Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1863-08-29
Lynch law in Illinois.
Lrrom the wa.etloo Nn.l AtIocate Jaly ls.l

About the st Of this month David Kloeppin-
ger, who resided in the American Bottom. south OF
Eagle Cliffs, missed his horses, and, ou the Sun
day following, he himself mysteriously disappear
ed Failing to return search through the dense
woods Of the Bottom was instituted by the neigh
bors on Sunday, the llth inst, and the remains,
in decayed condition, were found between the
forks Of fallen tree--the limbs and body muta-
ted and eaten away 10 horrible manner by hogs,
und bullet hole perforated the back Of the skull,
Upon discovering the maugled body and limbs,
the news spread like wildGrs, 10 few hours the
whole country was assembled. So indignant and
excited did the multitude become that they pro.
ceeded to the cabin where the Greer family aUd
It's inmates lived gutted it, and burned it, together
with two other small ones to the ground. The
family had consisted Of Mrs. Greer, Martha Evans,
John Greer, John McLane Ben. Benton and
Daniel Jaret--the Inst two Of whom were com
m'tted to Jail some time ago, on charge ofassault
with intent to kill!
Saturday evening, previous to finding the body,
suspicion having been fixed upon John McLane
and John Greer. they had been arrested by those
who had instituted The search, but nothing could
be elected from them till severe measures were
resorted to--hangng by the neck to tree till life
was nearly extilet- when Greer made statement
to this effect: That on Sunday, tho 9th Of July
he was met by three men--Danel Jarat, -Honel
and Hogell--who compelled him, under threats
to take bis life. to decay Kloeppnger out from
his house, by telling him that hs would show him
bis holses for u dollar and that, when he had got
him in the woods about half mile south of Mrs
lireers Daniel Jarat shot hin with revolver
from behind. lie stated farther that Mclane and
Benton had stolen the horses, and that be (Greer)
had taken them 10 St. Louis and sold them. He
farther showed the crowd where the bat and bri
dies Of Kloeppinger had been concealed after the
murder
On Monday, the 18th inst, Greer, McIane, Mrs
Greer, and Martha Evans daughter Of Mrs.
Greer, were arrested on tho affidavit Of Mrs
Kloepplnger; preliminary examination was had
beftre Justice Sloan, Of Mo:edock precinct, and
all Of them ordered to the custody Of the aier 10
ahswer the indictment.
10 order to bring the prisoners safely to Wa
terloo after the investigation before Squire Sloan
body guard was sworn in under Constable Har-
vey Lane, On the way, while yet in the Bottom,
they were met by large body Of incensed men
who manifested disposition to take the prisoners
out Of their custody; but the guard were armed,
showed disposition not to yield, and the mob
desisted.
Upon their arrival, about A o'clock P. NJ, a
terrible excitement prevailed. During the whole
day crowds Of men were on the streets discussing
the particulars Of the horrible murder and the
horse theving. The next day, in the morning,
Daniel Jarat was arragned before Justice HORNE
on the charge Of murder. The investigation was
had In the Circuit Court room. A large crowd
was present, laborng under great excitement, as
was apparent from their actions. eyes, and coun.
tenances. And no wonder; the community had
been outraged But, be II said, the people wero
quiet 10 remarkable degree, considering tho cir
cumStances.
Jarat was examined. Nothing could bs elicit
Cd from him with regard to bic crimnalty He
said that on The any OF the nuraer, yuung Greer