Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-01
Lynch Law i'm Wisconsin.
Pat W1ldr1ck taken from Jail and Hang
ed-A Full Account of the Affair
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin, Sept

Our neighbors OF Portage City arc in
fair way to obtain notoriety fully equal
to that of the new cities out on the plains
Last evening We gave the details of the
murder of Britt by Spain, and the subse
quent lynching Of Spain by the mob. -
This morning Pat Wildrick was taken
from the Portage Jail about l o'clock, and
hung to q tree. All of these murders and
lynchings sprung from one cause, the rob
bling of s. S. Gates, of Kilbourn City,
some time ago. From this robbery there
have been two persons murdered in cold
blood and two more lynched. And we
are told the end is not yet
Pat. Wildrick lived in the vicinity OF
Kilbourn City, and when Gates was rob
bed some months ago was arrested for the
offence. 1t is said that MIR. Gates could
swear positively to the robber, and his
evidence would send Wildrick to Waupun.
After the murder of Mr.. Gates it was be-
lieved that friends of Pat. committed it,
and tho feeling against the prisoner was
strong. When Spain, Pat. S attorney,
shot Britt and was lynched, it was then
determined TO lynch Wildrick, but such
action was prevented, although tho feel
ing did not subside.
This Saturday morning two men came
to the Jail. and calling up the lailor said
they had a prisoner whom they wished
taken up. The jaiIor looked out of the
window and could see three men, the one
in the centre struggling hard to got away
from the other two. 1t was so dark he
could not distinguish the men, but he says
he had no doubt whatever but the men
were officers, and he went down stairs and
unlocked the door.
No sooner was the Jail door opened than
the centre man Of the three ceased his
strugglings, and then the three made a
rush for the open door, crowded through
and knocked the TAILOR down. Tho pros.
trate jailor yelled "Help, and Murder. ,
and Sheriff Sornson rushed down stairs to
his assistance.
By the time the Sheriff had reached the
hall it was filled with people, to the num-
Der OF. at least 100, who had boen concealed
outside the building. Every man was
disguised, 80 that tho Sheriff could not tel
one of them. Not a man in tho crowd
spoke a word, but every ono seemed i'm
pressed with the idea that mis- disguise
could not DO penetrated. if his voice were
not allowed to betray him.
As soon as the Sheriff came within reach
of the party he was seized, and despite his
feeble resistance. both he and the jailol
were bound hand and foot, and takon out
side the building, where they were
searched, the keys of the building taken
from them, and they left in charge of &
posse. The keys were found on the person
of the jailor.
Securing the keys, the party went al
once to the hall. The ringleaders seemed
to know precisely where the man was they
wanted, and unlocking the three doors
necessary, came to the cell of Wildrick.-
Pat had evidently heard the disturbance
outside, and suspected that it meant NJ
resistance. When the cell door was open
cd and light was taken in, he was founC
in the farthest corner of the cell, crouch
ing down in the most abiect fear, anG
seemingly without the power to say word
Indeed, had he been SO disposed, scarcely
an opportunity was given him.
AS soon as the two mon in advance, evil
IDENTITY the controlling spirits of the party
recognized Wildrick, they dragged him
from his corner, and tried to make him
stand up. Pat. either could not or would
not. He did not try to struggle, but set
tied down in a heap as if without the
power to move, and presented an appear
ance of being nearly if not quite senseless.
Here for the first time was word spoken by
the lynchers, when one of the foremost
said in tone little louder than O whisper,
'Where is the rope ?" The rope came for
ward, and moose was at once passed over
Pat Wildrick's head and drawn close about
his neck. Instantly fully fifty hands
grasped the rope, ::and the prisoner was
dragged out of the cell, through the hall
and to the rear of the Jail. The fear and
the choking now in reality had taken the
life out of Pat Wildrick, and he offered
no more resistance to the mob.
In the rear of the Jail stood tree, and
to this the body was dragged in silence,
as if every arrangement, down to the min
utest detail, had been made beforehand,
and would be carried out. The end OF the
rope was thrown over limb, the body was
drawn up until the prisoner was left sus-
pended by the neck. Not struggle was
witnessed in the body, and if the deceased
spoke a word or whispered a plea for
mercy, or left dying request, it is known
only to those who were in the immediate
vicinity, and they have good reasons for
keeping the whole affair quiet.
The Sheriff and jailor. who were tied
while the hanging of Pat. Wildrick took
place, we're afterwards united by the
crowd before it disappeared.
Wisconsin papers now want hanging le-