The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-04-04
Tragic A Affair.in BrownstOwn-Fwo
Men Hanged by q Mob.

1
The town of Brownstown, the coun'
| ty seat ofJackson County, indiana
on the line of the Ohio and Missls
sippi Rail road, was on Saturday
night the scene of a tragic affair
which resulted in the forcible cap
ture from Jail and the hanging, by
a mob of the exasperated citizens
of that vicinity, oftwo men charged
with the murder of an old lady, iol
the purpose of robbery, at or neal
Clear Springs, Jackson County, In
diana, some months ago. ..
1t will be remembered that three
men, named respectively Tally
Brooks and Easton. were arrested
charged with committing that hor.
rible fiendish crime. They were
placed in Jail at Brownstown, to
await trail at the coming spring
term of Circuit Court.
The people of jackson County
were greatly excited when the de.
tails of the murder became known,
and although the proof that these
men committed the crime was con-
sidered very strong, there was some
doubt, and this doubt was not re-
moved until few days since, when
one of the men, Brooks, unable
longer TO resist the cravings of a
guilty conscience, revealed, by a
partial confession, enough to con-
clusively show that he and Tai.
ly did actually commit the murder,
and that Easton, through their con-
nivance, was an accessory. rl.
This confession caused renew
al Of the excitement in the COM
munity. The excitement was at
fever heat, and a deep feeling of
vengeance gathered in the public
mind. The law was too slow, and
it was whispered around that the
trial of the murderers would prob
ably be delayed from court to court,
and that finally they would escape
the punishment they so richly de-
served. This feeling resulted on
Saturday night in the formation of
a mob, numbering from two hun
dred and fifty to three hundred
men. ....... .........
On meeting, it is said, they re-
solved to hang Brooks and Tally,
and leave Easton to be tried by the
Court, to see if the law would hang
him, the crowd agreeing at the
same time that they would hang
him if the law failed. At midnight
the mob entered Brownstown,
mounted upon horses. They march
ed for the Jail, and, filing right and
left, completely surrounded it. The
leaders called out the jailor and
demanded the prisoners, Brooks
and Tally, or the keys of the Jail.
The jailor peremptorily refused
to give up either the prisoner or
the keys. On this the mob cried
ont "break down the door," "break
in the door," and rush was made
for the Jail door. 1t readily gave
way, and several men entered the
Jail, who soon returned, dragging
forth the two murderers. ..
They were taken to the Court
house yard surrounded by the mob.
Brooks was horror-stricken, and up
on his knees begged for life, and
declared that he would make a tull
confession if he was allowed time.
Tally, being a man of great nerve,
and possessed of great calmness,
declared that he was not guilty,and
that if he was hung he would die
an innocent man.
The shouts from the crowd were:
"Hang them," "Hang them" Tai
ly was told that time would be Civ
en- him to make a confession.
He replied that he had none to
make. A.. .aa ... '
He was then asked if he wished a
minister to pray for him.
He replied he did. .. ..
The Rev. Mr.. Benton was sent
for, and soon made his appearance,
and seeing the determination of
those around him, ard that an ap-
peal for mercy was useless, admin
istered to the spiritual wants of
the doomed men. He prayed for
forgiveness of their sins, and for
peace with their God. After this
religious service, Tally was told to
prepare for immediate execution.
He very coolly objected to the tree
which the mob had selected. He
pointed to one near by, saying it
was a much better tree, as its pro-
jecting limbs would allow their
bodies to swing clear of the body
of the tree. The desired change
was made. Barrels were placed
under a proiectino limb IN which