Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-12-03

SoMe eighteen months since a wealth
farmer of Kentucky, living near Gang
bellsville, was murdered and robbed 9
between $4,000 and $4,000, by partie
who entered his house at midnight, an,
accomplished the double deed while h
was soundly sleeping in his bed. Mr.
simpson was wealthy and highly respec
table. and Of course the cowardly muir
de- caused a. great excitement in hi
community. Soon after the guilty cul
prits were discovered and arrested, anc
an attempt was made BY the populace te
hang them, which was frustrated. At
terward they were taken from the iai
at Nussellville to that at Grcensburg
Now the second and awful TRACED,
opens, on the 10Th, ednesday last,
- reported to the Louisriie Journal:
This morning, according to preS;.
oue understanding. men f.om this and
adjoining counties commenced gather
ing at this place, and at an early hour
took up their march to Greensburg.
meeting with accessions at different
points along .he road until the crowd
numbered two or three hundred men.
including considerable number of spec
tators. The mob proceeded to the jail,
which is built of stone and very strong
and found the DORIS locked and the Jail
or gone. A number of men immediate
~ seized large piece OF heavy timber,
and with several heavy blows. burst the
doors from the hinges. An inner door
was speedily broken with crow bars and
sledge hammers, and a portion of the
mob stood in the debtors room, 'front.'
ing the cell in which the miserable men
were confined. The locks of the cell
doors were soon broken, and the doors
pried open, when most horrid and
sickening and revolving sight met the
gaze of those present.
One of the men. Elias Scasgs, a man
weighing two hundred pounds. was found
weltering in a large pool of blood in the
last agonies OF death. the blood squirting
in large jets from a ghastly and selGn
f1icted wound in the neck. having with
razor cut hi. throat from ear to ear
His body. convulsed in death, WIS drag
ged into the debtors room, and from
thence down fight of steps on to the
street. The remaining three men.
viz :: Bill Saul Thompson. Sloan Des.
pano and George Hunter, were then
brought from the Jail. bound and noun
ted behind men on horseback when the
crowd, in double file, amid throngs of
spectators, took up their march to this
place, distance of some twelve miles,
during which two of the miserable men
displayed considerable frmness, assert
ing their innocence in the mcst positive
terms. Thompson wept and prayed aud
IDLY good part of the way, calling on
all to witness his innocence. The crowd
having arrived at the place. determined
to lynch Belo also negro, belonging to
the murdered man, who had been impli
Gated by Scagss as the real murderer.
At this juncture, amid the ceilings
and howlings Of the crowd. the expos,u-
lations Of the sheriff and our excellent
jailor, and ''amid confusion worse con-
founded" Robert Colvin, Esq, prom
inent and influential citizen, having sue
ceeded in gaining an elevated position
and in catching the ear Of the GRO xd,
addressed it in short speech, which,
for point, appropriateness and good
sense, Lave hardly ever heard excelled;
and it was as effectual as it was sensible,
for after an unsuccessful effort of one or
two inexperienced orators, the mob left
the negro in Jail and conducted the
three men a short distance to an elm
tree, and began making preparations to
hang them. At Thompson's request, a
prayer was offered in their behalf, he
praying and aloud during the time. He
was then mounted on horse, and after
again asserting his innocence for the last
time, rope was put about his neck, the
end thrown over limb, the horse driven
from under. and Thompson was launched
into eternity. He seemed to die easy
one or two spasmodic jerking of the
limbs, shudder, and all was over.
Despano soon shared similar fate
dying much harder. Al this stage Hun
ter gave evidence Of making a clean
breast, which after some delay and a
good deal Of reluctance. he did. confess
ing to the guilt of Scaggs, Thompson
and Hunter, and duplicating five others
as being concerned in the murder
Their names are as follows Henry
Scaggs, Jerry Scaggs, Lloyd Mcdaniel,
John Underwood, and a son in law Of
Simpson. The latter is under arrest, but
is, believe, generally considered limo
cent. The sheriff, with a posse, is out
tonigh. to arrest the others. Beko was
also implicated by Hunter, and brought
forth and the two confronted. Nothing
Of importance was ELECTED. and they
were both taken to jail,, both OF them
making a narrow escape