Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-09-11

correspondent OF the Cinoihnnu Com
moroial, writing from Benton City, Wy
oming territory, thus narrates a few of
the incidents that go to make life endur-
able and cheerful there
While sitting in our tent, late on the
afternoon of the Sth inst heard shot
in the street, and running to the door
saw a man on the opposite side stagger
and clutch hold of a post for support,
and another Just raising his pistol to
shoot again, when he was struck from
behind, and the pistol wrenehed from his
hand. The wounded man was taken IN
10 n womans tent near, and tended with
the greatest kindness by the cypnans,
Int his wound was mortal, and he died
ON the morning of the 10Th. 1t seems
no provocation whatever had been given
for the act, but the criminal was drunk,
fancied himself insulted, and killed one
of the most popular young men IN town.
On the afternoon of the 10th observed
a great rush and cry on the street, and
looking out saw them dragging the muir
dererer along toward the tent where the
dead man lay. The whole population of
the city was out at once, and merchants,
plainsmen, sports, and women, mingled
in Wild throng, for it was generally I'M
derstood there was to be hanging at
once. The murderer, pale az death, and
hardly able to stand, held in the firm
grasp of two stalwart vigilants, was
dragged through the excited crowd and
taken into the tent where the dead man
lay, and forced TO confront the corpse
Meanwhile, the crowd, now swelled to
several hundred, became impatient, and
surrounded the tent, clamoring for imme-
diate action. A sudden cry arose; "To
the telegraph pole; to the telegraph pole. "
It was reported that he was to be hanged
TO the pole, and the crowd rushed away
to the railroad track but another half
hour passed away, and it was apparent
the vigilants were afraid to act The
proceeding was soon made plain. At
the time of the day when the provost
guard camped in town was changed
there was full hour when only two sol
diers were on duty at the guard tent, and
there was private understanding that
at this time the citizens could take the
prisoner, if desired, without trouble
They did take him, but hesitated to do
more, and during the delay the new
guard arrived, took the prisoner from
the vigilants, and marched him back to
the guard house, where he still remains,
If he has no fyends here, which seems
to be the case, he will yet be hanged
But if he has friends they will probably
buy up his jailors or effect his escape IN
some manner. The excitement thus
aroused seems to have created thirst
for blood, and ! had scarcely retired to
the tent when | heard the most fearful
screams, and running TO the door saw
the proprietor of a saloon opposite beat
ing his woman" giving her what the
western roughs Gala mule persuader. y
1T was brutal and sick ening sight. He
held her with his left hand and struck
her with his right, till il seemed to m,
every blow could be heard a hundred
yards He was powerful man, and sht
slight medium-sized woman, and tn,
blood followed every blow, while he
screams chilled my blood. Of hun
: dred men who witnessed the act, not on,
interfered or demonstrated with him il
any way. At length he released hi.
hold, and struck her final blow on tht
nose, which completely fattened thai
feature, and sent her into the middle o.
the street, where she lay, with the blood
/. gushing from her face, mingling with
the white dust and streaking her clothing
with gore. The soldiers arrived in due
time, after it was all over, and strangely
enough arrested the woman and took her
to the guard-house, paying no attention
IN The nav