The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-08-18
Ten Men Hung by Mobsl
OsKALoosA, Mahska Co., Iowa, !
july 90, 1857.

| July ~, ioos'
Last Tuesday was the day upon which
special Term of the District Court was 10 b.
held at Montezuma, for the trial Of William
B. Thomas for the murder of Mr.. and Mrs
Castecl whose bodies were found iu corr
shock, near Montczuma, sometime last fall
There being no Jail at Monte zumo, tho pris
oner, since his arrest last Spring has beer
confncd mt Davenport. He was taken to
Montczuma at tho Spring Term of Court
and it was with the utmost difficulty that tho
organized band of fanatics could he restrain.
ed from wrestling the prisoner from the hands
Of the officers who were conveying him back
to Montczuna to await his trial on the 18th
inst.
At the opening Of the Court on Tuesday
morning last, the prisoners counsel deman-
dcd change of venue, on the ground that
the prisoner could not receive an impartial
trial in Poewsheik County. Judge Stone
granted the change, and ordered his trial
at this place in September next.
No sooner was tho discision Of tho Court
given tha regularly organized armed gang
Of some two hundred and fi,y men, went TO
the Court House, rushed in pcll-mcll-knock-
lug down ard running over every person that
stood in their way, and by force took the pris-
oner from the Sheriff They Immediately took
their victim to n trcn previously prepared, in
the suburbs of Montczuma, and without n
shodow of trial, put the rope around his neck
and demanded confusion, TO which the
prisoner plead innocence. The rope was
then thrown over n limb of the tree and the
victim swung in the air. After a few strug
f,Ia IN tva nj .pI IL lnH
TO confess. The prisoner again repeated his
Innocence. The gang now kindlcd Il fire.
and told him if he did not confess, they would
burn him alive. To which the prisoner u.
gain repeated his innoccnsc, aud told the
mob that he knew nothing about the murder
Of Mr. and Mrs. Castocl. Not satisfied
with the assertion Of the prisoner, he was a
gain suspended, and fire kindlcd under his
feet. They kept him suspended for q few
moments, then let linn down, and again
COMMANDED him 70 confess. At this cri,is
the victim WIS nearly scnscloss, and was SO
much sManelcd rs Ia deprive him Of the pow
cr Of spccch-hu. he shook his head as 4 de-
NAL of the murder They instantly SWING
him mp again and lowered him as suddenly.
Failing in forcing confession, prcppera
tons were made for suspcnding linn fourth
and last time. The prisoner presstcd in his
innocence, and told the 'cadcr, that, rs dy-
ING man. he was innocent Of the murder
but The wild and furious outlaws took no no.
,ice ct' what the prisoner said, AMI commcn.
ced tightening the rope f)r the last time, in
Il moment he was again suspended in the a!r,
ard k'pt SO until dead.
II WAS now half past ten O'Clock, and tho
mob being satisfied that tho animation hol
ceascl--thp victim WIS dead. lie WIS cut
down. Then the question arose, as to what
deposition should be made Of the body.
Hero was Il new feature, the gang were de-
vidcd-tha more humane were for givilg il
to his friends, if he had any. Others wan.
ted to hurn it, Aud orc party wanted 70
sell il 10 the doctors for 10 d2,!a:', aud b.,
whisky with the moa,y. We h,ari the lat
ter proposition WAS adopted. The body was
dssceIel the same day, and the heart given
to some Of tie leaders in tlis ou;lagc.-
These worthless placed tho heart in an oys-
ter can and exhibited it all over town.
You may think this an outrage too horri-
bic and barbarous TO occur in civilized
community But j, is Nevertheless true. II
s. oull, and will be rekukcd by tho people
of Iowa. As to the guilt Of the prisoner it
is very doubtful. It is said it could be pro-
ven that he wua in lndianolia the day tho
murder was committed. If this can be pro-
ven, tho prisoner WAS undouhlly inocent.-
lhdianoia is seventy-thrce miles distant from
the place where the murder was committed,
and no railroad or steamboat connection I'c
tween the two points, 4 coach runs between
the two points, which never makes the trip in
ono day.-[Co. Democrat.