Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-05-18

last lnulsuay evening" lue @Otu, Us JOnn
w. Gully was returning home 10 his plau-
lailon, few miles north Of De Kalb, he
was assassnated by some person IN hiding
by the roadside, who sent a charge of buck
shot through him and robbed him Of bis
boots aud money. Intense excitement was
created by the murder. II was believed
that Rush had returned and committed the
crime, but, as no trace of him could be
found, the revengeful feelings of the rela-
atives and friends of the murdered man
centered on the powerful personal and po-
litical FRIENDS of Rush. A story few from
mouth TO mouth that the Gully's had some
evidence that Chisholm and Gilmor were
accessories to the crime. 1t cannot be as
certained, however, that there was the
slightest ground for this report, and 1t prob.
ably grew solely out of the suspicious of
the Gullys. John w. Gully was buried on
Saturday, and about $50 men attended the
funeral. So much engaged was this throng
in planning the scheme of vengeance
which was executed next day, that there
was difficulty in getting anybody to fill
up the grave.
On that day warrant was sworn out for
the arrest of Judge Chisholm, Gilmer, c.
Rosenbaum Ia friend of Gilmer), the De
Kalb postmaster, but living in Secoba and
two brothers named Hopper, one a mer-
chant and the other a saloon keeper in DE
Kalb. All these men were republicans.
| There seems TO have been plot to getthem
together and murder them all. The sheriff
arrested the two Hoppers and Chisolm and
| al ;,,( 1,,ss
house, and despatched deputy TO Secoba
for Gilmer and Rosenbaum, but they had
heard of the warrant, and were met coming
| to town to give themselves up.
About 10 o'clock that morning Sunday
armed men began to ride into De Kalb.
First small detachments came, and srler-
ward large body, numbering 100. Before
noon over 200 men had congregated. They
were sober, cool and determined. Tying
their horses TO the gallows-like hitching
bars around the court house they surround
ed Judge Chisholm's house and insisted
that the sheriff should take the prisoners
to the Jail. This was done, and guard of
six men selected by the sheriff, was placed
over them. Then the mob hung two of
Chsol ms negro servants up TO trees with
bride reins, and tried TO make them con-
Tess that they had heard something to i'm
p.icate the judge in the murder; but the
poor fellows knew nothing, and were final
ly allowed TO run 10 the woods.
At 8 o'clock in the afternoon Gilmer and
Rosenbaum came into the village with the
deputy sheriff, dismouLted and started to
walk down the main street 10 the Jail.
They had not got dozen rods before shot
was fired at Gilmer from the crowd of
armed men hanging about the store doors.
He ran down a narrow passage in the rear
of the buildings, only 10 find himself pen
ned in by another detachment of the mob.
Escape was impossible, and the defense
less man was killed like rat in a trap.
Two balls were shot in his head after lie
lay dead ON the ground. When the firing
began Rosenbaum clung TO. an acquaint-
ancc in the crowd, named Hull, and beg
ged for protection. This man interceded
for him, and he was allowed to escape un-
harmed.
When Judge Chisolm went TO Jail all the
members of his iamily,-his wife, daugh-
ter is years old, son Of 16, and two young
er boys,-knowing that his life was in dam
ger, and hoping that their presence might
soften the hearts of the mob, went with
him. Ailer they were locked in, the daugh
ter Corueia found that the guns OF the six
guards were not loaded, and that they had
no ammunition. Under pretense of going
10 procure food for the family the courage
Gus girl left the jail, passed through the
l,.F, 4
where she hastily secreted powder flask,
a bag of shot, and some newspapers for
wadding under her dress. Then taking
some bread and meat she went back 10 the
Jail. Tie mob, leaving the stores and sa-
looms, now began 10 press around the
building and clamor for Chisom's life.
Among the guards there was but one re-
publican, a cool, courageous ScO,chman,
named McLellaud, who was a personal
friend of Chisoln. This man stationed
himself at the door of the jail, and told the
mob that if they killed the prisoners, two
of them should die for every life they took.
While cxpostulaling with the mob, and
threat tening them, lie fell, shot by five pis-
tol balls. Three of the remaining guards
now deserted their posts, and, leaving their
guns and TAX ing with them the two Hop
pers, they went out Of the Jail. There seems
10 have been little personal animosity
against the Hoppers, aud they mingled
with the crowd and got away unharmed.
The furious mob filed the lower hail Of
the Jail, and broke open door at the foot
of a stairway leading to the floor above,
where the prisoners were confined. AT the
top Of the Stairs there was another door
with grating in it, The lock was broken
of with axes. While the blows were fall
ing upon it, Cornelia implored the two re-
manning guards, Overstreet and Wall, to
fire through the grating upon the mob
pressing up the stairs, but they refused.
She then carried the guns left by the other
guards TO her father. Alter the lock yield
ed the two guards tried to hold the door,
and the second son of the judge, boy Of
13, in aiding them was shot in the wrist.
The mob pushed the guards aside, and the
men in advance gained the upper landing,
fired and killed the poor wounded boy,
who was clinging to his father. First in
the brutal crowd csme David Rosser, a
planter and practising physician. He was
instantly hiiieu ny tho Juubo' no SUM "S
he fell, tho mob, cowardly as all mobs are,
rushed out of the building. There was
lull for few minutes; then the crowd out
side began 10 yell, "Fire the Jail burn
them out - Afterward they shouted, "the
Jail is on frep 1t was a stratagem worthy
only of savages. Judge Chisolm, believing
that the wooden building was already in
flames, determined TO fight his way out,
and to sell his life as dearly as he could.
He came down the stairs with his wife and
three surviving children. The dead bod