Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-19
A Terrible Deed in Kentucky.

A Terrible Deed in KsntuekI.,yss
Two men. charged with murder we're
lypched q. Grsensburg Ky, on the foth
inst, and another prisoner, to escape the
fury Of the mob committed suicide. 1t sp.
pears that some eighteen months sipc+ p
wealthy farmer OF Kentucky. living near
Cam pbellsv.lIe. was murdered and robbed
Of between $4,000 and So 900, by parties
who entered his house at midnight and
accomplished the double deed while he
was soundly sleeping in his bed. Mr..
Simpson vas much respected. and Of
course the cowardly murder caused
great excitement in his community. Soon
after The guilty, culprits were discovered
aud arrested. and an attempt was made
by the populace to hang them. which was
frustrated. Afterward they were taken
from the Jail at Russellville to that at
Greensburg. The Louisville Journal has
a letter dated Campbellsville Ky .Nov.-1o,
which says: '......
This morning, according to a previous
understanding. men from this and the ad.
joining counties commenced gathering at
this place. and at an early hour took up
their march to Greensburg. meeting with
accessors az different points along the
road until the crowd numbered two or
three hundred men. including. we learn.
considerable number Of Spectators
The mob proceeded to the jail. which is
built Of stone aud very strong. and found
the doors locked and the jaiIor gone. A
number Of men Immediately seized large
piece Of heavy timber. and. with several
tremendous blows. bursted the door from
It's hinges. An inner door was speedily
broken with crowbars and sledge>ham-
mers. and q portion OF the mob stood in
the debtors room. fronting the cells in
which the miserable men were confined.
The lock Of the cell doors were soon bro.
ken and the doors pried open. when a
most horrid. aud sickening. and revolving
sight met the gaze Of those present.
One OF the men,, Elias Scraggs. a man
weighing two hundred pounds. was found
weltreing in a large pool Of blood in the
last agonies Of death. the blood squirting
in large Jets from a CHASTITY and self 10
flicted wound in the neck, having with a
razor cut his throat from ear. the car
His body, convulsed in death. was drag.
ged into the debtors room. and from
Whence down a flight Of steps on to the
street paving. The remaining three men.
viz: Bill Saul Thompson. Sloan Despaho
and George Hunter. were then brought
from the Jail. bound and mounted behind
men on horseback. when the crowd. in
double file. amid throngs Of spectators.
took up their return march to this place,
q distance Of twelve miles. during which
two Of the miserable men displayed con-
siderable frmness. asserting their inno-
cence in the most positive terms. Thomp
son wept and prayed audibly good part
Of the way, calling on all TO witness his
innocence. The crowd having arrived
at the place determined to lynch Beko al
so. a negro belonging to the murdered
man, who had been implicated by Scraggs
az the real murderer. 3: ..s.
AT this junction. amid the ceilings and
hcWlings Of the crowd. the representations
of the sheriff and our excellant jailor. and
"amid confusion worse conlOunded."
Robert Colviu Esq. a prominent and in
fiuential citizen. having succeeded in
gaining an elevated position and in catch.
ing the ear Of the crowd. addressed it in
short speech. which. for point. appro
Priateness and good sense. have hardly
ever heard e1celled: and il was as effec'
tual as il was sensible. for after an unsuc
cessful effort Of one or Two inexperienced
orators. the mob left the negro in Jail and
conducted the three men q short distance
10 an elm tree. and began making prepar
ations to hang them. At Thompson's re-
quest prayer was offered in their be
half. be praying and weeping aloud dur
ing the time. He was then mounted OF
horse. and after again asserting his in
nocence Tor the last time, q rope was put
about his neck. the end thrown over u
limb, the horse driven from under, and
Thompson was launched into eternity
He seemed to die easy-one or two spas
modic jerking Of the limbs, shudder. and
all was over, .---1
Despauo soon shared a similar fate. DIV.
Jog much harder. At this stage Hunter
gave evidence Of making a clean breast
which after some delay and good dea
Of reluctance. he did. confessng to the
guilt of Scrsggs. Thompson. and Hunter
and duplicating Eve others as being con
cerned in the murder. Their names are
as follows. Henry Scraggs: Jerry Scraggs
Lloyd Mcdaniel. John Underwood. and
sou-in.laW of SIMPSON. The latter is
under arrest. but is. We believe generally
considered innocent. The sheriff. with q
posse. is out to night 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 jai!-both Of them
making narrow escape.
WONDERFUL SwIMMIEG.-The Hswaiina
H. | Advertiser says that on 10Th OF
August, schooner plying between the
islands. with eight natives aud three for,