The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-08-03
LYNCH LAW AT MORRIS.
A Man Hung by n Mob.

Of the affair at Morris on Saturday last. result.
ing in the hanging Of the man Tibbets. an
"eye witness sends us the following account !.
NORRIS July 20, 1867.
Editor Of the Free Trader: .-
was an eye witness on Saturday of the most
revolving scene 1 ever beheld. The Tibbets broth.
ers who were tried at the last term of our Circuit
Court for the murder Of the farmer Page and ac-
quilted, had been committing more deviltry in
the neigh6Orhood where they lived.
On the night of the 4th of July there was a ball
at neighbours house, and Joe Tibbets, who is be-
lieved to have been the murderer of Page went
there but was denied admittance. In revenge
he cut and mutilated the harness of number of
persons who had attended the ball in vehicles
and had also taken up the plank in the center of
bridge over which number had to pass in the
night on their way home from the ball. Upon
this, the farmers Of the ncighborhood held a
meeting, the result of which was, the sending of
deputation to the Tibbets family, notifying
them that they must leave the country, giving
them five days to settle up their affairs The old
man replied to the delegation that he would not
leave until ordered to do so by the Government,
and one of the young men told them when they
came to drive them off. 10 baing along wagons
enough to carry away their dead
A few days afterwards, however, one of the
boys came to Morris and asked the sheriff for
protection. saying the neglibors sought his life
The sheriff locked linn up in jail Early on
Saturday morning groups of strangers were seen
on every corner in Morris, evidently anxious 10
ascertain the feelings of the people towards the
Tibbetses. During the day the crowd increased,
until about o'clock. when they gathered around
the Jail, and demanded the keys. The sheriff
was absent, serving some papers in the country,
and those in charge refused TO surrender the
keys. The mob then went to the Plow Factory
near by, and getting sledgc hammer and crow
bars, commenced breaking down the door of the
Jail. About this time number Of prominent
citizens of Morris, among them Judge Harris,
Mr.. Hopkins, Mr.. Hanna Mr.. Weber and
Judge Grant addressed the mob and tried To
dissuade them from their purpose, but without
avail There were 400 of them-rcsolute men
and the number from the country constantly in
creasing. The sledge hammer strokes against
the door Of the prison continued until it gave
way. Tibbets was brought out and put in a
wagon near Mr.. Gould's drug store: eight stout
men leaped into the wagon with him and drove
of, going south across the Illinois bridge the
crowd following. In grove of timber west of
the south end of the bridge, they selected tree
A boy climbed up and fastened rope to a stout
limb. They then gave Tibbets five minutes to
pray. during which time some of the citizens Of
Morris renewed their attempts to have the mob
ueslst from their purpose, and the rope having
been fastened around the mans neck. begged
them to cut it. At given signal however, the
wagon in which Tibbets was standing was driven
Oft, leaving Alonzo Tibbets dangling in the air
He gave two or three spasmodic kicks, and all
was over; and the mob running to their wagons,
hurried home.
All the men connected with the affair were
perfectly sober. Indeed. during the whole day
not one of them was seen in a saloon, and it is
even said they posted guards at the saloons TO
prevent any Of their number from drinking
There We're among them men from Is TO 90 wears
of age, and all appeared perfectly respectable.
An old man Of their number told me that there
were 90 men eff in pursuit of Joe Tibbets, who
is supposed to be the real murderer. and if
caught, he would be served in the same way 1t
is certainly very horrible affair, and the town
is all excitement.