The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-12-19
Lavv,essness in Scranton.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 0.-At the pres
ent time a shocking state of lawless-
ness exists in Sc.anton nd vicinity. A
terrible murder was perpetrated about
II O'Clock last night in the suburbs of
the city, at a place called the Notch,
deep gorge between high mountain,
where the coal treasures of the valley
have their north western termination.
The Notch is the dividing line between
the mining population of Scranton and
the farming districts of Wyoming and
Luzerne counties. The victim of last
nights tragedy was farmer named
Klein, who, with his son, had been to
the city to dispose of some hay and po-
tatnes, and was returning to his home
in Newton township. He had two
teams; one driven by himself and the
other by his son, who is only about 12
years of age. .
On reaching the Notch he was sur
prsed by six men, who dashed out of
the brush on the road side, seized his
his horses, and dragged him out of his
wagon. He begged of them to spare
him, but his entreaties were met with
blasphemy and kicks as well as with
blows of murderous club. He fought
desperately for his life but was finally
overpowered. Seeing that his assail-
ants did not intend to show him any
mercy he cried in despairlng tones.
"For Gods sake spare my boy!" These
were the last words spoken by Farmer
Klein. A pistol ball through his heart
let out his life blood. The reffians then
hastily robbed him and darted into the
woods. The boy sat in the wagon in
the rear, the mute witness of the terri.
bic tragedy. He was transfixed with
fear, and could neither move nor speak
for some minutes after he was discOv-
cred by Il farmer who happened to be
RAISING in that direction. The mur-
dered man was carried home, but no
trace of his assassins has yet been dis,
covered.
This morning miner named Philip
Bannan was arrested for attempting to
take the life of Alexander Craig, an en-
gineer in the employ of the Fairlawn
Coal Company. Bannan, dressed in
his miners suit. entered the engine
house where Craig was at work, and
demanded light; the latter, not sus-
pecting anything, turned around to
procure a match, and as he did so, Ban.
nan drew from his coat short AK, and
with it made murderous sweep at the
engineers head. Craig fortunately
evaded the murderous blow, and engag-
ed in fearful struggle with his would
be assassin, who was subsequently ar
rested and committed TO prison to await
trial.
1t is supposed that the attempt is the
result ST an organized plan, as the man.
ner in which the men were Ousted from
the Fairlawn Colllery still IaDkles in
their breasts, and they are determined
to be revenged on those who supplanted
them. Banuan was employed in the
Pine Brook Colllery, a short distant
from Fairlawn, but he was no doubt
detailed to do the murderous deed.
The lncapacity of the authorities to
deal with such daring ruflians and bring
them to justice encourages the outlaws
J to ply their murderous work fearessly.
We are at the commencement of a hard
winter, which will doubtless lead to
robbery and murder in an extraordinary
degree. Within the past few nights
some of the principal stores on our lead
ing thOroughfare5 have been broken
into and robbed. In every instance the
burglars have escaped with their boo
ty.
Our chief of Police Is under $1,000
bail for alleged murder; our Mayor is
under $500 bail for peiury; and six of
the members of our school board or a
majority of its entire number-are un-
der S1S, 900 bail for alleged malfesance
in ofice. They are to be tried at the
January Court of Quarter Sessions.
these cases are of all recent occurrence.
If the present condition of affairs con-
tinue much longer, the people of Scran.
ton will-for self protection and for the
protection of their property-be COM
PEELED to form vigilance committees.
Even now every man is armed, and
every man't house is an arsenal on a
a small scale, In many quarters vigil
ance committees are already talked of,
and we may expect a season of red.
handed vengeance before sprlng.-N.
! Y. Sun.