The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-05-25
From ~ lsva oly Reporter, -
Lynch LaWe@Demeh % K0Y4 VIII.

4 J. &
. The excitement grosing opt Or dif3cnltil
between Boyd Wilkinson and others snppoes
TO be implicated, On the one hand, md Phil
Clark and Ms fricnds on the other. has result
ed - va to be anticipated from the state /
public feeling, in the violent death Of one !
the parties.
The feeling IL favor of Clark was agsravate
by the burning Of bis barn on Monday night
although We find diversity Of opinion Is /,
who was be real incendiary. Suspicion fasten
ed upon Wilkinson, unfortunately for him, and
a par OF men, some thifty 1--WE in number. v,
are told, left the city on Tuesday afternoon
| With the expressed determination 10 extors con
fession from deceased. Arriving Il his res
ideuce, We are informed hy a friend Of the fam
ily, be was forced from his hiding place, Nil
hands tied behind him, and conductedss down
upon the river bottom, with The probable view
Of seeking some suitable spot for the adnlinis-
tration Of the prcposed justice. On nearing
the river bank, we lose further trace Of the
transaction. excepting, that all agree % to The
! fact that Wilkinson was either thrown into the
river, or leaped from the wagon and threw him
self iD, and was permitted 10 drown, or drown.
ed himself voluntarily.
By those Who participated in the TRANSACT
tion, Il l. said that Wilkinson leaped from
the carriage aud plunged into the river
Their statements disagree also whether he
designed 70 ford the stream, or to drown him
sell, in order 70 escape the uncertain horrOFs in
prospect.
Others, not concerned, and at distance.
state that simultaneously with the splash, Z shot
WAS fired, which indicates to some minds, that
the insn was thrown into the water aud shot ct
the same time. This discovery Of his body
wall set the matter 1t rest 50 lar as the shooting
is concerned
II 10 stated upon the street that no effort was
made 70 take Wilkinson when in the water, but
that disposition TO do 90 was promptly check
ed. We have no reliable information on this
point.
As to the burning oD Monday night, Mr.
Clark states that when the FIRE was discovered
the roof was il. .fanes-that horses ho0fs were
heard rapidly passing about At the time; that
ne can detect the track towards the vicinity BY
z peculiar shoe belonging 70 Wilkinson's /" Gray
Mrs. wilkinson, on the other hand. states
that as soon as her husband was attracted by
the light he rode Immediately 70 town for on
GERS TO protect him, stating 70 her that the ar
SON would be attributed to him ct once, and
that his life would be in danger.
1t is also stated that the friends Of Wilkinson
we're in town on the fatal afternoon, in search Of
officers, being apprehensive Of attack, but that
none could be found8 This statement has little
show Of truth; but if 80, speaks but poorly for
The cust0daus Of our peace.
.4
So far as We are concerned, we most unequiv. |
ocally denounce the policy Of the proceeding as
lnwise. short sighted and bunglingly cria inal;
'or no doubt is yet expressed that the deceased |
was not only not legally proceeded against, but |
hat he was not even permitted to enjoy the rig |
,rous chances Of trial BY the Code Of Lynch
law. Without even an unwarrated trial, he
vas suffered to die in his sins, with no show
II justice or hearing
To institute Court and Jury under the Code
# Judge Lynch, TO try and punish the offender
n accordance with its rules, is always danger
'us and questionable expedient at best Our
ympathies, however, often accompany such an
administration Of justice. It may, in fact,
ave in some cases proved an advantages to
but is Away pcrilous and always
Unlawful
But in this case the poor wretch had the BEN
tit of no ;udge--no jury--no connseL-no de-
snse. 1t is said that his captors were intend
& to exhort confession from him and try him
Or his crime. Did they do ii? did they give
i'm even the form OF trial? Did they establish
is guilt by even the shadow Of legality, as in
srpreted by even Mob Law?