New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-01
ONE OF THE BEECHER5 ON WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Pa IL. EdiLnr ~ Tia TribMns.
HORRORS IN MISSOURI


WHOI ESALE SLAUGHTBB5 - A HANGING
GALA DAY IN POr0SI.
The legal conclusion of "chapter OF hor-
rors" the hanging OF two murierers at Potosi Mo- on
Friday last to have been ~ brutal In It's bungng
awkwardncss, and in the curiosity which drew thot-
sands OF spectators from all directions "a was tho orig
inal crime for which the have suffered. The 81
Louis Times u Friday morning has the following notes
from a reporter pub shed In anticipation of tho hang
ing from which reader would suppose that prepara-
tions had making IN Po,osi for grand gala day;
-" From an interview had with Mr. Clarke we learned
that everything "a in readiness for the cxrcuSiOl "
will leo the first affair of Tho kind that has occurred at
felt in it ia corespondingy great There VIII be humid
reds OF persons from the adjoining cpGntcS, ad ~ l0r
Washington County Sheriff Clarke thinks that the people
wiz tIrn c nlaSse every man, woman, and child
within s borders IL familiar with al The raots o. me
murder, ami il anxious 10 SEQ the extreme penalty OF
tho law inniosod upon the nsSa5slls' LnS |
execution viii necessarily DO pup lo
that would be suitable though appfohenions are en-
tctaucd riot OF AM attempt tn tynch the prison
ers. tine citilen' Dehs 1xon5 thdt ne IA" enouu Iaho
its 70 provide, however against any sch cuI
suinnoned by sheriff Clarke TO act guards. They viii
BIN a. the depot, conduct The prsoGers to the JAIL
execution. which wifi be about O'Clock or - soon after
O'Clock - Che prisoners can git their anneas tr en-
Of his city All the saloons IN P9tosi WI oe tossed
by order NJ the proper authorities. IL ~ hoped by tins
precaton 10 avoid tho drunkenness and disorder which
almost always chara5trrlza SUCH gathefih5s' Ihr gal-
lows has been erected m tho C0urtliuSe Square, - De-
inS stho most convenient and suitable place and H.
placed about midway between the Court-iouse and
JAIL about GO feet from each II is provided with d9Ub
tap. Tie men VIII be- hung 81 one tme ono cora con-
Meeting with both traps"
As anticipated, there immense con Course OF
spectators hundreds of pcrs from adjoining coun-
ties" assembled in PotOs and The people turned ont
en- mdgSe" Tho crowd repaid for lie trouble by
some. hing than simple execution The bead OF
one oil the nearly severed from his body by the
rope. no fell and. "in consequence OF some dis
arrangement of tho moose. the other dted from SLOW
streugplatiOn
The crimes OF which this horrible the re-
suit wero terrible series OF rlers involving tho
leatlls of family The story is told by The st.
Louis Democrat, rs follows:
The qulntnple murder. for which che men we're exc
cuted was committed the night OF the i9li Of NOycm
Der last, and ior unparalleled arccty and nendsb bru
tally stands uncQualcd in The history Of TINS locality
Tho perpctia ora-Charies Jolly and John Armstrong
miners Icy occupation ana or a very 10" Ofler OF
intellect Jolly about 50 years OF age rather ta ana
g,Jint and uugauiy and Icpusye in form and feature
No could neither read nor wrte nor even Hpei hi5 own
anl broader shouieTed than Jolly and the animal ex
preston Of his face somewhat resemoled him. The mcn
were cousins had for year or more been wOrArx
together On the evening ol CIe 18th OF NONebcf JOy
and Armstrong having becl drinking very freely with
Tho avowed intention OF getting drunk, we're riding nom
POUs In wagon, with hoy, L3on, the brother on jOiy
Iepine family about . milo and half from tho town.
This family consisted of David Lepne, man about 10
his wife, Mary Christopher, Fauny's sister, and two
children. the daughtor of Fanny, ana me 0taer on
Mary Inpno WAC also - miner. and cousin Of tho
two isnds who that night murdered MN ana every NJ
his lie StSfaL u tnc reputation DcB
quiet nnGt'ndhS man. ana never engaged III IL, q ~ n
with his associates. The women bore, at tue pe- out sn
indifferent reputation, and the house. miserable ca
the loWc est class, who visited 1T FOR the Dtse,t psposes
Arriving az tine house. Jolly aud Armstrong elt the BOY
Leon in tho wagon and went al. Ihe D0y stayed IN me
wagon for, perhaps. half an hour wnen. becoming
chloI through by o Night he dot 31nned To go IN
and warm hmseh ~ tho hrr. Jumping out, no pro,
ceeicd toward the hose ana wa, sDou' 10 ay MS aha
SOUND OF fearful threats and bsophemy within Fright
onei nj he knew not what the lad crep TO tho side OF
he hoy, and
logs ne h0rrihed at the scene within. Jolly was
struggling on the door with Fanny Christopher while
Armstrong was threatening the other woman and Lopne
with death II they ntcriered. At that moment Loplne
vovcr and shot Lcpinc four times killing him instantly
Fanny Christopher had by that tino rosained her
clencicd hand. Jolly deliberately placed the muzzlc
OF the pistol TO her head and rc scattering her brains
tho room Armstrong mad ~ she interval seized an
standing In the corner. and Will single blOw
nwakcneI by the nolse sprau OF bed and attempted
to sayo thensclyes by tight. Armstrong struck down
and. swinging 1t over ms head dashed out its brains on
the stone hearth. The assassns then chopped of the
heads " several Of their Victims and, png the bodies
heap ON Che floor threw tho straw beds over them,
broke up te furniture aud added IL To he Pile anu nred
the house, thinking thus "a consume all traces Of their
The boy Leon all this tmo stood at the side Of the
cabin and through tho opening witnessed the whole or
the rightl affair. Thinking that no would instantly
share the of tho others should the murderOrs sus
peot his huovlodge Of this appalling crime tho boy had
enough W creep back 10 the wagon, climb into IT,
and prcteud to DO asleep moment later the wretcbes
emerged from the door and entering the wagon drove
rapidly tia house of Jolys brOthern-law, arriving
there about 10 O'clock They remained there until Mon
day morning, when they LETT together, and pro-
ceelcd foot TO Jefferson County. Thirty-six
hours after tho crime was committed, nnSnDor,
In passing the SPOT the hali-burned cabin OF the
Iepues, aud approaching TO examine it, found the nye
charred and dsigurcd bodies. The alarm was pronphy
rdsod aud foul play being evident the most Intense eA
| citement created. Tho entire community turnc"
assist In the discovery and capture OF tho Huruo
Quito number OF suspected parties were or
and among them John Jolly and tho lad Leon tne at
ter was greatly armed ut being arrosted aRd pronte
If released and protected against his brother CaaiSs 20
"tell all about IT," This readily agsod ~ y III
captors and the boy related the horrible story Win al
It's slckoning details.