The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-08-05

LYNCH Law IN ILILNoIs.--About eighteen
months ago man named Joseph ribbetts was
arrested in this State, upon a requisition from
the Governor of illinois, and removed to the
latter State to be tried for the murder of one
Thomas Page. The crime had been charged
upon him by his own brother, Alonzo Tibbetts.
but when tue case came 10 trial the accuser re-
fused 10 testify, on the ground that he should
criIninate himself The prisoner was discharg-
ed, and from that time both the brothers have
been regarded with much disfavor in the vi
cinity where they live. All their attempts to
renew social relations with their neighbors
were futile, and the violentdeath of one of them
resulted from their persisting in doing so. On
the recent 4th fully q party was given and
Joe Tibbetts attended it. The people present
at once demonstrated at his presence, and he
was ordered TO leaye-- DnriI g the evening sey-
eral sets of harness were cut to pieces and
other mischief done, and the people charged
that Tibbetts was the one that did It, a meet
ing was held shortly afterward and some two
hundred citizens resolved to hang Alonzo
Tibbetts, but the Sheriff got wind of the affair
and had him secured in prison. On the morn
ing of the 9th utimo hundreds of men assem-
CARRY Gus their design against Tibbetts. An
account OF what resulted is given in the Morris
Herald as follows:
AT 3 O'Clock the crowd held Il meeting, and
resolved to break into the Jail and get Tibbetts
They immediately repaired to the jail broke
open the door with crowsbars and took libetts
across the river bridge to hang him. The Nav
or, 5. ID. Thomas, Judge Heating, Judge Grant,
Mayor Webber, the late Mayor, E.. B. Hanna,
and many other citizens, did what could be
done by them to preven mt it, but were oyerpower-
ed and carried away by the mob bodily The
Sheriff left the jail about noon without leaving
any guard, and went into the country to serve
some papers. The crowd took Tibbetts in a
wagon across the river bridge, put q rope
around his neck, fastened it over tree and
gave him an opportunity to speak. He said:
My horses were poisoned by Thomas Page
Had desired to kill HIM should have done
1T then. did not kill him. [ can prove that
was not near there that day 1 know moth
ing about it. My wife knew nothing about it,
and am innocent" Some one from the crowd
asked him if his brother Joe did not kill Page.
lie answered: Since then Joe has told me
that he meant to kill Page and did So" He
was asked why lie did not testify on trial He
answered: Because he was my BROTHER
They tied his hands b hind him; he knelt
down and prayed about three minutes. When
he rose up they asked him what he wanted
done with his body. He replied: "Give it to
my wife, He then said: Gentlemen, die
with clear conscience. 1 am innocent"
Some one then called TO the crowd: 'Are YOU
satisfied to hang him?" The crowd shouted
no., but those in the wagon drove suddenly
away, and left him dangling in the air Efforts
were made to cut him down, but ali such were
in vain, The mob kept all away until he was
dead. Great excitement prevailed Some of
the most influential and prominent men in
the south part OF the county are leaders in it.
1t was difficult to get the exact language used
by Tibbetts, on account OF the great excite
ment and confusion, but the foregoing is sub
stantially correct. 't la fsftlOl =