The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-08-04
MOB LAW in EASTERN KY.
Terrible "A tfair-1hree Men Forcibly
Takeiiff from the Jail ana Hung--The Ex-
%ecutlon, oftheM wdeters Of g. RiArcher,
rom the Catlettslarp XIV H

e'"''oA,v W s"Srh WuS1SiS VAN 4~fe.N"~'
10 3 mc-aST =. " O., rossssess,
From the CatlettsblTg Ky Hcrald1
On the morning, of Tuesday, July
18th, 4 bodSof one hundred add Fifty
men, composed of,someiof thehestlci-
liens of Lawrence county, Repaired to
the village of1.oulsa, Kentucky, entirel
ly unexpected by the inhabitants, of that
place, for the purpose of melting out
what they termed Justice, to the trio Of
murlcrous dcspetadoes who were con.
fined in the county Jail, charged with
the murder ofone Of the best citizens
of Lawrence county Mr.. George r.
Archer, some months ago. Consulta-
ton after, consultation was, held, gbey
tween the tcitizens of,ths townfand sthe
gentleman composing the company, in
order t. lget the company to- leave the
matter in the hands of the officers Of
the law, but all efforts proved futile
Ecrncst appeals were made by Col. Fer
guson. Rev. Mr.. Medleo and Mr.. Hull,
at the Courthouse, in behalf Of the
law and order, after which q vote was
taken by the company, and the follow
ing was the rcsult-eleven in favor Of
the law, the balance in favoriof imme-
diate execution %whereupon they went
to the Jail, gained admission, took out
the prisoners, and escorted them to a
blacksmith shop, where they were re.
lieved oftheir manacles. From there
they proceeded to the place Of execu-
ton. a,..
Jim Lyons made q 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
their positions on the same. AS soon
as quiet was restored, Bill Wright made
Il speech, and in his remarks he request
ed that his confession should not be
read, as he preferred to have it publish
ed to the world after.he was dead. This,
however, was not granted. The truth
fulness Of Wright's confession was also
pronounced false by the Lyons broth
ers, and the controversy between the
prisoners finally ended in q quarrel ;
giving each other the lie several times.
The prisoners manifested very little
fear and otherwise showed themselves
to he bold, desperate fends. John
Lyons sent word to his brother that
he hoped to meet him in a better place
than that dirty hole, at the same time
sending him IN old pocket handker-
chief for a kcepsake.IEf .tiIiE& .t
The time had now arrived for the
termination of the lives of those mis-,
cradle men, and on receiving the no
LITIGATION, the Lyons" brothers joined
hands and kissed each other. The caps
were then drawn over their heads and
they shouted good bye tothe throng,
and they, iA connection with W right,
were launched into eternity. After
hanging about fifteen minutes life was
pronounced extinct. They were then
cut down and their bodies were given
into the hands of the village authori-
ties. A sum Of money sufficient to de-
fray the burial expenses was made up
by the execution company. The bod
les were taken to the court house and
placed in collins, and the next morning
were taken ont on Blaine for burial.
This closed the scene of these mid
night ~assassins, whose horrible deeds
scarcely meet with n parallel in the his
tory ofcrimc. The sleeping propensi-
ties Of the good people Of Louisa will
no longer be disturbed with the thought
that the dawning day will bring the in
tcIligcnccot the escape or rcprievc of
these ticnhs incarnate
a great deal Of anxiety and fear was
entertained that they would make their
escape, as letters were passing between
them and their friends daily, and it was
reported d band were preparing to res.
cue them from the authorities. This
is undoubtedly the reason that the band
ofcitizcns took the matter in charge.
Constant vigilance was kept up by the
county and town officers, before the
execution, over the prisoners. and no
charge OF neglect can DO Brought
against them.
The occasion wasa solemn one, and
was not conducted in u riotous a
ner, but great respect was shown on all
sides, and more orderly, resolute and
determined body Of men could not be
found than those who participated in