The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-11-17
AN ILLINOIS LYNCRING.

AN ILLINOIS LYNCBING.
The Murderer Of Henry Goetz and Wife
Makes . Confession and II Summarily
Hanged BY tho Excited Neixhbors.
The st. Louis Globe Democrat of the
18th gives the following particulars of
the lynching of Carl Strahl for the muir
der of Henry Goetz and wife, in Monroe
County, Ill. After giving an account of
Strahl's capture in St. Louis and return
to Columbia, the reporter writes:
At about half-past 8o'clock the DOOM
ed man was handed into wagon, and,
strongly guarded, was driven in the
direction of the Goetz farm. Quite q
number of farmers, not boys and wild
youths, but grave, austere men, who
had congregated in the town during the
morning, rode before or behind the
vehicle containing the prisoner, which,
swelled by the curiosity of those de-
sirous of closely observing his presence,
became a sort of cavalcade. A man or
two on horseback joined the party at
almost every cross-road. The party
rode silently and acted gravely. They
were men with duty to perform. The
tedious Journey completed, in SO far as
the tortuous and muddy bluff road was
concerned, the road leading through
fields of beautiful bottom land was
reached. The prisoner signified that
that was the way to town. A score of
men were in waiting at the junction,
and silently saw the prisoner and his
escort pass. Word was passed in the
crowd that
THE BODY OF HENRY GOETZ
had been found few minutes before
"Hush! let the murderer show the
spot" commanded some one in a sup
pressed voice. A quarter of mile back
from the main road and the party dis
mounted. To the one side lay vast
and level field carefully titled, and
speaking well for the industry of its
lucky possessor. To the other side stood
a thick copse about quarter of a mile
in each direction. A thick matted I'M
dergrowth was upon the soil, and the
weeds, dried and dead now, were higher
than mans head.
Strahl was taken out of the wagon.
$50 on, now, and show where the body
is" commanded the Coroner.
Like one walking in a dream he
started slowly into the underbrush,
breaking his way with his hands, until
he struck path made by some animals.
This he followed for a few rods, until he
stood upon the bank of a sluggish and
marshy-looking creek. With delicacy
and great care he picked his way across
its shallow extent by means of a rough
bridge made by old branches of trees
thrown carelessiy into the water. He
followed the bank of the creek for about
20 yards more, when he stopped, and,
turning around to those who followed
him, pointed to the bank of the creek,
and said in German, and then in English,
&c Here Henry Goetz stood
WHEN SHOT HIM.
was across the creek. l seized the
body by the feet and dragged it this
way" He plunged 60 feet into the
thicket to place where the lilacs grew
thick last spring, and said, "Here is
where left the body" A pile of dead
leaves and brush lay at his feet, and,
pointing toit, he said: =" Look in there"
A dozen hands fastened TO remove the
debris; and underneath they found the
body of Henry Goetz. 1t was remarka-
bly, well preserved. 1t lay upon its
back. There was blood dried on the
lips and on the nostrils. The eyes were
staring wide open. The arms were
thrown straight up over the head, and
the coarse shirt and blouse worn by the
deceased at the time he was murdered
were drawn up about his shoulders, the
arms and the clothing having been
drawn into the position described by
the act of dragging the body over the
ground. Some one turned the corpse
over. A ragged hole in the back of the
skull told of the instant death that had
followed the cowardly shot Of the assas-
sin.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Hilton proceeded without de-
lay to impanel jury to determine the
cause and manner of death of the body
before them.
The only person examined was Strahl,
the confessed murderer. Two hundred
grave-looking men bent in silence to
hear his words. The deceased had two
brothers; one of them, Joe by name, a
poor, simple creature, hung over and
about the dead body of his brother, and
spoke to it almost continually in tones of
plaintive affection. The poor fellow but
dimly comprehended the terrible scene
before him, yet he groaned and moaned
over the cold body before him until
many strong man turned away. BY
the side of Strahl, looming into the air
in the very grandeur of his hate, with
eyes fixed steadily upon the face of the
covering culprit, stood Maitz GoetZ, the
elder brother of the murdered man.
Strahl gave his testimony slowly and
in a weak voice. He was as pale as
death. He looked around upon the
crowd, but glances of bitter, implacable
hate met his eyes, and he looked at the
ground.
THE CONFESSION.
Coroner Hilton took down the confess
sion as made, and the following is
copy of the official record in the case:
Confession of the murders committed
By me ON Sunday, November Al was
out hunting with Henry Goetz on last
Sunday afternoon in the woods near his
house. While walking along he told
me that l had better 60 back to Philip |
Stumpff's and make it all right about |
the money and the boots that l stole. 1 |
refused to go, and he said he would
make me. watched my chance, and,
snatching his rifle, ran away with it.
He followed me, and 1 ran across the
creek. As he reached the bank drew
up his rifle, and, aiming it at him, l
said: Stand back or I will shoot YOU"
He turned around, when 1 fired and