The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-25

We publish the following from the Du-
buque Express & Herald, as correct account
of the lynching in Jackson Co., Iowa.
I'VE have just learned FIR III Mr.. Black, of
Andrew, the old county seat OF Jack ON Co.,
twenty tive miles south of Dubuque, the
particulars of the hanging at that place by a
mob, Oh Saturday last, the llth inst, OF Eli
Gniford, halt-breed. Grlttord had murder
ed man named John Ingalls,, about the 18th
ot March. He was arrested anu lodged III
,ail ut Andrew on the 3lst of March, anu
was taken from the Jail on Saturday last, at
ab ut 2 o'clock, P. NJ, by u mob OF twenty
four of the citizens Of the vicinity where the
murder was perpetrated, Iron Hill Post VI
lice, in tie same county, and about fourteen
miles f. ON Andrew. The Jail was entered
by force, the door being broken with sledse.
| me tailor made no resistance, nor called on
the citizens for help, to protect the prisoner
Of defend the jail. The uncle OF the MUIR
,lerer had a lew moments before rode into
town and warned the jallor OIL the approach
Of the mob. :,
The mob was headed by Jacob Lands OF
Iron Hill, and on arriving in town proceeded
at once TO the Jail and assa,led the door with
a heavy sledce. The door of the cell was
strong one. and did not yield until near two
hundred blows had been struck. There
we're four other prisoners in the Jail, who,
with the assistance of Grifford, barricaded
the door. The prisoner, on finding himself
in the mower of the mob, showed much
alarm and asserted, on being told it was
| their intention to hang him, that "v you hang
me vog hama an innocent man." From the
jail the mob toek Grifford to tree just
south of the school house, between that
building and the cemetery, when rope was
| out around his neck and thrown over limb
pr jecting over the pathway.
CONFESSION OF THE MURDER AND IMPLICATION OF TWO
OTHER PERSONS.
When Grifford found that tie citizens
were determined upon hanging him, and
there was no probability of escape, he made
clean breast of it, confessing that he shot
Ingalls, on Friday the 9th, in the woods,
where his body was found. The weapon
used was the rifle, and he approached his
victim from behind to within fifteen feet and
shot him in the head, the ball passing through
and lodging against the skull over the left
eve. The skull in front was fractured, and
the ball found to have split in two parts, or
tue gun must have contained more than one
ball. At the time, Ingalls,, the murdered
man, was walking with an axe upon his left
shoulder and on receiving the fatal ball fell
upon his right side. A small dog that was
with him returned to the house tue second
day, after having in the interval evidently
nestled closely to his masters person.
Griiord says that he was instigated to the
MURDER and paid for dong it, by his uncle,
man named Jarrett, and another named
David Mcdonald, neighbors of Ingalls,. An
old grudge existed between them, which had
been fostered from time to time by hostile
acts from both parties. Ingalls, had threat
ened to burn Jarrett's house, and for this
ingalls, had been arrested. Ingalls, was a
large and powerful man, and in personal en-
counters was too much for any of his oppo-
nents. For this he was doomed to death,
and the confederates, Jarrett, Mcdonald and
GriIord, determined that the deed should be
done by the latter,-thc two former agree
ing to pay him a certain sum and help him
TO leave the State. Griitord is native of
Missouri, where his mother resides now.
The murderer sought an early opportuni-
ty of etfecting his purpose, which was but
too easily found Iron Hill is situated in
the midst of heavy body of timber, which
stretches away for miles in all directions,
and it consequently afforded concealment to
accomplish the deed.
Griflord also confesses that he had at
tempted to kill two other persons in the
same vicinity-one man at whom he shot
three times, and the other woman.
When told the fatal moment was ap-
preaching, he acknowledged the justice OF
ils punishment but said his "uncle ought to
suffer also"
SCENE uroN GROUND THE HANGING.
From 300 to 500 persons witnessed the
hanging. A prayer was offered up by a
Methodist clergyman, Rev. Mr. Babcock, the
unity wretch kneeling and crossing himself;
t t surrounding crowd standing in respect
tut silence. There was no disturbance, no
tnmuit, and legal execution could not have
passed off in more orderly manner. No
me attempted to interfere, the people of the
county, having, it seems, Come to the conclu-
OH that murderers cannot be punished if
eft to the due course of law.
When the last moment arrived, the leader
of the party tied handkerchief over the
eyes of Gritford, who remained standing, ard
every man of tho twenty-four took hold Of
he rope. At a signal they pulled upon the
rope together, suspendIng him in the air
.buut eight feet from the earth. His irons
lad not been taken off and his arms being
pin,oned there was but little struggling as
mis- guilty soul took it's flight. HIS body
was allowed to remain upon the gibbet tree
for something over an hour, when it was
taken down and placed in rude box and in
TERED in field belonging to DR.. Cowden.
During the whole of this time and until the
body was buried the crowd remained upon
the ground silently witnessing the various
occurrences.
GRIFrosD's AccoMPLIcEs
AS soon as the execution was over, two
men were dispatched in pursuit OF Jarrett,
the uncle, and Mcdonald his accomplice, and
it is said to be the determination of the
neighbors to hang them both if. taken. Nc
D. maid has not been seen since the murder,
but is supposed to be secreted in the neigh
borhood. Jarrett lett town before the arri-
val Of the mob, or it is probable they would
have made short work with him also. They
are now in hot pursuit, and it will be strange
if they are not soon captured.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF GRIFFoaD AND HIS ACCOM-
PLCEs.
Grifford was a man about five feet eight
inches high, stoutly made. He was dark
complexioned and had not very bad look
ing countenance. His age was about 25
years, and single man.
Jarrett is short and not heavy made
man, with decided French cast of counte-
nance, and not prepossessing
Mcdonald is short, stout built man with
fresh ruddy complexion, and witha a very
good looking fellow. He has been Nor
mon and has a family.
The murdered man was also a man of
family.
Is small town Of 800 to 400 inhabitants
formerly the county seat of Jackson
county. The Jail is situated there. 1t is
the residence Of Ex-Governor Briggs, the
first Governor of Iowa under the State gov
ernment.
The editor of the Albany Knickerbocker,
under the caption of" A High Old Time,"
perpetrates the following, touching the In
auguration
If Washington don't meet with any pull