The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-13
WESTERN LAWLES NESS.
TWO FRrENDLEss STOCK THIEVES ROASTED OVER
A SLOW FIRE-A GAMBLER GUILTY OF MUIR
DER ESCAPES WITH A TWELVE YEARS SEN
TENcE
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
OMAHA, Neb., Dec ~, 1878.
Following close upon the lynching Of two negroes
at Nebraska City, Tuesday. to-day from the
centre Of the State details Of horrible tragedies which
have had few parallels in the history of
crime and which show with what uncertainty
laws are executed the frontier. ON November 20
Deputy Sheriff Stevens. OF Plum Greek. Dawson
county, went out at the head of a company OF
herdcrs TO bring to Justice certain cattle thieves
Recent depredations by Indians and white horse
thieves made all stock owners bitter and desperate.
Mitchell and Ketchum, accused Of stock thcfts
followed to Mitchells house South Loop, and on
attempting to arrest them night ensuod. stevens
was fatally wounded, and the hcrders were driven
away Two days later twenty herders left Plum Creek
determined 70 avengc stevens death. Soon after the
Sheriff Of Custer county. also on the trail found and
arrested Mitchell and Ketchum and Tuesday
started with posse of 70 take them to tie
county seat for trial While on ro,fr tbey we're met
and surrounded by masked mob Of twenty
five men. all armed. who oyerpowcred the
officers and took the two from them.
Lending the captiyns TO n grove distance
away they were tied 10 a aud burned death by
q slow fire. enduring meanwhile every torture the
captors could devise. The matter telcgraphed
10 officers here to-day and IL creating intense excite
ment. Members Of the mob claimed to the Custer
county officers that they would make an example OF
these men to torrify other thieves.
A MURDERER Al LARGE.
City Marshal Butler received telegram this morn
ing from sheriff Matthew Kieran, kearDcy county,
on December murdered Peter Anderson, Mrs.
Herlan and three children of the latter ai n point
seven miles southwest OF Meriden, Koarney county.
The bodies or Mrs. Harlan and children were found
concealed in a haysiack. The cause of the murder
Is unknown. Richards, " Is stated. shaved on his
whiskers and fled horseback 10 Bloomington,
whore he obtained horse and wagon and proceeded
to Red Cloud where nc IL supposed 10 have taken the
train up the railway Tuesday morning for Hastings,
roBte TO Omaha.
now MuRDEREfs TREATED by THE LAW
Great excitement exists here over the result Of the
trial of James q. Burke for the murder Of Morris
Weihl three months ago. an account Of which
published in the HERALD at the time. There
dispute wager of s. concerning game Of pool.
The passion Of Burke, well known gambler. was
finally aroused aud he left the saloon, procured pis-
tol and searching for Weihl. found him in q harness
store where he shot him dead without q moments
warning. The murder cold boojcd and deb.
crate The defence attempted tho insanity dodge
claiming Burke afflicted with disease the result
of cxcesses and which affected his BRAIN The trial
occupied three days. The jury after an absence of
six hours, rendered verdict of murder in the second
degree, recommending that tho Judge should not in
fict the extreme penalty Of the law The Judge sem
fenced the prisoner to twelve years. charges
are made against the District Attorney and numer-
GUS threats are made of lynching tho prisoner.