Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-25


IEs-DRAGGED TO THE WINDOW OF A
BANK AND THROWN INTO THE HANDS
OF MADDENED MEN.
&c, NC, &c.
A remarkable tragedy occurred at Con-
cordia, Mo-, on Saturday, the 5th inst,
resulting in the hanging of DR.. Busch, q
practicing physician there. The Doctor
was single man, and had lived for some
time in Concordia, and had never been
suspected of even dishonorable act. He
kept bachelors hall in TIL. town and lived
by himself. On the night of the 4th inst,
Friday, the store of Mr.. Henry Steigers
| was broken into and robbed of about $500
worth of goods. The Bazoo ''Courier'
says:
This new robbery created quite a Sensa-
ton in the usually quiet burg, as a series
of robberies has recently been committed
there, and no clue could be got to the per-
sons perpetrating them. After close in
spection of the premises, the foot-tracks OF
person We're found leading in the direc-
ton Of Rusch's house, and soon quite d
number were On the trail. The tracks en-
tered the yard, but yet the doctor was not
suspected. and it was believed the thief
had taken this course to divert attention
and throw those who would look, off his
crack The doctor met the crowd at his
yard gate and accompa led them back to
! the store that had been robbed. Here Il
council was held and it was determined TO
| ferret out the rObOer, and the best means
| of doing so was to search every house in
town.
| A CHASE AFTER THE DOCTOR.
DR.. Rusch heard this decision, and at
once proceeded to the bank and drew S16o
he had deposited, and saddling his horse,
| left town. His action was discovered at
once and suspicion fell upon him. A
| posse of fifteen or twenty persons were
dispatched after the fugitive on horseback,
while large number of excited persons
went to the doctors house and took down
the shutters, so they could see inside.
To their establishment they SAW, lying
in his room, the stolen goods, and search
| warrant was Immediately sworn out and
house entered. Their search was reward
ed by finding not only the property taken
from Stelger's but a large amount which
was recognized as belonging to Franklin
! Il Stuenkel, whose store was robbed and
burned about six weeks ago. Excitement
now ran high, and was increased by the
doctor, whom they caught, four miles from
| town. making tracks for a more cOngenlal
cline. Upon nearing him he jumped from
his horse and took to the brush. He was
fired at twice, halted, and captured. The
posse turned him over to Squire w. Ill.
! Tiemann, who, in addition to being JUS
tice of the Peace, is cashier of the bank,
into which the prisoner was taken. Dire
threats of lynching were heard on every
hand.
The doctor made full confession to
Squire Temann, to. the effect that he had
committed the eight different thefts, which
had so incensed the people Of Concordia.
lie also admitted having robbed Stuenkel
& Co.'S store and burning it to destroy all
evidence. This confession was carried to
| the excited populace outside, and added
fuel to the already dangerous fire. They
were furious and demanded the prisoner.
but the Justice WAS determined to do his
duty and protect him as long as he could.
| The outsiders then commenced flring into
the bank, where the prisoner was being
guarded, and the shots were being return
ed from the inside, but it only eXasperated
the mob, which now numbered over one
hundred persons. A rush was made at TIE
building and the doors and windows Drok-
en- in: the squire, constable and guards
seized and held, while Others of the mob
picked up the thief and
HURLED HIM THROUGH THE WINDOW.
He was caught by the outsiders who SEEM
ed ut first determined to tear him to pieces.
He was paraded through the streets
| amid the jeers OF the populace, and every
indignity inflicted on him. A fiye-eight-
inch rope was finally procured. and SEN
tence CT death passed on the unfortunate
DOCTOR He WAS then whipped through
through the streets over the head with the
rope, and begged piteously fol- his life, but
the mob. like all others was lneXOrable,
| and answered his prayers with boots and
derision. He was then being marched to
the gallows, a strip OF timber on the outer
| edge of town, followed by almost the en-
tire population. Arriving at the timber,
the moose was fastened around his neck,
and the end of the rope thrown over the
limb OF tree and grasped by the eager
aud excited crowd, who in al instant had
the body OF The doctor dangling i'm mid all
He was soon let down though; and he was
asked after resuscitation II he had an ac-
coinplish. an impression that he had hay=
inc gained credence with his executioners.
He denied having any, and was again
swung up, only to be let down again ana
questioned lis before, with exactly tile same
result A third time this operation was
gone through with, and the salmOst dead
i,rl, PERSISTED in the statement that he
was alone Ii TIE robberies, and begged and
implored the crowd fq silYe his HE; out
| the fiat had gone forth from that 4Gh tliat
| Dr.. ftuseh should die, and that kind Of a
body never offers any clemency. lie was
satisfied his time had come, and then ask
ed the benefit of clergy. Strange TO say,
they granted this reasonable request, and
Methodist minister responded, who Of
! fered long and impressive prayer TOT tlie
doomed mans soul. The doctor also CON-
menced praying but his auditors were NOT
| impressed with it, and told him to
oBT IT SHORT.
| He begged for more time to pray, but ms
| impatient hearers swung him Up with the
words On his lips.
The majority of the mob stayed until
the last spark of life had fled, when they
i returned to their homes. Some others,
heavily under the influence Of whiskey.
stayed behind, and perpetrateda more das-
tardly act than did the man they had hung.
They cut the corpse down, and robbed
| it OF the money he had drawn from the
bank, and his gold watch and chain, ieay=
ing the body where it fell, with the rope
still around his neck, in which condition
| he was found and taken charge of by the
officers of the law A jury was summoned
by Squire Tienann, and an inquest held
| The verdict was in accordance with the
foregoing facts.
Daniel Won Gyoning for manv voars