The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-08-23

. stoutly refused. The men then closed in or
| the TWO, when \ tough hand TO hand battle
ensuej. during which Mr.. Wrght's cloth.
Ser was was nFy eaptars an rSTn was p e
away by Joseph Adanson and Frank Spen-
Ger, of kickapoo, the remainder Of the party
following. They took their victim down the
| road, passing Squire Waddle's house, to the
place where Mr.. Croft was killed, and there
showed him the pool of blood which seemed
to cry out for vengeance, and told him for the
first time that
HIS HOUR WAS COME.
Having become sobered by the deeds of the
night previous and partially stunned by what
was Transporting around him he said but little
except to
DENY THE KILLING OF CROFT,
which he did TO the very last
His captors took him then about half
mile further mp the road in a Southwestern
ly direction and turning OFF IN a
by path to the left. found
YOUNG ELM TREE,
with a suitable limb, under which stood a
the prisoner was told that The had any peace
To make
WITH HIS GOD,
it was about time he was doing it, as his min
ut.s on this earth were numbered. What he
said, or whatever jibes or sneers, condol-
rnces or words of pity, prayers for mercy,
pleadings OF palliation, Were passed between
the doomed man and his executiOners, will,
DARK MYSTERY.
He was led to the fatal tree and there
held by two stalwart men. while a
white handkerchief was tied firmly about
his eyes. His hands were next tied together
behind his back and he was then compelled
to step upon the stump under the Overhang-
ing limb. Here his feet were tied firmly
together, and at given signal, a
rope tied To piece of bed cord or half inch
rope, was produced, a simple moose quickly
made, and the loop placed over the doomed
mans head and around his neck The loose
end of the rope was thrown over the limb
and a number of the men silently and grimly
took hold of the end and pulled the
wRITHING FORM
of their victim from bis standing place until
his head was within a few inches of the
bough. They then tied the rope TO a small
sapling near, and without a word TO each
other, waited until life had left the murderer
Then a solemn and impressive scene was en-
wealthy farmers in the vicinity, arranged
themselves in a line, and one, who seemed to
be their leader, administered
AN OATH
of terrible import, and, in substance that he
of this number, who should first betray the
remainder should meet with speedy punish
ment. They then rode silently away, and
separated Not long afterward, some one
vino was passing. saw the body by the road
side. and reported it to Mr.. Simeon Scruggs,
who had the body cut down at about half
past twelve O'Clock, or, about three hours
after the lynching took place. Thus ended
the career of a young man who had all OPP
portunities to be of use, but failed to heed
warnings in time.
The lady who was Indirectly the cause of
the tragedy, was his third wife, the first being
dead, and the second living in the South |
THE GROUND.
The reporter after gathering the
above information from those who were
with the circumstances, en-
uuired and was directed to the SPOT
where the hanging occurred, and during The
walk of the half mile up the ravine, hurr:dly
jotted down the following
DIAGRAM OF THE GROUND: