Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-24
DAILY NIRGINIAN.
LYNCH LAW AT JANEsvILLE, (WIscoN
SIM
PROM 7 IL CHICAGO JouRNAb.

Our readers will recollect the murder of An
drew Alger committed by man named David p
Mayberry, not long since. II Of the
most cold blooded mercenary murders il has ev
or tnllen To our lot to record. Alger was man
of good character. aud hnd many friends. May
berry on the other hand possessed no reputation
but bad one, and no friends; far we know
TINT were any credit to him. These facts viii
serve meusnrubly 10 account for the Terrible
exhibition Of mob violence, though they do not
warrant and indeed very slightly palliate it. 1t
will be remembered thnt capital punishment is
hbohshcdin Wisconsin,.
During the whole of this trial and in truth
from the day of the discovery ofthe body of tho
murdered mnn up to the trial, much excitement
had prevailed in the community.
About elgh q clock on tho morning OF the 10Th
instant, Maybcrry having been found gully on
the preceding day, he was takea TO the court
house to receive bis scntcnec.
\ greatly excited crowd assembled around the
prisoner but the officers scceoded in getting him
10 the court house, whore hn received sentence
of imprisonment for life The mob stood all
around the court house, ready TO take him the
moment he should be brought out, aud were
hounttully supplied with ropes wherewith 10
hang him. lhc officers, knowing the mind nf the
people, kept the prisoner in the house until huff
past one when the crowd were gone to dinner,
but the most desperate Of the mob remained At
ed toward the Jail surrounded with officers. The
mob rushed simultaneously, and desperate
struggle ensued The steps of the jail were
torn away by the crowd, and the approach Of the
officers cut off.
The officers though resisting the popuace
will all the energy they possessed and protecting
the prisoner to the utmost of their power, were
borne down aud overpowered. The prisoner was
then almost alone; but he defended himself With
superhumnn srength llo fought with the ut
most desperation. and, possessing n most athletic
physical frame for some ten yards the crowd fell
like chatf before him. A blow, however. with a
budgeon from behind feed him to the ground
and he was poweress. A rope was then passed
round his neck, seized by the crowd. aud a rush
mnde down Court street. The prisoner. though
dragging through the dust caught tho rope with
his hands and thus prevented strhnRuaton at
once. Arrived IN front of our office desperate
efforts wns ngnln made by the officers and citizens
10 rescue him. The rope cut three times by
Mr.. Orrin Gurnsey, who exhibited the most de-
termincd bravery in his behalf, but ns often was
he thrust aside and the rope readjused
AT this time scene almost indescribable was
exhibited. A crowd of between two and three
thousand persons swayed TO and fro. In tho cen
tre was the doomed prisoner lying upon tho
ground, above him stood friends begging and
struggling for hi life, while far greater number
were intent upon hs death. This state of things
lasted about ten minutes aud, rs we looked from
our window the hope predominated that the
friends of law and order might yet prevail BUTT
wns avan hope. The fearful cry Of chang him.
rose louder than before, and IL rush with the prs
oner was made to the cluster of trees on the pub
lie square. tho rope rc-adjusted upon his nook.
the other end thrown over the tree, and for the
FIRST time the horrible spectacle ofa human being
hanging by the neck until he dead met
view,
Tho above facts are derived from the Beloit
journal and .Jnnesyillc Standard.