Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1874-06-20
The Hanging in Franklin.

j III
In our last issue we gave the sub
stance of Geographic dispatch,
stating that 4. l.. and I. J.. NORRIS,
had been taken from the WinnSbor0
iail, by mob of thirty men, and /
hung, Since then we have received
rom various sources in detail the
full particulars Of the terrible scene
enacted in cur ncigbboring commu-
nifty, on the night Of the 9th inst.
We have before " the testimony en-
tire as given by the different wit
nesscs, in the preliminary cXamIna-
ton. which goes To show that these
yeSng men, together with Henry
Lewis, did, on the !th Of May, board
and rob trading boat on Bayou
Macon, aud most brutally murdered
the owner, Mr.. JAMES ARBUCKLE, an
account Of which We published a few
weeks since. These young men, as
we have before stated, moved in what
is generally termed the best circles of
society. They had rich kin, and
some property Of heir own. Instead
of absconding, as --ght have been
expected under 'sich circumstances,
they appeared to bolster themselves
upon their wealth and position as an
insurmountablc barrier against legal
proceedings, and bid defiance to law.
We have not time and space to give
all that was said and done by them,
calculated to arouse popular indigna-
zion. But, taking a calm and dispas-
siona,c view of the whole affair, their
positon, their wealth, with many rel
ativcs and friends ready OF help them,
we believe, and we rcgrc. o o C eve,
though we do not hesitate to express
it. as also the belief Of Il majority of
those acquainted with the facts, that
if these young men had not been hung
by q mob, as was the case, they would
eventually have been turned loose up
or the people, guilty CT not guilty
while the crime with which they were
charged is one of the blacklist and
most horrible that ever stained the
record of events. a sad commentary
on the present means for dispensing
insticc under the laws of our land hut
no less sad than true. This opinion
evidently prevailed among the people
Of Franklin Parish, and so strong was
it among the citizens Of our own com
munity, tina. scarcely man was found
who did not look upon the first news
of the hanging as false report, sup
posed to have been put in circulation
by friends of the murderers, who hat
liberated them, rather than that they
had been hung. With these fact
staring us in the face so plainly
though the remedy was truly a terri
Die alternative, We shall not say whsth
or the men who took part in this wor
did right or wrong. BE this as
may, they have indeed given feal
full warning to murderers and robbers
which cannot fail to have a tendenc.
in checking those whom conscienc
cannot check. They surrounded tn
Jail about | o'clock on Saturday night
ARRESTED the jailor and rs Srds, open
ed the cell, and proceeded to execut
their victims. All was stiffness an
80 quiet, save the piercing cries of terro
that went out through the midnigh
air from the doomed and desponden
souls. They hung the two brother;
back to back. by one rope, to the lin
of a thorn tree, near the Jail door, an
fastened among the tborns q placar
bearing this inscription in large letters
"TIIE MURDERERS' AND ROE
BEERS REWARD! HONESTY 1!
THE BEST POLICY. YOUNG
MEN BEWARE AND TAXI
WARNING FROM THEIR Elk
AMPLE"
In this position they were LIFT hang
ing until &c o'clock Sunday morning
when the Coroner held an inques
over the bodies, which were thel
dressed, placed in collins, and deliver
cd to their friends for burial. Thu
passed away two intelligent young
men, in prime of life, who enjoyed ev
cry opportunity for becoming honoret
and useful members of society.