River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-24
A DESPERADO'S DEATH,

Z
and is Hung Before his Victim dies,
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
VIsALIA, December PA terrible
tragedy has Just been enacted in this
city. James McCrory, noted despe-
RADIO, who has killed and assassinated
four or five persons in this vicinity
without any apparent cause. to-day
shot Charles Allen, warm personal
friend. Five shots were fired, entering
the brain, chest, and abdomen, either
of which was fatal. No words had
passed between them at all, and 40
cause is assigned for tho bloody deed.
McCrory, upon firing the last shot at
Allen Us he lay PROSTATE on the door,
ran out of the back door TO the
alley. He was pursued and brought
to bay in an clubhouse, where
he held navy revolver in each
hand. Deputy Sheriff Reynolds adj.
vanced on him, and, aided by citizens,
succeeded in disarming the 6end. He
was marched back through the saloon
in which the shooting occurred, where
tie officers were met by an excited
crowd, who took the murderer from
them amid cries of "Hang him I"
"Shoot him !" "Kill the dogi" etc. A
rope was brought, but the officers raj
lied, and, aided by the city marshal
aud few citizens, retook their pris-
oner and marched toward the Jail,
followed by the excited people. At
Main and Church streets the crowd re.
ceived reinforcements and again cap
tured McCrory, but the officers, partly
by force and partly by permission,
rescued him once more, and
finally lodged him in Jail. The
crowd before the Jail rapidly increased,
amid cries Of Z" Bring him out 2"
"Break the Jail in etc. Sheriff
Glasscock was overpowered and search
ed for the keys, but unsuccessfully.
Deputy Sheriff Reynolds was next
captured and searched, but the keys
were not found on him, though secreted
on his person. A crowbar was next
procured, and the outer door broken
in. The mob rushed in with implements
to break the wrought iron door com
municating with the cells. Sheriff
Glasscock and Deputies Reynolds ard
Parker being released, succeeded in
getting in with the crowd, and made
another desperate attempt to prevent
the Jail being broken open, but they
were overpowered instantly by still
larger numbers, and carried outside
and placed under guard. The keys
were found and the door swung open.
The names of the other occupants
of the Jail were called and answered to
by them until McCrory's cell was iden-
titled. The door was unlocked and
dozens of hands FASTENED to put the
rope round his neck. He showed fight,
and swore that he would resist till
death. But he was dragged to the cor
ridor and told to walk co his death.
Refusing to move he was dragged by
the neck and partly carried to the door,
where 80 willing hands seized the rope
and assisted to pull him into the street.
He was dragged to Court street bridge,
and without time to say a word, flung
over the railing, the end of the rope
\ having been tied to the bridge. The
fall was about four or five feet. No
motion of the body was perceptible
after the fall. At this writing,
s o'clock, the body still hangs
from the bridge inalmost a nude state,
with the rain pouring over it in tor
rents. The crowd had nearly all dis
persed, but a watch is kept on the
body to make sure Of no rescue until
death is certain. Allen died about the
same minute that his murderer was
swung from the bridge. The unani-
nous verdict OF the people is
well DONE" Sheriff Glasscoek
and Deputies Reynolds and Par
ker did all that could possibly be
done by three men against as many
hundred. They are entitled to great
credit for the bravery displayed in
the discharge of their duty. The 9th.
er prisoners were in Jail charged with
murder, but were not molested.
Or. M--The excitement has all sub
sided. McCrory's body has been re-
moved. The crowd separated with
three cheers for Visalia justice.