Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-08-15
Lynch Law.
TALIFERRO HING BY A
DISGUISED CROWD AT
MIDNIGHT.

cOUll uIlleiiO. WIZ WdS tOnFIltSa VI
the mu,der of Annie Butler, is no more.
As we write these lines, FRIDAY morn
ing his lifeless body is still dangling
from a tree near where the cumberland
Valley Railroad crosses the Williamsport
pike, north Of town. He was taken out
of Jail about midnight of Thursday, by
party Of mounted men, partially dis
guised, and numbering from rs to 100.
The whole affair was conducted very
quietly, and although there has Of late
been many rumors that on this or that
night Taliferro would be taken out and
hung, yet but few, if any persons, not
directly in the secret, knew or believed
it would be done on Thursday night, al
though there may have been rumors to
that effect. At the time the lynchers
began to assemble, the town was COM
paratively quiet, and the streets almost
entirely deserted. About half past
eleven o'clock pistol was discharged
on the street near the post office, which
being unusual, aroused a number oil
persons, and caused a small gathering
of footmen in the vicinity of the jail
There was considerable accommodating
prior to the general and final movement
on the Jail. AT about quarter past IL
o'clock, company of mounted men
some of them fully and others partially
disguised, charged down several of the
streets converging at the Jail, and formed
in column, with the right resting Oh
west King street. They numbered
about seventy-fve or one hundred, IN
der command Of Colonel" VIII
seemed to hold them pretty well il
hard. Various orders were given ant
obeyed with military precision. Afte
the company had been properly sta
toned, one horse wagon. for the pur
pose OF hauling the prisoner, was driver
up the alley in front Of The Jail door, anc
the Colonel" with several aids, knocked
at the Jail door and aroused Mr.. Blondel
He put his head out of the window ant
inquired what they wanted. Tn,
spokesman said they had prisoner, ant
asked him to come down and take hin
in. He said all right, and disappeared
from the window, and appeared at thc
door in few minutes after. AS soor
as he opened the outside door, severa
men reached in and seized him He
was soon overpowered and the keys ia
ken from him. With these, the entrance
to Taliferro's cell was easy, and but {
few minutes elapsed until he was brough
forth and placed in the wagon, which
was heavily guarded. The wagon, con-
tanning Taiferro. then moved out tt
King street and the men took position
according to commands, and the column
moved of down east King street, tn,
party giving three loud cheers as they
moved off They went down King ST.
to tho foot of the hill, turned to the left
and crossing under the railroad bridge
over Burke street. and went out High
street around to the Williamsport pike
and thence to point where the Warn
Spring road crosses the G. V. r. r., ant
here the prisoner was hung to the llml
of q small tree. He was given fifteer
minutes in which to pray, and he i'm
proved every moment of the time mos
earnestly. He asserted his innocence tt
the last, and died declaring he was 10
guilty.
The affair seemed to have been system
atically arranged, and was we'll organic
ed. Beng, perhaps, the first instance 0
Lynch law which ever occurred in thi
community, it was the general topic 0
conversation among all classes whe i
became generally known next morning
Hundreds of people went to the scane o
the tragedy, and took a look at the life
less body dangling in the air.
a guard was put around the body
and Coroner's jury summoned to NEE
at 9o'clock. After full examination
OF all the facts which could be elected il
the case, verdict was rendered tina
John Talilero came to his death at tn,
hands ofan organized band of men IN
known to tho jury,
We have not room for comment a
present, but unhesitatingly and emphat
ically declare our disapprobation of mol
law or Lynch law in community