were added
some from Scott and Harrison Counties went into
Willlamstown in solemn procession and most perfect
order They had chosen their sherifs to for the
occasion, and proceeded to the jail and demanded the
prisoners, Maythe and Couch. The sheriff of Grant
refused 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 on
them took up their line of march without the least
noise or confusion, to the spot of ground where the
murder was attempted, about four miles distant. BY
this time the number assembled 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 lis He listened to with
the utmost silence and respect but without apparently
altering the determination of single person present
The prelimnaIes then adjusted and the prison
asked if they had anything say previous TO the
closing of thier earthly accounts. One of them,
Maythe, addressed few remarks TO the people, ad-
hitting the commission of the for which they were
to suffer, denying, however that it was 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 ZANE spot where the crime was committed -
Rude collins were constructed and there they were
buried The crowd then dispersed in the same perfect
order.
! When we add, that one of the criminals, Maythe
has been long known by many citizens of Ohio and
| Kentucky as a man of VIGOROUSLY bad character
having been confined at different times and escaped
from the penentIaries Of both Stacs-we have stated
all the facts and whatever there may be of palliaup
nature in this case.-Netodrk Daily Advertiser.