The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1857-07-11

Il PNfcu - sHe <aAtcteEF, " WHi4n 10
replied In very unjust Way through tie
medium Of whst was then Che Cedas
DemJahn. We do nos wish to make
cncmscs through political Differences,
and as Sir. Handlin will not be so sue
ccssful in the coming campaign, we will
iicavc him to cnjsy NIL the advantage he
obtained by the article in the aforesaid
Demyoha.
! ----~------------ -~-.~~.-.--~---~--
The Hanging Of Gleason and sopcr.
Since writing the article which APP
/ pe,rs in the outside, We have learned
further particulars in regard to the VIC
TINS who cxpiated their offences by death
at the hands of the regulators.
They were taken to the grove, as de-
ascribed in the article OH the outside.
To describe the victims, We will say
of Alanson Gleason, from our own know
ledge of him, which rea IS back for
nearly ten years, that there was in him
the clements of a good man. His dispo-
sition, abilities, and turn of mind were
such as would have made him an up
right honorable man, and an ornament to
society, had he been properly educated
and trained in his youth. But his edu.
cation was neglected, and his moral
training entirely dispensed with. He
come up, instead Of being brought up,
amongst the rough aud vicious society
in which he was thrown in his youth.
Yet be was never suspected Of any dis
honesty, until within about two years
ago, at which time he became resident
in the vicinity of the Conklin's, and
others Of the noted gang, when he soon
became corrupted, and joined with them
in their larcenies. He was man of
about twcnty-four years Of age, about
Ave feet eight inches high, Of good build,
and fair looking. When well dressed,
he was a good looking man, with fair
complexion, light grey eyes, and brown
hair, rather inclined to dark. He was
man who desired to be well thought of,
and was fond Of being commended, or of
doing kind acts to his friends. He was
kind-hearted and generous, but was led
into the gang and ruined
OF Edward Soper we know but little.
He has resided in this vicinity but few
years, and eur acquaintance with him
has not been extensive. We have heard
stories of him, but will not repeat them.
He was younger than Gleason, aud if
any odds, smaller in stature, and about
the same build and complexion. He
was a good looking young man, and
should have been following better bust
ness. They were both in truth boys,
and were employed by the gang in the
capacity of runners to take off stolen
horses
We come now to the hanging. After
they had been captured, and taken from
the Court House, they were brought to
grove on Yankee Run, near the resi-
dence of Harvey Parr, in this County,
for trial. They were first told to confess
their offences. Gleason kept up his
spirits, but Soper was in terror, and
when told to confess, Gleason replied
with joke or laugh, and Soper with
cries and protestations of innocence.
Finally, however, they did confess to
having dealt in counterfeit money, and
said they had passed of any quantity of
it. Gleason, meanwhile, was joyful,
aud Soper in sobs. They were then Sc
Parated, when the regulators in vain
tried to extort confession from Glca-
son. lie was firm, and only laughed at
their efforts. lie was then taken away.
and Soper brought forward He was
first asked what they had done with
the other horse which they took from
the Dutchman on Yankee Run" This
led Soper to think that Gleason had con
fesscd all about it, when he replied that
8 the horse followed them to the river.
where they lost it," lie was then asked
where they took the oth.r one 10. and
replied that it taken to Bloomington.
H., and sold The whele secret being
thus got out Of him, he went Oh and
confessed the whole matter. telling how
and when they had stolen horses, that
he and Gleason had been stealing toge-
Their, that they stole the two horses from
Yankee Run, and several others from the
County,-told the names of thirty or
forty belonging to the gang, and many
other things about horse stealing, from
which it appeared they had acted in con-
cert with All organized band, who carried
on the business extensively.
They were then allowed time to pre-
pare for execution Gleason was com
posed, and even mirthful, saying he was
ready to die. lie sat down and wrote a |
letter to his mother, telling her he was
in the hands of the regulators, that his
comrade had betrayed him, and that in
short time he must die i
Soper was overcome with grief. and
wcpt bitterly. lie was unprepared to |
die.
Two ropes were then attached to a
limb Of tree, and wagon brought !
underneath, in which the victims were
placed, aud the ropes fastened around
t;'eir nccks. Gleason was unmoved, and
showed no signs Of regret, nor was he
even IN awe. sopcr wept bitterly, and I
was frequently told BY Gleason to "act |
the man, as it would soon be over with !
hun and that "they would soon be /