Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-31
THE sHARP-ERsKnE MURDER.
The Murderer Hung by q Mob.

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Last fall Imam named John Erskine. from
Texas, bnu:ht Il large lot of cattle from Jas.
G.. Sharp. Of Johnson roLnty. and hargained
for their delivery in the spring, weight
guaranteed. At the time Of delivery the loss
in weight Wa very considerable, and Sharp
finding that he had lost u large amount Of
money by the transaction, determined to
murder Er,kinc Is the readiest means Of es-
Gaping the loss. Sharp and his son., = boy
about Is year, Of age, with Erskine and a
man named George Young, started for
Bates county with cattle, OH the Sth Of July.
On the road Sharp rude up to Erskinc and
knockcL him oil his horse, beating him after
he was down until life was extinct. They
scattered Er>kine' papers. tore his clothes
an,l then gave out that his horse had thrown
him and dragged his body through the creek
anil brush, which caused his death. suspicion
OF foul play was arou,cd. and ! confession
wa, made iir>, by Young, which led to the
arrest and Incarceration of sharp in the War
rru>brirG jail. Sharp subsequently confessed
hi crime, going through the most lur-
rIJlr ana >ichr:ing detail, with 4 nonclIui-
ancr that showed hi, hardened nature ami an
utter lD>cnce Of amy feeling, of humanity.
He j. said TO he L man who has had Il lon.
career OF crime, WAS frequently tried in
Ohio for stealing, WIS tried in johnson
county lately for the same ~otlcIcr. and j.
now under Indictment i'll Bates county tor
81, ilinS cattle.
TN Monday night. th, I'D inst. Il number
of ,iliZrnS of Wurr,u,h;,r,, and vicinity mali,
an effort TO get sharp into their hands to
deal out to him the Justice which they We're
apprciirn>ivc he would escape in 4 court OF
law. The attempt was not successful at the
time. but OH Thursday night u little after
midnight. Il body Of three hundred men
marched to the jail. in sllcnce aud perfect or
der, and demanded from the sheriff TIL. sur
render oftlir prisoner. Upon that officers re-
fu>al, the mob put him aside and proceeded
in short order. The s!,acklrs were stricken
from S.ilrp'> anclrS. and he WAS taken out to
the place of execution. which WASH in the TIM
Der ON Post Oak creek. about Il mile and Il
half from the oil town of Warrcn>burg.
Arrived al the appointed! place. Il halt was
made. The men ,i.nolintcd. Il strong cor
don WAS formed about the tree. Il rope passed
The men who ha,lbrrn detailed to draw the
rop" took their places. aud then the master
of the ceremonies stepped i'll front Of Sharp
and asked him if he had anything to say
before he died. Sharp said he would like to
say Il word.
I'VE will hear what you have TO say"
II acknowir lyr that killed, I;rskine in the
manner state. III my first confession. Er>kine
WAS the c..iy man ! ever killed. killed him
l,cca,.>c | thought lie had wronyci me in
business"
"lla,r YOU any request to make or any
mercy Ia crave
"Nonc."
Are you ready tn dic"'
IL am"
There WAS Il signal. u tightrnin" of the
cord. Il rt>pimg >uund Is the rope slid over
the rough bark on the limh,and Sharp swung
from the cartI never more to press its sur
ftcc Il living man. All through this proceed
in. there had been the utmost drcorum.
When he hal ceased to struggle. and
his pulls. had stopped even ii> irregular hut
,rrln-. the leader announced that he wa>
dead. The m"hthcn rapidly mounted their
horse, and dispersed in every direction.
A. soon a. it WAS daylight Sharp'> body
was taken down AMI an Inquest held. The
verdict WAS that the deceased CAME to his
death by >tran.uiatiun NJ the hands of par
ties unknown to the jury.
Many of the most respectable citizen. Of
various parts of the county were engaged in
t:,r hanging. and they made no effort at con-
ccalmcn or disguise.
The lynclicd man was about tifty-twO years
Of age, and owned one of the finest farm, in
johnson county. located near Crrtrr,iew,
about ihrrc or four miles from the line uftlc
Missouri Pacific railroad. He WAS Il sturk-
raiser aud feeder. and dealt largely in Texas
and Cherokee cattle. His ilrin. with what
stock. crup>. buildings and utensils are on
the premises. is worth ut least forty thousand
dollars. 1t is said TO be only lightly cnciIm-
brrri. AMI j. In Il line state of Improvement.
His family consists of his wife and six
children. the eldest Of whom is Twenty-Five.
AMI the Youngest about seven years old.
READ - Report of the County
Democratic Committee. Matter of interest
to every voter of LAFAYETTE.