Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-11-26
LYNCH LAW IN FREMONT CO.
The Supposed Murderer Hung, and
the Supposed Murdered Man Still
Living.

Another case of lynching, and perhaps
the most disgraceful one Of the past two
years, took place at Eastport, ten miles
west of Hamburg, last Sunday. A man
named Murdoch was harsed to a tree by
mob. He was hanged for murder com
mitted the night before, and it now seems
that the murdered man" is not dead, and
has no idea of dying just yet.
The circumstances, as near as we could
learn, were these: A desperate character
named Murdoch, came on board the ferry
boat Nebraska City. and after some hard
words drew a pistol. This was taken
away from him by one of the officers of the
boat. Soon after the boat reached the
Iowa shore, Murdoch produced another re-
volver and commenced firing at the boat.
One shot was aimed at DR.. Blanchard, of
Civil Bend, who was a passenger on the
boat two shots were fred at the pilot
house, one into the cabin, and one at the
ly shot taking effect, striking the man, Mr..
johnson, in the face, and producing an
ugly wound. Murdoch then snapped his
pistol again, but it missed fire. He then
ran. but was soon captured, and placed for
saie-keeping in pork house near the river.
During the night a large crowd gathered
about the house demanding the prisoner.
AT last, overcoming the guard, they rushed
in and threw a rope around Murdock's
neck and dragged him out. The rope was
cut several times by parties opposed to the
proceedings, but at length the mob carried
the man off and hung him 10 a tree about
half way from the river 10 the depot. He
was cut down Sunday evening, and his
friends have since taken his remains to his
home in Saline county, Missouri. The
wounded man, johnson, is now considered
out of danger, and will recover.
We have no idea Of exculpatng the man
who fred the pistol. Twenty years i'm
prisonment in a penitentary would be
good enough for him; but we do object to
the punishment dealt out to him, and to
the manner of the punishment. During
three years five men have been lynched or
rather murdered by mobs in this county,
and it is about time the proper authorities
became cognizant of the fact and made
some effort 10 remedy it. 1t is no justifca-
ton to say that our Jail is insecure, that our
officers are reuIiss in their duty. or that no
criminal Can be punished in this county.
The way to remedy this is not by mobs, by
hanging and shooting, but rather go to the
root of the evil and compel the officers of
the law to erect proper jails and do their
duty toward criminals in their custody.
1t is a disgrace to every man in Fremont
county, disgrace to every man in Iowa to
have it said that Lynch Law and Vigilance
Committees are necessity in any portion
of this State. Glorious Iowa Not hall
so glorious now. Deserving of disgrace
for wnking at such acts as that Of last
Sunday-acts which when performed with
impupity, as they always have been in this
county, are a curse and disgrace to
American law and liberty.
Where mob law triumphs, there personal
liberty, safety of life and property termin
ates. The whole country is at the mercy
of mob, and the safe and sure way to
ruin this county, to cause every decent
man to desert it and give it up to jay
hawkers, guerillas and highwaymen, is to
pass over such transactions as that of last
Sunday without noticing them.-Hamburg
Times.