Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-01
MOB LAW.
TRAGIC CONCLUSION OF THE
CASS COUNTY BOND
SWINDLE.
Murder of J. R. Cline and Judge
Stevenson.

Stevenson.
From the K. &. Bulletin of the 5th.
The excitement created by the swindles
perpetrated on the citizens of Cass county
by its corrupt county court, and those In
league with 1t, in the matter of the fraudu-
lent issue Of bonds. a full expose of which
appeared In the columns of the Bulletin at
the time, has not died OUT but like smothered
flames has smouldered in the breast o: tn.
outraged people. and has at last broken forth,
in a tempest OF fury, that eliminated In one
of the bioodiest tragedies we have ever been
called ,iron to chronicle. Since the return
TO Cass county of J.. Il. Cline and Judge
Jchial Z. Stevenson, the ;ee!in. a.ains,
them has only grown more bitter rs time
and ii began to be thought that there
was lilo remedy to be found in the law tina,
would reach and adequately punish these
men. Last evening the long Dent up wrath
"%ftllo,c who felt themselves most wron.cd
found vent in the tragedy narrated below.
for the particulars ni which we are indebted
TO Mr.. Wolf Bacharacl, who was an eve
witness of the affair:
TIE SCENE.
Gun City is 4 small station OIL the Holden
branch al the Missouri, Kansas Il Texas
Railway. in Ga>S county. 1t has been in
OPERATION. and wa, called into being hr the
necessities of the country surrounding 1t.
Il WAS her" that the tragedy was enacted.
Within Il short distance of the depot stands
All oil bla't>'nitlI shop. AMI in this the
gang engaged in the deed concealed them
>el,c.. having learned that Cline anh Steven
son would be ON the train that passed
there about six o'clork. and lIaSiig
determined to Kill them. 1t Is not rjI>ioma-
~ for this train !" stop at Gun city. merely
Stacking speed asst passes the depot. On II.
approach last night the engineer discovered
4 pile OF rails across iCf:ark. and Il moment
after Il gang Of about fifty men outpourcd
from the blacksmith shop. and ranging
Themselves IN either side of tn" track. y:li-
eel to the engineer to stop. at the same tim"
drawing their pistols, and preparin" to fire,
in case their demand was not complied with.
The engineer surprising they were intent
on robbery, declined 81 hey. and determine
ed to risk the chances of going through the
rail pile, when the
MOE f. FIRE on HIM..
There WAS no resisting an argument like
this. and the engineer whi>tled down brakes
AMI ,t%oppcdthc train. a. it came to a stan,
the mob surrounded the baggage ear in
which Cline and Stevenson had taken refuge,
and prrempt"rily ordered them to com. out,
and as they did not show themselves an in.
discriminate fire was opened on the ear. amId
yells and boots that would have lone credit
to 4 ComancIe. After \ number Of shot,
were fired. an opportunity was again given
to Cline and Stevenson to surrender. the
crowd promising them safety if they would
do so. ON hearing this. aud knowing the
the utter iutiiity of resistance,
CLINE AMI OUT.
holding in his hand a small pocket-pistol.
which lac gave up 10 one of the crowd They
then cowardiy lcrclcd their pistols on him
aud fired. \ number of balls rlddIed him.
and Cine fell forward OF his face. AS he
fell he groaneu. 80, God"' and til" soul OF
James II. Cline was with its Creator.
AFTER HE WAS DEAD
l miscreant from the gang who had murder.
ed him. raised his head and deliberately fired
three shots from his rcyol,c r into the face Of
the corpse. 1t was i horrible sight and one
never to be forgotten.
STEVENSON IN
the confusion that followed the surrendei
near by, in wllirh he WA, locked. The intu.
rated mol only rendered more desperate 10y
the blood they had already she'd. were no,
long in finding his pilcc of concealment, land
Immediately fire was opened on the cal
which riddlcd it through and through, Will.
fence rails aud whatever the crowd c"lil,
Law their hands on, We're used As batIerini
rams, and the next thing our iniorman
saw,
STEVENSON WAS LYING DEAD
beside the other.
As the train was preparing to move Oh
some of the bloody gang called for the othc
body. and the corpse of Thomas Dctror,
An INNOCENT CITIZEN.
was dragyr,! forth from the luggage ear ii
which t:ic firing first begun. where he hat
fallen Il victim simply bcclii>c he VA, wit!
the others. and laid beside the two o,Ir
Victims of mob law. The train then i:!o,c,
. OH. iiiI t!lc iH'Ii t'IfI> = CT VIA 1h't
! victims. the moi first threatening. TO Kill All,
, one who hereafter inlcntiiici any Of them il
cuur, or elsewhere.
When t..c !irin: first began the gang. il
reply to i question. said they didn't intcn'
to hurt anybody but the ones they were ai
ter.
The Indignation of the people of Gas
COUNTY against the men who cheated then
was Just. bat there are none who will up'IOl'
or excuse the hnrrii Grim: pr"inptct! 10y III,
IN i :uiucd passions 0i the men engaged in TIL
murdrrous outrage. While the feelings rn
rrnIercd bv The expressions 10 which til
bonI hunters would have subjected then
are The natural uutXrowih of the railrna'
swIn'!l.s. such action ~ that we have. c!rUn
tcled "anu", br deprecated in too >tron;
term. And the men engaged in it hav
committed i GRIM" far greater than that 70
which their Victims suffered. while the.
have not indicated or righted their owI
wrongs.
Cotton hosiery, n large io;, nj 10 cents a pan
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