The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-30
|Ggt 9ailp gonrnal.
LYNCH LAW IN pARzv1LLE, MO.

crowd at a magistrates Office and was hailed
and told that there was an item for him. He
was told that an Englishman named Joseph
Atkinson, had been arrested by order of his
Honor, Judge Lynch, charged with attempting
to run off negro girl. The crowd was await
ing the arrival of a witness. We quote the
correspondents graphic description ofthe scene
that followed: M
Hooked into the office to see the tar and
feather-doomed individual. There were at
least fifteen persons in the room, which had
the ordinary appearance ofa justice office.
scrutinized the faces ofevery one inside.
Atkinson was pointed out to me. He was
sitting ON low form, leaning slightly forward,
his legs apart, whirling his cap between them
round and round, in his hands, He kept up.
also, very vigorous chewing and eXpectorat-
ing process. But no one would have suspected
the critical condition he was placed in from his
countenance. l never saw a man more appa-
rently unconcerned.
He was afair-complexioned blue-eyed, firmly
knit, rather stupid looking man, about twenty
five years of age. He is rope-maker by trade
and had worked near ParkVille for five or six
weeks past.
Itappears that he had tried to induce negro
girl, said to be the property of Widow Hoy,
with him to st. Louis, where he proposed to
spend the winter with her and then take her
to free State The girl agreed to go but
wished him to take colored couple, friends of
hers along with them. He did not seem to
like the proposition but finally agreed to do
so. The day of flight was fixed. The colored
trio's clothes, it is said, were already packed
up. They intended to start on Saturday. But
the secret came to the ears of negro boy
owned by Mr.. Hoy-to whom the colored
couple also belonged--and he divulged it to
his boss, who Immediately got committee of
investigation to watch the white man and pro-
cure evidence against him from the negroes
implicated in the affair. Atkinson's mistress
and two others to whom the secret was known,
but who had kept it from the ''white folks, y
were privately whipped and questioned. till
they confessed all they knew.
The committee of vestigation-consisting
of Messrs. j. Wallace S. Tolson, John Bird,
Patrick Cooper, M. Pemberton, Col. Summers,
Major Jesse Summers, William Hoy, Col. f.
Burns, j. Millar, j. Hughes, and E. Henshaw,
all men of property and high social standing,
| am told, in this community and in the coun-
try-patrolled the city for two nights keeping
Ia watch on Atkinson and the girl. They fl
nally arrested and sternly interrogated him.
He gave contradictory accounts of his connec
ton with the affair, bat said enough, in the
judment of the committe, to prove his guilt
Thus the matter stood when came up.
After a private conversation between the
members the committee, the crowd went liz
side and seated themselves.
Col Summers opened the meeting by allud-
ing to the circumstances that had called them
together.
Mr. Starns called on the committee indiyid-
ually to give their opinions as to the prisoners
guilt. ~
They each declared themselves satisfied that
he was guilty.
Mr. Starns then said that as this was an
extra-iudicial case-not provided for in the
statute book; it devolved on the meeting to say
what punishment should be inflicted On the
prisoner. The president of the meeting had
suggested that he be tarred and feathered, and
started out of town.
The motion was seconded. Those approx
ing of it were requested to hold up their hands.
Every right hand in the room, except those
of two persons, (of whom the prisoner was one)
were Immediately held up.
Mr.. Starns-The meeting has decided that
he be tarred and fathered.
Mr.. Hughes lighted"
Another voice--"Lets hang him; it's too
good for him."
Mr.. Starns-"No, no, gentlemen; tar and
feathers is enough on negro evidence"
Some person in the room objected to this
reason, and seemed to think that negro evil
dence in such cases was as good as gospel
Capt. Wallace moved that he be given fifty
stripes, which another person amended by SUBJ
mitting hundred for fifty; but, by the oppos-
| ition of Mr. Starns, these motions were disa-
greed to.
A committee ofexecution was then appointed
and the meeting adjourned.
| Some the committee went for tar; others
fora bag of feathers; the rest stood guard before
the office door. Tar enough was brought to
besmear the entire population of Parksville,
and feathers sufficient for at least dozen
coats.
"Now," said Capt Wallace to Atkinson,
'now stranger to save trouble, off with your
shirt"
With imperturbable coolness, and without
opening his lips, the prisoner dofed his linen
and fannels. Ashe wore neither vest nor coat,
this ceremony was soon concluded.
He's obedient," said one of the crowd, "its
lbest for him.
"He's off too d--d easy" said another.
"Thats fact" said third.
By this time the prisoner was naked from the
loins upward.
''Come out here" said Capt. Wallace, eve
don't want to smear the floor with the tar'
Silently and carelessly Atkinson followed
him. Eia
j Messrs. Bird and Hughes then cut two
lpaddles-sticks abcut..a yard long, and broad
at one end and proceeded slowly (amid the
laughter andjests ofthe crowd which Atkinson
seemed neither to see nor care for) to layit on
at least half an inch deep, from the crown of his
head to his waist over his arms, hands, cheeks,
throw, hair, arm-pits, ears, back. breast and