The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-18
The Lynehins st Lexington, Ky.

correspondent of the Baltimore american gives
The following account Of the late iynching act
which took place at Lexington, KY, on the 10th
INST
VIM. Barker the murderer, just discharged from
prison upon charge Of theft, notorious malefac-
Dor and rOwdy, had difficulty at early dawn with
person Of the name Of McChesney. Barker grew
knife and made several attempts to stab Met hesney
without serious result. Captain Beard the muir
dered man, Just from his home and bed, Attempted
10 arrest Barker by clasping the arm whose hand
contained the knife. The individual of the knife
WAS possessed Of q stalwsrt person and superior
physical powers, and wrencbed his arm out OF Cap
tain Boards grasp, then grappled with him, threw
him on the pavement, and with his foot on him
leg thrown over him. raised his knife and stabbed
him 10 the heart. Several citizens saw the deed
done. Barker had previously threatened TO kill
Captain Beard. He was Knocked down, by way u
q warrant and logged Off 10 jail. Tue bells rang
the citizens assembled and J. with a desire to hear
more of the affair, joined the rapidly accommodating
fhrong in front of the jail.
No questions we're asked: no second consideration
formed q part Of any persons mind present, perhaps,
except my own. The purpose was TO lynch hin.
The immense crowd, embracing citizens OF great re-
Pectabiity, seemed 10 regard matters very quietly,
and ] looked 10 vain for the earnest eyes and
clencbed hands that to me seemed an indication Of
90 awful purpose
The brother Of the murdered man stood silently
and calectedly apart from the crowd. Like apersoa
of honor called TO hhe field, be seemed TO have left
the entire management of the vengeance TO his
friends and fellow tOwnsmen-
DO doubts were entertained of the result
The affair now began 10 assume import 20 ter
ribiy solemn 70 one whose sympathes, by reason Of
knowing no one concerned were not enlisted, that
bethought me OF getting away until all was over.
Just az THIS mousnt an immense cheer and cries of
" They've got him" passing from mouth 10 mouth
from the dense mass around the Jail door announced
n more explicit demonstration Forth they
came, by twos and threes, and now saw the
cpuntenances Of detefminstio that / had previous
~ looked for. Presently had a momentary 0lin1nse
81 the doomed parsonage, bare headed with
open collar, he was hurried away by the crowd ia
the court house. The fascination Of the occasion
which can only be explained by lfkening il 10 the
srpents charm, drew me with the rapid moving
crowd. Over the fences through the gates. came
che eager assembage, a. the foremost ones hurried
him from tree 10 tree in the court house yard with
a rope Of the consistency Of well used bed cord
seeking vanly for some lnnb sufficiently strong 10
sustain his guilty weight. An officer Of the La
made sort Of demonstration with his hat from the
steps Of the court house. Friends, fellow cti.
sens Hang him, hang him" my friends, ! en-.
treat Hang himl" mo mercy, no trid-hang
HIM"
During this temporary outbreak % which atten.
zion vas directed, had n fair opportunity - OBJ
serve the doomed man. A burly, healthy looking
parsonage with a not unhandsome face, clear eyes,
hair Of dark bEown, W ruled ~ to give the ap-