New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-04
prom tic oatiettsburg KS Herald, July p

From the GatlettSburg thy-l Herald, July III
On the morning Of Tuesday, July 18th, body
of one hundred and fifty men, composed of some
of the best citizens of Lawrence county, repaired
to the village of Louisa, KY, entirely unexpected
by the inhabitants Of that place, for the purpose
of melting out what they termed justice to the trio
of murderous desperadoes who were confined in
the county JAIL charged with the murder of one
of the best citizens of Lawrence county, Mr.. Geo.
r. Archer, some months ago. Consultation after
consultation was held between the citizens of the
town and the gentlemen composing the company,
in order to get the company to leave the matter in
the hands of the officers of the law, but all efforts
proved futile. Earnest appeals were made by
Col. Ferguson, Rev. Mr. Medley and Mr.. Hull at
the courthouse, in behalf of law and order, after
which. vote WAS taken by the company, and the
following was the result: Eleven in favor of the
law, the balance in favor Of immediate execution.
Whereupon they went to the jail, gained admis-
sion, took out the prisoners and escorted them to
blacksmith's shop, where they were relieved Of
their menaeles. From there they proceeded to the
place of execution.
Jim Lyons made confession while on the way
to the gallows, which was pronounced false by the
other two. John Lyons and Bill Wright also made
voluntary confessions, as soon as they arrived at
the scaffold, which had been prepared. They all
assembled and took therlp positions on the same. As
soon as quiet was restored, Bill Wright made a
speech, and in his remarks he requested that his
confession should not be read, as he preferred to
have it published to the world after he was dead.
This, however, was not granted. The trnthfulness
OF Wright's confession was also pronounced false
by the Lyons brothers, and the conversation be-
tween the prisoners finally ended in a quarrel
giving each other the lie several times. The prs-
0ners manifested very little fear, and otherwise
showed themselves to be bold, desperate fiends.
John Lyon sent word to his brother that he hoped
to meet him in better place than that dirty hole,
at the same time sending him an old pocket hand
kerehef for a keepsake.
The time had now arrived for the termination of
the lives of these miserable men, and on receiving
the notification, the Lyons brothers Joined hands
and kissed each other. The caps were then drawn
over their heads and they shouted goodbye to the
throng, and they, in connection with Wright were
launched into eternity. After hanging about ff-
teen minutes life was pronounced extinct They
were then cut down. and their bodies were given
into the hands of the village authorities. A sum
of money sufficient for burying them was made up
by the execution company. The bodies were
taken to the courthouse and placed in collins, and
the next morning were taken out on Blaine foI
burial.
This closed the scene Of these midnight assas-
sins, whose horrible deeds scarcely meet with q
parallel in the history of crime. The sleeping
propensities of the good people of Louisa viii
no longer be disturbed with the thought that the
dawning day will bring the Intelligence of the
escape or reprieye of these fiends inearnate. A
great deal Of anxiety and fear was entertained
that they would make their escape, as letters
were passing between them and them friends daily,
and il was reported a band were preparing to
rescue them from the authorities, This is un-
d0nbtedly the reason that the band of citizens
took the matter in charge. Constant vigilance
was kept up by the county and town officers, be-
lore the execution, over the prisoners, and no
charge OF neglect can be brought against them.
The decision was solemn one, and was not
conducted IN a riotons manner, but great respect
was shown on all sides, and a more orderly, re-
solute and deternined body of men could not be
found than those who participated in this long to
be remembered drama. N-