The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-01-23
Lynch Law in California.
From the Tulare (Cal.) Times, Dec. 20. !

lrIpH tIie hulai I NCdl'} liuiehJ DtC, ~
The tragedy which occurred in this
town on Christmas Eve was terrible one.
A kind-hearted and greatly respected citi-
zen, Charles Allen, one of the proprietors
of the El Dorado saloon. was shot down
in cold blood by James 6. McCrory, one
Of the most fendish devils in human
shape that ever disgraced the earth There
was not the slightest palliation for the act.
It was only equalled in its horrible, re-
voting character by the cold-blooded
murders previously perpetrated in Visalia
by the same McCrory The circumstances,
as we heard OF and saw them and were
developed by the testimony ut the Coro-
ner's inquest on the body of Allen. were
these McCrory arrived in town on Tues
dav morning, on the stage from Goshen,
at 6 O'clock He was around during the
day, and, we are informed, was heard to
remark that he "came back to get even
and would kill his man before night" He
went to Allen and represented that he was
out of funds. Allen gave him $40 to buy
pair Of pantaloons with. He was SOBER
we are told, when he arrived in town. At
the time OF the murder he was doubtless
under the influence of liquor
HORRIBLE MURDER.
About 5 o'clock P. NJ, he went into the
Ell Dorado saloon and drew six-shooter,
t1ourishing it around menacinglv and
using boisterous and threatening language,
saying that he would shoot the first man
that "darkened the door" 1t is stated by
some that he had a grudge against the
Mexican who was bartender in the saloon
at the time. Allen was in bed in back
room. Hearing the noise he came into the
saloon, remarking. "Jim, don't act so
childish; put up your pistol and be a
man." McCrory turned and cursed him
and said, Il might as we'll kill You as any
other man." shooting him in the abdomen
as he spoke. Allen threw up his hands,
SAYING, For Gods sake. Jim, don't kill
me, am unarmed," walking in front of
McCrory toward the counter. McCrory
continued to advance on him, firing as he
came, shooting him two more times in the
body At the third shot Allen dropped
down on the floor in sort of sitting
posture. the head reclining against the
bar McCrory then placed his pistol al
most against Aliens head, shooting him
the fourth time through the forehead, his
brains oozing out of the oriice after
wards. w. j. White and Cordova, the
Mexican, saw the killing. McCrory then
attempted to revolve his pistol and was
preparing to kill Cordova, but it would
not turn, and he ran out the back way and
secreted himself in an clubhouse. 1t was
soon discovered that he was in there, and
he was called upon to come out and sur
render. He yelled out he would kill any
one who attempted to arrest him. Deputy
GboriH paypn1Ic ,,rcboI bn laa,. oil iryb+ +I,-
open, and A. J Atwell stood close by his
side. McCrory appeared with a revolver
and attempted to cock it, but Atwell
caught it. Reynolds, Marshal Meyers.
johnson and others grabbed him, and he
was finally disarmed, having a pistol in
each hand when he came out. Others
soon came, and he was taken through the
saloon into the street and they started with
him for the county Jail.
CHANG HIM ~
As soon as he reached the street crowd
began to gather and follow. Near the
bridge, ut the Graham Hotel, the cry of
Hang him !" was raised, what had been
done being generally known. The cry
kept increasing with the crowd, and some
thing OF an attempt to take him from the
officers was made at the Jail door. but he
was finally got inside and put in cell
The throng OF citizens grew larger every
moment, and Sheriff Glasscock was
called upon to give up the prisoner.
He refused, and appointed several depu-
ties 70 assist him in guarding the jail
District-Attorpey Atwell also aided the
Sheriff. After the lapse OF short time,
during which the citizens evinced de-
mod raspl,,tiop T. l,.;p NaCror1, t<,
summary Justice without awaiting the
laws delay, which had saved his neck
from the halter so many times before
when he SO richly deserved it, a move
ment was made for an organization Fif-
teen well-known citizens were detailed to
guard the jail to prevent McCrory's being
| spirited out. OF course there was much
| loud talking and tumult, but the crowd
was calmly in earnest as to the object in
view-the taking out of McCrory and his
execution. The only thing was how best
to 90 about it. The officers maintained a
| firm front at the other hall door, which
was locked and stubbornly resisted when
ever an attempt was made by any of the
crowd to force it. Finally it was deter
mined to break into the Jail Immediately
at all hazards. A long iron water-pipe
was obtained. some twenty feet in length,
| fifty hands seized it, and the officers, after
a brief but fierce struggle, were forced
aside, the outer hall door was soon bat
tered open and the citizens were inside
the hall. The Jail door was now reached
The first door is made of double sheet
iron and then there is a stronger one O
wrought iron cross bars inside this The
first was forced with crowbar The
second failed to Weld Sheriff GlasscocI
was then overpowered and searched fol
the keys, but unsuccessfully. Deputy
Sheriff Reynolds was next captured an(
searched, but the keys were nOt found or
him, though secreted on his person The
crowd rushed in with implements to breal
the wrought iron door. Sheriff Glasscocl
and Deputies Reynolds and Parker being
released succeeded in getting in with tho
crowd. and made another attempt to pre-
vent the Jail being broken, but they were
overpowered instantly by still larger mum
bers and carried outside and placed unde
guard Two keys were found on them
and the door swung open.
DRAGGED TO HIS DEATH.
The names of the other occupants of tn,
Jail We're called and answered to by then
until McCrory's cell was identified. |
was unlocked and McCrory was fount
lying down inside. completely paralyzet
with tear. He refused to stand on hi
feet. or speak. He knew that his time
had come. Before the people got inside
he told the other prisoners that the crowd
would surely get in and hang him ''clear
out of the iail," and lmplored them to
"help to fight it out" Keeney told hin
he would ''pray for him." and he did so
he says, McCrory lying down and givins
himself up doggedly to his fate. A rop'
had been prepared, and. as he refused t
walk, the moose was put over his necl
and he was dragged out. AS the noos
was being put on his neck he made SOM
resistance, striking with his hands ant
kicking, but not attempting to stand. Th'
crowd now probably numbered two hun
dred. Dozens of men seized the rope an(
he was dragged to the Court street bridg
in moment. All his clothes were
dragged off him down to his ankles. Th
end Of the rope was tied to the railing
and the body rolled off. The fall wa
| ahOut fOur or five feet No motion Of th