Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-07-03

carpet richly variegAted with wild flow
ers clad the long slope. Birds sang
gleefully upon the tree branches, and
the west wind rustled gently through
the foliage.
The sun shone brightly in the arching
sky, which, seemingly, bent itself to
enclose the earth in q loving embrace.
F" Peace on earth and good will to men,
breathed in tine songs of birds, in the
hum of insects, in the rustling leaves.
A" Peace" reigned everywhere save in
the hearts of men. There was but little
"good will exhibited by the excited
multitude assembled that Sabbath after
noon upon the pleasant slope of Preach-
er's Hill. The officers of the law-such
as it was-were powerless.
The mass meeting was soon regularly
organized. A jury of twelve honest
miners" was selected. The five travel
ers were called before the "court," and
charged with stealing the two mules.
Three miners from Coloma were the
accusers. BB t.t 81 II 4
A forid young man who acted As
prosecuting attorney or peoples law
yer" and who had an eye to the Office
of County Judge, opened the case for
the people,"
The legal ownership of the mules
was speedily proven.
One of the owners, long-legged,
loose ointed Pike County man"-from
Missouri-then testified as follows:
"We missed the animals, reckoned
they'd been stolen, called the neighbOrs
together, found the trail of the thieves,
overlook 'em, and got back our mules"
There were no witnesses for the &C
cused, and their own testimony, which
they were permitted to give, was scorn-
fully laughed at. The counsel for the
defense saw that the current of popular
opinion had set fatally against the pris-
oners, and being shrewd stOre-keeper
in the town with the ominOus name,
deemed it prudent to say but little.
The peoples lawyer addressed the
jury: Gentlemen" he said "you have
heard the evidence. 1t is undisputed
except by the flimsy statements of the
accused-of whose guilt there cannot
be the slightest doubt. There is but one
penalty in these parts for the crime of
animal stealing-death! The people
are q unit in this matter. Gentlemen
Of the jury it is your duty to obey the
wllof the people. and I demand that,
you do your duty!" 9 ~Si-'' ea'@''
The judge, also a storekeeper, sum-
med up, and charged strongly against
the prisoners. The jury then consulted
together without leaving the box Ia
PROSTATE tree trunk and speedily rem
dered verdict of "Guilty!'
Against all of the accused ?" que
ried the court.
against all ~ replied the foreman.
The judge now turned to the prison
ers and asked if they had anything to
say before sentence should be passed
upon them. William Prince, in re-
Spouse, repeated the facts in regard to
himself in manner that should have
carried great favor. The othnr prison.
ers corroborated his statement. Kicks
and Jones who had used the hybrids,
again declared that they thought the
mules were stray animals which it
would do no harm to exercise little,
that they had started them homeward
after riding them; and they called
heaven to witness that the idea of
stealing the beasts had rever occurred
to them. Pyne and Boomer said that
the mules were used without their con-
sent, and against their circumstances,
and this Jones and Kicks admit ed to
be true.
Upon the conclusion Of these state
ments, the Judge arose and looking
over the excited throng said, in loud
clear voice: sft EENt
Fellow citizens, you have heard the
evidence against the prisoners, and have
listened patiently to what they have
utteredi in defe1.ce. It is for you to say
what shall be the penalty of the crime
of which an intelligent jury has de-
clared them guilty" ,1rl s, -
"Death I" yelled the angry mob in
horrid accord.
"Death be q it then" rejoined the
judge, who turning to the prisoners thus
addressed them: You have heard
the verdict-the unanimous voice oil
the. people. In accordance Herewith
hereby sentence you to be hanged by
the neck, forthwith, until you are dead
and may Heaven have mercy on your
souls !" ~ D. =
In an instant dozen or more lariats
already hoosed, came whirling, lasso
fashion, through the air, and fell at the
feet Of the doomed men. The loops
were quickly knotted around their
necks, while the other ends were thrown
over two branches of a sturdy oak that
stretched horizontally from the parent
trunk at right angles with each other
Boomer, Kicks and Jones were placed
beneath the larger Dough. Prince and
Ryan were arranged under the other
which extended over the western slope.