The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-08-20

IL tHo Cdulp huup ~ Out, tuOy IL
lynch him before you can get away
with him." suggested another.
"Filled with terror at the pros
pect, Long determined to make one
desperate move for life. With a
sudden spring he released himself
from the detective, and darted away
toward the thicket not far off. He
had some hope that his speed might
bear him away beyond the imme-
diate reach of Black or the others,
where he could work off his mana
cles. But the agile officer bounded
after HIM, and before he had gone
thirty yards, dragged him down.
Maddened at his situation, the pris-
oner commenced a fierce, but hope
less struggle, attempting, with kicks
and blows, to infiict injury on his
captor but Black, whose strength
was extraordinary, clutched him by
the throat, and overpowered him.
"Look here !" said he, somewhat
heated, "if you carry on this way,
the camp will learn what you have
done, and hang you up to tree I'll
not hinder them either; if you go
quietly, l promise you fair trial,
and you may not be hanged for some
weeks yet"
"Let me up, and I'll go with you. "
he faltered.
"And give me no further trouble P"
"No."
The dread of being lynched had a
mighty influence on him.
"See that you keep your word,
then, and mind, if on the way to
Marysville, you make another such
move, / will shoot you down."
And he allowed him to get up,
taking care to maintain his grasp
upon his arm.
But the scuffie had already attract
ed attention, and the miners came
running up from all directions.
"What's this ? What's the mat
ter ?" score ofthem asked.
They saw by the handouts on
Longs wrists, that one belonging to
their camp was in the hands of an
officer, and did not like it. They
were jealous of the law, and jump
ing at the conclusion that Long had
been arrested for merely shooting
some one in little row at Marys-
vile, their first thought was to res
cue him.
"He shan't co." shouted one.
"Release him." added another.
"Dont let them take me-" pleaded
Dave"
The crowd began to close in.
"Stand back % Numbered the de-
tective fourishing his revolver. am
detective Black, from Sacramento,
and this is my prisoner. If any man
dares to interfere, I will shoot him
down like dog"
Although threats of bullets were
not much in those days, the fearless
officer, who stood grasping the
prisoner, and with a single arm op.
posing hundred reckless men, had
its effect, and they stood undecided.
Taking advantage of a momentary
truce, Black hurriedly whispered 20
his prisoner
eff you don't tell them not to inter-
fere, and that you have concluded it
is best to 60 with me, I'll inform
them what you have done and they
will take YOU"
With the halter scare on him
again, Long tremblingly spoke to
mob
"Never mind, friends. Don't in
terfere. l guess I'd better 60. I'll
be all right.
"What is it you've done, Long ?"
He turned paler than ever.
owe must know what it is. Was
it a scrape in Marysville ?"
"Ye-yes. Never mind. Pill
III be Blackjack before long, and
tell you all about it."
So the detective was allowed to
depart with his prisoner.
Two of Longs mess accompanied
them, and the culprit was lodged in
Jail at Marysville that night, while
the murdered woman's husband
was released.
An effort was made by the author
tiles to keep the matter quiet for a
while; but all the facts leaked out
and the angry populace did not wait
for the laws slow vengeance.
On the following Friday night.
the miserable wretch was taken from
the Jail, by party of disguised men,
and hanged to tree, whose broad
branches overshadowed the scene of
crime.
In his last moments, with the
moose around his neck, he confessed
his guilt, and died praying for mer-
CIV.