The Leavenworth weekly times., 1873-11-20
RETRIBUTION.
Summary Justice Dealt Out 10
Horse Thieves.
Stitzell and Blair Shot Down BY
Their Keepers.
GrasshOpper Wild With tx
citement.

Yesterday morning We received The In
telIieence that two horse thieves, s,itzeli md
blair. who were arresiea in Aicbison few
dave ago and taken to Gras-hopper for trial,
were on Monday night shot down in cold
blood by their keepers, who we're fearful
that . mob was about to take them from
custody. These two men, Blair and Slit
zsIl. hsve beer operating in GrasshopPer
and vicinity for come time past, and when
they we're at last captured and brought into
the town the place was wild with excite
ment. The public feeling has been aroused
BY their many scts in that vicinity, and ex-
element ran high for several days, in fact 1t
being rumored that law and order
had given way, that mob law prevailed and
that Peter Stitzell had fallen q victim to the
Iynchers and e1piated his crime at their
hands. Fortunately this latter rumor was
untrue, although there il no doubt that there
was q strung inclination on the part Of the
incepsed citizens to do it. Saturday morn
ing a young lawyer named Smith, from
Atchison, came to Grasshopper to conduct
the preliminary defense. and this is what the
Atchison Champion says of his reception:
"In the afternoon large crowd OF men,
armed with sbotguns and revolvers, appear
ed in Grasshopper Falls and in lond toner
demanded that the two horsethieyes, who
were then guarded by several cons;ables,
and in consultation with their attorney, be
given into their hands, TO be punished as
they in their Judgment saw best. All this
time the men were Guak:ng with fear, and
il looked a. If the demand Of the mob
would have to be acceded to. After Smith
had left the room, one Of the thieves was
again searched, and in bis sleeve, under
meath an undershirt was found concealed u
revolver. OF course il had b en- there all
the time, and the officers had neglected to
search him in that particular spot, but, ex-
cited as they we're, they at opce conceived
the idea that Smith had supplied his client
with the weapon, to be used in case of ne.
cessi,y. A warrant was Immediately issued,
and Smith was arrested
The mob we're soon informed OF the facts,
and their cries were now for Smith, and the
matter looked exceedingly dubious for
time. Tuo special constables finally got
him out of the crowd and he was taken to
room and concealed, but carefully guarded
until the fury of the mob should have been
spent. In the meantime several OF the
prominent citizens and Judge Horton, Of
Atchison, inrerceded with the mob and COM
parative order was restored. At 10 O'Clock
Sunday morning Smith succeeded in con.
yiucing the officials that he WAS innocent Of
the charge and was released J"
During Sunday and Monday the thieves
were confined in room, guarded by dozen
men, and on Monday night the shooting took
place "a above sisted. 1t ia reported that
great indignation exists among the citizens
at the unwarrantable course taken by the
guards, and they will probably he called to
account for their hasty action. A CORES
poudent writing from Grassbopper sayt
Blair, one of the victims, was brother oi
Mayor Blair, of A'chison.