The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-04-11
Two Men hung.

t-t1 Two Men hung.
The town Of B1ownstown, the coun-
! ty-seat of Jackson county, Indiana, on
the line OF the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad, was, on Saturday night the
scene of a tragic affair, which resulted
in the forcible capture from Jail, and
the hanging, by a mob Of the exasper-
ated citizens of that vicinity, OF two
men, charged with the murder Of an
old lady, for the purpose Of robbery, ,at
or near Clear Springs, Jackson county
Indiana, some months ago.
It will be remembered that three men,
named respectively Tally, Brooks and
Easton, were arrested, charged with
committing that horribly fendish
crime. They were placed in jail at
BrownstoWn to await trial at the COM
ing spring term of the Cirelit Court.
r. The people of Jackson county were
greatly excited when the details of the
murder became known, and although
the proof that these men committed
the crime was. considered very stroug,
there was some doubt, and this doubt
was not removed until few days since
when one Of the men, Brooks, unable
longer to resist the knawings ofa gull
ty conscience, revealed, 10y partial
confession, enough, to collclusively.
show that he and Tally did actually
commit the murder, and that Easton,
through their connivance, was an &C
cess0ry.
This confession caused a renewal of
the excitement in the community. The
excitement was at fever heat, and a
deep feeling of vengeance gathered in
the public mind. The law was too slow,
and it whispered around tile trial of the
murderers would probably be delayed
from court to court, and that finally
they would escape the punishment they
so richly deserved. This feeling re
suited on Saturday night in the forma-s
ton of mob, numbering from two
hundred and fifty to three hundred men.
On meeting, it is said, they resolved to
hang Brooks and Tally and leave Eas-
ton to be triedby the court, to see if
the law would hang him, the crowd
agreeing at the same tine that they
would hang him if the law failed At
midnightthe mob entered Brownstown,
mounted upon horses. They marched
for the Jail, and, filing right and left,
completely surrounded it. The lead
+ers called out the ,jailer and demanded
the prisoner Brooks and Tally, or the
keys to the Jail. @ .seaf
The jailer peremptorily refused to
give up either the prisoners orthe keys.
On this the mob cried out ''break down
the door, break in the doorr' and a
rush was made for the jail door 1t
readily gave away, and several men en-
tered the Jail, who soon returned, drag
ging forth the two murderers.
They were taken to the court house
yard and surrounded by the mob
Brooks was horror stricken, and upon
his knees begged for life, and declared
that he would make full confession if
he was allowed time. Tally, being a
man Of great nerve and possessed of
great ealmness, declared he was not
guilty, and that if he was hung, would
die an innocent man. 41.e .G
The shouts from the crowd we're
Hang them, hang them Tally was
told that time would be given him to
make con fession. et3 t9a< -"/
He replied that he had noneto make.
He was then asked if he wished q
minister to pray fer him. aa':< 49,
He replied he did. gs 3se a
The Rev. Mr. Benton was sent for,
and soon made his appearance, and see
ing the determination Of those around
him, and that an appeal for mercy was
useless, administered to the spiritual
wants of the doomed men. He prayed
for forgiveness of their sins, and for
peace with their God. After this re-
lligious service, Tally was told to pre-
pare for immediate execution Hevery
/ cooly objected to the tree which the
mob had selected. He pointed to one
near by, saying it was a much better
tree, as it's projecting limbs would al
] low their bodies to swing clear of the
body of the tree. The desired change
was made. Barrels were placed under
a projecting. limb, to which ropes. were
attached. Tally gotup on barrel and
made requestathat he be allowed tt
4 fasten the rope around his own neck
which he was allowed to do A fter ad
(justing the rope around his neck to his
satisfaction, which operation occupied
but about three minutes, he gave th'
barrel under him a kick and was lef
suspended in the air. Brooks lost sev
erai minutesin begging and praying
4 for his life to be spared. He was pu
upon the barrel, the rope tied fas
: aroundhis neck, and the barrel Knock
/ ed from under him. f2h2t
4 bYhey5 hung for forty-fve minutes
: when life was, declared extinct. Th
bodies were then taken down and plac
ed in the CoHt House. The mob the
quietly dispersed to their homes.
The men composing the mob wer
, not in any way disguised, and did thei
/ work in quiet and orderly manner.
j !, The Coroner yesterday held an il
! quest upon the bodies. -
The town-was crowded all day wit
citizens from all parts of the countr,
: Tally's last request was that his bod
). might be given into@the hands of h
t. wife, who lives at Riehview, Illinois, :