Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-09-21
Lyneling Of Four Men in. Kentucky.

Lynching Of Four Men il, Kentucky.
Last week an end was put by violence
| to a gang of desperadoes who have beer
the terror of Newcastle. Ky, for years
One of them named Shuek was hung some
weeks since by law and before his death
made a confession which implicated the
others in a half dozen murders. -Four
of them were then arrested and put in
Newcastle jail. The four are thus de-
scribed in a letter to the Cincinnati En-
quirer :"
Jim Simmons, ST., was about Sc years of
age, and the Acknowledged head of the
! gang. In fact he was known as "The
King" and his house the king Castle"
He was large, we'll built, with broad shout
ders, and a muscular frame. Bob Good
rich could probably boast the most Villain
Gus conntenance of any of the gang. He
was q small man, of not more than 135
pounds weight. Joe Goodrich was some
| what larger in frame than his brother Bob.
| His weight was probably 100 pounds,
height five feet nine, built. rather slight,
and shoulders STOPPING Hewas about 40
years of age. Bob was perhaps five years
| younger. They were married to daugh-
tiers of old Jim Simmons. Sam Goodrich,
the youngest, a half brother of the other
two, was much theii superior in appear :
ance. He was slight i'll stature, and only
about five feet eight inches. His weight
was not oyer one hundred and thirty.
The people of the country surrounding
the town were greatly excited for fear that
the murderers would get off by law. and
Wednesday night a mob of two hundred
men marched into the town and broke in
to the jail. The correspondent says:
The mob, after leaving the jail with the
J prisoners, started on fast walk or run to-
ward the western portion of the town.
Following the road at a rapid pace they
soon came to a bridge over a branch Of
Drenan creek, just outside the western line
of the town. The bridge is about twelve
feet high, an arched culvert, and about
/ twenty-five feet long. Along either side is
a railing, supported by heavy locust posts.
This seems to have been the spot agreed
upon beforehand for the execution. Ar
irving there the mob stopped, and, light
ing candles, placed one upon each end of
the bridge They then tied the ends Of
the ropes which were about the victims
necks to the posts at the side of the, bridge
and prepared at the word Of command to
pitch them over the side. Old Jim Sim
mons and Bob Goodrich were given places
side by side on the north side OF the bridge
and Sam and Joe Goodrich We're consigned
to the south. Then the voice Of the lea
der-Whose commands were the only words
spoken distinctly. except another plea for
mercy from one Of the Wretched victims
rang out on the still night air Ready!
one, two, three ~ One Of the victims was
launched over the side of the bridge The
rope was quickly frightened with snap
and dull thud, and one of the murderers
of Beely James and John Oman and Eli
IDowny and VIM. Gallighan and John Civ
iden and Nelson Parrish met his fate
Again that awful voice rang out: ''Ready!
one, two, three" and another form was
hurled over the edge of the bridge into the
darkness below. a third time the awful
"ready,' and the counts were heard, and
the third form was dropped by the grave
eXecutioner. This time there was a crash
and sound as of a falling body on the
stones below, accompanied by a cry Of an
guish. Then there was a sharp call from
the commander ''Look out there, below
Don't let him get away" and a confused
hum of voices in the darkness below as
they gathered up the form of the half-dead
wretch, the fastening of whose rope had
given way. Again the rope was fastened,
eti1I, eeLliiet oiio P+S.ttt+Lio io1 uOlCy vi
now thoroughly unnerved victim, he was
again launched over the side of the bridge,
bleeding from the fall. AS the rope
frightened, the dull, cracking sound an
nounced that the murder of Gallighan was
avenged. Then came the fourth and last
victim; and, as he struggled and pleaded
for mercy, he was reminded that he never
showed mercy to his victims. Amid his
pleadings and imprecations and groans he
was hoisted aloft, and, in an instant, his
form dangled beside those of his fellows.
The work done, the candles were extin-
guished, and the mob fingered in silence to
see If it were well done. A few of those
posted below moved quietly forward and
examined the bodies, feeling for the pulse,
and occasionally pulling down mask and
peering into the faces of their dead victims.
Nearly half hour thus passed, and then
they.silently withdrew. Calling in their
pickets stationed through the town and
by roads, and, mounting their horses,
which had beer placed under guard near
the bridge, they rode off in d westerly di-
rection. At daylight, the few people who
knew of the terrible work that had been in
progress, but had been driven to their
homes at the pistols month, ventured
forth Following the tracks of the mob,
they soon reached the bridge, and found
tllG UOul6s VI Uucll flCUlllIo. -1uSI Ldut.S
were firmly tied behind them; their hats
lay in the dry creek below, where they had
fallen as the Wretches were pitched over
the bridge, AT 5 O'Clock, Esquire B. B.
Gray, who had been notified (acting in the
capacity Of coroner), cut the bodies down,
and, removing them to the Town Hall,
held an inquest. The jury gave q verdict
of death by hanging at the hands of un-
known parties, .r....... ....
After the inquest the bodies vera ell
closed in neat collins and left in charge of
the authorities, and later in the day the
father of the Goodrich brothers sent team
for the bodies, which were delivered to the
messenger, and they were buried on the
following day at Lockport, near the scene
of their many crimes The body Of old
Jim Simmons still lies in the Town Hall.
His wife and son, who lived at Eminen ce,
four miles from here, on learning to-day
Of the terrible fate which had befallen the
gang, Immediately disposed of their effects,
and, taking the west bound train, left for
parts unknown, not calling for or giving
any attention to the body OF the old man.
SENATOR BAYARD ON THE VIRGINIA
QUEsTIoN.-U. s. Senator Bayard, the