The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-23
A Doe,or Hanged BY a Mob.

lowing particulars of the hanging Of
DIR. Rusch Saturday evening.
The doctor was a single man, aud
had lived some time in Concordia,
and bad never been suspected even
Of a disonorable act. He kept bache-
lor's hall in the town and lived by
himself.
On the night of the 4th instant,
Friday, the store of Mr.. Henry
Steigers was broken into and robbed
of about $500 worth Of goods.
This new robbery created a great
excitement in the usually quiet burg,
as a series of ~robberies had been re-
Gently committed there, and no clue
could be got as to the persons perpe-
trating them. After a close inspec-
ton OF the premises, the foot tracks
Of a person were found leading in
the direction of Rusch's house, and
soon quite a number were on the
trail. The tracks entered bis yard.
but yet the doctor was not suspected,
and it was believed the thief had
taken this course to divert attention
aud throw those who would look of
the track. The doctor met the crowd
at his yard gate and accompanied
them back to the store that had been
robbed. Here a counsel was held,
and it was determined to ferret out
the robber, and the best means Of
doing so was to search every house
in town.
Dir. Ruseh heard this decision, and
at once proceeded to the bank and
drew SlG5 be had deposited and,
saddling his horse, left the town.
His action was discovered at once,
and suspicion fell upon him. 4
posse of fifteen or twenty persons
was dispatched after the fugitive on
horseback, while a large number Of
excited persons went to the doctors
house and took the shutters of the
windows so they could see inside. To
their astonishment they saw, Iying in
his room, the stolen goods, and a
search warrant was Immediately
sworn out and the house entered.
Their search was rewarded by find
ing not only the property taken from
Steiger's but a large amount which
was recognized as belonging to
franklin & Stuenkel, whose store
was robbed aud burned about six
weeks ago. Excitement now ran high,
and was increased by the posse re-
turning with the doctor, whom they
caught four miles from town, making
tracks for a more congenial cline.
Upon nearing him be jumped from
his horse and took to the brush. He
was fred at twice, halted, and cap
tnred. The posse turned him over
to Squire w. II. Tiemann, who, in
addition to being a Justice of the
Peace is cashier Of the bank, into
which the prisoner was taken. Dire
threats of lynching could be heard on
every hand.
The doctor made o full confession
to Squire Tiemann, to the effect that
be had committed eight different
thelts, which had so increased the
people Of Concordia. He also admit
ted having robbed Stuenkel & Co.'S
store and burning it to remove all
evidence. This confession was car
ried to the excited populaee outside,
and added fuel to the already dau-
gerous fire. They were furious, and
demanded the prisoner, bot The JUS
tice was determined to do his duty
and protect him as long as be could.
The outsiders thea commenced firing
into the bank, where the prisoner
was being guarded, aad the shots
were returned from The inside, but it
only exasperated The mob, which now
numbered over a hundred persons.
A rush was made on the building
and the doors and windows broken
in; the squire, constable and guards
seized and held, while others Of the
mob picked up the thief aud hurled
him through the window. He was
caught by the outsiders, who seemed
at first determined to tear him to
pieces. He was paraded through
the streets amid the jeers Of the pop
ulace, and every indignity inflicted
upon him. \ ive-eighth inch rope
was finally procured, and sentence Of
death was passed on the unfortunate
doctor. He was then whipped
through the streets over the head
with the rope, and begged ~piteously
for his life, but the mob, Ike ali 9TH
ers, was inex0rable, and answered
his prayers with boots and dcrision.
He was then being marched TO the
gallows. a strip Of timber in the out
er edge of town, followed by nearly
the entire population. Arriving at
the timber, the moose was fastened
around bis neck and the end Of the
rope thrown over the limb ola tree
and grasped by the eager and excited
crowd, who 10 an instant bad the bo-
dy Of the doctor dangling in mid-air.
He was o . let down, though, and
he was asked after resuscitatiOn If
he had an accomplice, an impression
that be had having gained credence
with his executioners. He denied
having any, and was again swung
up, only to be let down again aud
questioned as before, with exactly
the same result. A third time this
operation was gone through with,
and the almost dead man persisted in
the statement that he was alone in
the robberies, and begged and i'm,
nlored for the crowd to ~ bis life;
but the fat had gone forth from that
mob that DR.. Rusch should die, and
that kind OF a body never offers any
clemency. He was satisfied his time
had come, aud then asked the benefit
of clergy. Strange to say, they
granted this reasonable request, and
a Methodist minister responded, who
offered a long and impressive prayer
for the doomed mans soul. The doe
tor also commenced praying but his
auuitoto neIt hot lHpiS6sru WIN ~,
and told him to cut it short.
He begged for more time to pray,
but his impatient bearers swung him
up with the words on his lips.
The majority Of the mob stayed
until the last spark of life had fed,
when they returned to their homes.
Soma ath.rc baauiT,y nnIor .ho IN